For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[pwdebbie]

For our trip in August we will be driving through PA, then around Baltimore and Washington DC picking up 95. We should arrive near Washington around noon or 1pm. Is this a good plan for time and traffic? It will probably be on a Thursday. If we finish going around Washington by 2 pm, how far can we get figuring another 4 - 6 hours of driving? TIA!

Driving from Western NY State, wouldn't it be easier for you to pick up I-81 and take that route south, cutting over to I-95 much later and totally avoiding DC?

 

[amcnj]

Gas prices here in southern NJ still dropping! I paid 2.53 this morning. Hope this trend continues.

 

[amtag]

Gas prices here in southern NJ still dropping! I paid 2.53 this morning. Hope this trend continues.

me too!!

 

[taximomfor4]

Although we don't know about the tolls on your proposed route, the cost of tolls should be a relatively insignificant part of drive costs.

Attn: Long Island drivers: what do you pay going through Manhattan, NJ, DE and MD? $25 or so? Provide some comparative info for taximomfor4.

Has ANYONE who did this drive lately (77 to 95 to wdw) kept track of the tolls? Or know how to figure it out?

I know it's not a big part of my budget, just trying to decide if it's enough to buy the Sunpass sticker thing. If there's only 1 sunpass toll booth that will only cost $2.50, I won't buy the $5 sticker. If there are 6 Sunpass toll booths adding up to $6, I will. KWIM? It's been years since I have done this drive and really don't remember any toll booths. Maybe one on 77 in WV? But that wouldn't be sunpass would it?

 

[loveysbydesign]

Has ANYONE who did this drive lately (77 to 95 to wdw) kept track of the tolls? Or know how to figure it out?

I know it's not a big part of my budget, just trying to decide if it's enough to buy the Sunpass sticker thing. If there's only 1 sunpass toll booth that will only cost $2.50, I won't buy the $5 sticker. If there are 6 Sunpass toll booths adding up to $6, I will. KWIM? It's been years since I have done this drive and really don't remember any toll booths. Maybe one on 77 in WV? But that wouldn't be sunpass would it?

I hadn't even thought of tools...we're driving from the Lehigh Valley and will take 78-81-77-26-95...wonder how many tolls there are along that route

 

[monymony3471]

Left: Purchase the SunPass Mini sticker for $4.95, in this convenient package;
Middle: Attach the sticker to the top of your windshield by the rear view mirror;
Right: Register your account and start using the SunPass toll road lanes
Please note, Canadians cannot register their new account online but must phone toll-free 1-888-865-5352 to activate their SunPass Mini - the number is valid from Canada.

Good news! The cost of the sticker is credited back to your account ... so essentially it is free. Replenishing your account is easy; you simply phone the 1-888-865-5352 number during business hours and use your Visa or Mastercard to transfer the amount you anticipate you will be using for tolls. For security, you are not required to leave your credit card number on file.

More good news, those using the Sunpass (Mini or regular transponder) receive a discounted toll rate at most toll plazas.

For more information, click on www.sunpass.com for the Toll Authority's home page, then click on the SunPass Mini link to download an information brochure.

 

[amtag]

WOW! I had NO idea that my EZ-Pass would not work in all states from NJ to Florida! I'm pretty sure there are a lot of tolls on 95, we were planning on taking 78-81 and then hitting 95 back around S. Carolina - is EZPass only in the tri-state area??

 

[ShhhQ]

I just stumbled upon this thread this morning and spent about an hour skimming thru the posts.... a lot of posts!!!

This Sept. we will be making our 3rd trip to WDW... we debated whether to fly or drive and using a pros and cons list, we chose driving hands down!!

We live in Northern Indiana (about 50 miles due north of Indy). It is just myself and my Mother going this trip.. and I won't let her drive!!!

Our route.. US-31 to Indy, 465 around Indy (too much stop and go traffic to drive thru) hit I-65, then I-24, onto I-75, down to the FL turnpike and finally I-4 to my favorite place in the world.

We begin our journey at around midnight... (this works good for me, since I work 3rds I am accustomed to being awake all night). My goal in driving is always to make it to Atlanta before rush hour... but since we are going on a Sat. not much of a help. I prefer to stop around Macon for the night. Any further is just too tiring and any sooner would be too soon.

If I get sleepy we stop at a rest area and just getting out and walking tends to wake me up a bit... or if its really bad I can always take a cat nap. As long as my Mother doesn't accidently give me a tranquilizer instead of an imodium again, there shouldn't be a big problem!

I have a TomTom one... and I love it! However, I make sure I print off a map from TripTraker too just as back up. My Gps is a little bit of an older model and sometimes it loses the satellite... especially if it hasn't been updated... more of a concern driving home then down.

At this point, my biggest concern is our minivan... it too is getting a bit old. Lately, it makes groaning noises when I turn the wheel... am hoping its minor and not major. But we do need to get it checked out. We have a newer car, but if we have to take it, we won't be able to bring my Mothers electric wc... so would have to rent her a scooter. Making that a more costly option. But safety when driving is a high priority.

 

[Marshay]

WOW! I had NO idea that my EZ-Pass would not work in all states from NJ to Florida! I'm pretty sure there are a lot of tolls on 95, we were planning on taking 78-81 and then hitting 95 back around S. Carolina - is EZPass only in the tri-state area??

from our EZpass Virginia website:

Current E-ZPass States: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, Indiana and Illinois.

 

[cruisingkat]

We got the Sun-pass as we drive down to FL several times a year. We went with the transponder instead of the sticker as we can use it in a rental car.
The biggest benefit - you can just breeze through the sun pass toll booths instead of sitting in a long line of cars waiting for that person who has to get their money out after they stop at the booth.

 

[Tina]

WOW! I had NO idea that my EZ-Pass would not work in all states from NJ to Florida! I'm pretty sure there are a lot of tolls on 95, we were planning on taking 78-81 and then hitting 95 back around S. Carolina - is EZPass only in the tri-state area??

I have driven I95 from Northern Virginia to WDW many times and there are no tolls at all.

 

[sharadoc]

I have driven I95 from Northern Virginia to WDW many times and there are no tolls at all.

From PA, we pay our last toll at the Baltimore tunnel. Then it's FREE to Florida.

 

[shafke]

I hadn't even thought of tools...we're driving from the Lehigh Valley and will take 78-81-77-26-95...wonder how many tolls there are along that route

If you go that route I don't think there are any tolls. I drove 81N from mid VA down 78 and did not hit any tolls until NJ. Even going down 95 there are no tolls from DC south.

 

[dvczerfs]

I hadn't even thought of tools...we're driving from the Lehigh Valley and will take 78-81-77-26-95...wonder how many tolls there are along that route

there are no tolls.

 

[dvczerfs]

Can anyone tell me if googlemaps travel times from place to place are accurate or not?

whats the total trip time they are giving you? theres a family from whitehall that takes 78-81-77 and he told me its a about 17 hours total. he has a few little kids and also has to stop for pee breaks and leg stretches.

 

[loveysbydesign]

there are no tolls.

Great

 

[loveysbydesign]

whats the total trip time they are giving you? theres a family from whitehall that takes 78-81-77 and he told me its a about 17 hours total. he has a few little kids and also has to stop for pee breaks and leg stretches.

It says 18 1/2 hours from Alburtis to Kissimmee!

 

[dvczerfs]

It says 18 1/2 hours from Alburtis to Kissimmee!

im sure you will do it faster. let me pm the guy ive talked to from whitehall, maybe he can tell you better time frames.

 

[dvczerfs]

It says 18 1/2 hours from Alburtis to Kissimmee!

ok, i found him. i sent him a mes. and im sure he will be able to help you out with time frames etc.... they have a few small kids and have to stop. my dd is 17 and we sticker in the back of the van with her i pod and cell phone and we dont hear a thing from her anymore. he goes under rotlex and hes from whitehall when you see him pop-up.

 

[rotlex]

It says 18 1/2 hours from Alburtis to Kissimmee!

Hey there, , I'm that guy from Whitehall, LOL. Just wanted to give you a few bits of info here, as my family and I, wife, and two kids both under 8, travel this particular route all the time.

Firstly, no tolls!

Driving time wise, it can vary a bit if there is any traffic, but it has held pretty steady for us. We usually leave very, very early on a Sunday morning, usually between 2 and 3am, and are half way into our trip by say 9 or 10. We don't do it all in one day, but rather stop overnight in Savannah, right off of 95. Normally, we make it there by 4pm. That's leaving around 3am, stopping a number of times to eat, go to the bathroom etc. It's a very easy drive, with some nice scenery, and not much traffic...normally.

We usually get up on our second day, in Georgia\Savannah area, around 5am, have breakfast, and leave by 6. Our last trip, we arrived at WDW by 10:30, including a second breakfast stop right outside of Jacksonville.

In a nutshell, with all stops included, we average 16-17 hours per trip. It's become so regular now, the only reason I even bring along the GPS is to get around down in Orlando.