For those folks driving!

[stefplus3]

OK, this is "sort of" in the vein of driving...maybe some of you all can help.

We're looking for a DVD "system" for our van...mainly for th upcoming drive. I'm thinking, for now, one of the dual screen systems with headrest mounts. But what I'd like to do (since we have 3 kids) is split the screens between the 2nd and 3rd row (so one mounted on the back of the front passenger seat, and one mounted on the back of the 2nd row passenger headrest).

So, here are my questions:

Anyone have any experience with these systems? Any recommendations?

And has anyone tried "mounting" them in the manner I'm looking for? I'm worried about cable length, specifically.

Thanks!

Our van has a built in one but my friend has one similar to what you are looking for. I'm pretty sure that you'd be able to hang the screens where you want, but the cord might be in the air from the dvd player to the screen in the back. She had hers mounted on the front 2 seats with the dvd player in between.

 

[Captain Hook]

Our problem with that idea (and it's one we considered) is the ages of our kids. If we leave that late in the day, we'd end up staying somewhere in Jersey, rather than somewhere around Richmond. We just can't drive until all hours with them in the car...they don't sleep well (if at all) which means the NEXT days piece of the drive becomes miserable with overtired kids. We need to be hunkered down by 9 PM-ish.

Once they get older, we might do that, though. Heck, in 8 to 10 years, we may just do the drive in a straight shot....but til then, the extra distance of hitting the "Tapanzee route" vastly outweighs the time we spend in the extra traffic in and around NYC and Northern Jersey.

A very good way to miss the Tappanzee route is when your in CT slide over to the Meritt Pkwy (RT 15) and follow that down into the Henry Hudson PKY it will drop you right on the GWB and miss all the traffic completly!! I do it every trip and its a cant miss. PM me and I will give you complete directions its faster than I-95

 

[mwehttam]

Once they get older, we might do that, though. Heck, in 8 to 10 years, we may just do the drive in a straight shot....but til then, the extra distance of hitting the "Tapanzee route" vastly outweighs the time we spend in the extra traffic in and around NYC and Northern Jersey.

Actually, taking the Tappen Zee bridge to the New Jersey Parkway is much quicker then taking I95 or any other road south in Westchester County to the GWB. Mileage it is about the same (each bridge can be seen from the other on a clear day) maybe a little more but you will save time 99 out of 100 times. Missing the mess that is southern Westchester and the Bronx to get to the GWB it is well worth it.

Upon crossing the Tap, it is a 5-10 minute drive to the northern end of the GSP. Take that down to exit 129 (about 45 miles) and you are at the NJ Turnpike at exit 11. You have then missed the mess that is I95 though NYC and in NJ. Have lived in the Northern NJ area my whole life and I avoid the GWB at all cost.


-Matthew

 

[stefplus3]

is there anywhere nearby to eat dinner?

 

[pilferk]

Actually, taking the Tappen Zee bridge to the New Jersey Parkway is much quicker then taking I95 or any other road south in Westchester County to the GWB. Mileage it is about the same (each bridge can be seen from the other on a clear day) maybe a little more but you will save time 99 out of 100 times. Missing the mess that is southern Westchester and the Bronx to get to the GWB it is well worth it.

Upon crossing the Tap, it is a 5-10 minute drive to the northern end of the GSP. Take that down to exit 129 (about 45 miles) and you are at the NJ Turnpike at exit 11. You have then missed the mess that is I95 though NYC and in NJ. Have lived in the Northern NJ area my whole life and I avoid the GWB at all cost.


-Matthew

That's the way we've always gone, actually (as you can see from an earlier post of mine). I've only tried the GWB ride twice...once on the way to Florida, once on the way to Maryland for work. Both times I've hit insane traffic, BUT it was during prime travel time.

The person I was responding to seemed to indicate that, if you leave VERY early, or VERY late in the day, the GW route isn't as bad and ends up being quicker. By your reports, that might not be so.

I think I'll stick with the Tappen Zee route, as you suggest. Even if the reports of going over the GW in "off peak" times are true, it would be quite awhile before the kids are old enough to take advantage of that....and it would be "risky" even then, I think. We might try it someday, but.....not any time soon.

 

[CPT Tripss]

is there anywhere nearby to eat dinner?

There are lots of places . . . what interests you?

 

[mwehttam]

That's the way we've always gone, actually (as you can see from an earlier post of mine). I've only tried the GWB ride twice...once on the way to Florida, once on the way to Maryland for work. Both times I've hit insane traffic, BUT it was during prime travel time.

The person I was responding to seemed to indicate that, if you leave VERY early, or VERY late in the day, the GW route isn't as bad and ends up being quicker. By your reports, that might not be so.

I think I'll stick with the Tappen Zee route, as you suggest. Even if the reports of going over the GW in "off peak" times are true, it would be quite awhile before the kids are old enough to take advantage of that....and it would be "risky" even then, I think. We might try it someday, but.....not any time soon.

The only issue with the I87/I287 corridor in the coming years is the replacement/refurbish/rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge. I know in the coming months and lasting through '08 they will be replacing some of the road surface of the bridge and they will be doing most if not all of it at night. Eventually the whole bridge will need to be replaced but I don't see that happening till at least 2010 and more like 2015.

The best time to cross the Tap is in the day time. If you are heading west bound across the bridge, the first half of they day you are against traffic and have a faster crossing. Later in the afternoon the east bound side is faster. Weekends there is no set pattern to traffic flow.

I hope this helps as well.

-Matthew

 

[diznee25]

Husband and I are driving down in a few weeks from Annapolis, MD. (Driving down Thurs. 24th, and driving back on Tues. 29th.) It'll be just the two of us, and we plan to drive straight thru. Leaving at 4am....

We're new to the east coast....just moved from Colorado.

What is the best route to Disney World? (less traffic, scenic, etc..)

Map Quest is estimating a 14 hour drive. (From Annapolis, MD to Pop Century.) Is this accurate or could we get there in less time?

I'd also like to avoid any construction if possible!

Thanks for the help!
diznee25

 

[pamouselover]

I think from MD it would be less hours. More like 12, but I could be wrong.
We might be driving down also for the first time in Sept. from Pa. close to the delaware state line.

 

[Hartbrken38]

I am driving down for Sept. and we live in Smithville,OK. Can anyone tell me the best route and best places to stop. Can we drive straight through or should we stop. If we stop we would like to stop near the ocean so the kids can see it. If you are not sure where Smithville, Ok is start me out at Dequeen Arkansas.

Please help me.

 

[pilferk]

Well, my wife and I decided to heed some of the suggestions made here in this thread.

We've decided rather than leave CT around 1 PM, we're going to leave a couple hours later...say around 3:30-ish...and I'm just going to drive it straight through til we get there (18 to 20 hours). That way, the kids will sleep through MOST of the ride...only being awake for 4 to 5 hours to start and probably about the same til we arrive. We should also avoid the "rough" part of the day around DC (we'll get to the beltway well after rush hour). In addition, it could save the cost of a hotel night stay (though we're bringing along a list of places on our route just in case I tire out around 3 AM-ish and we need to stop). I'm going to take the full day we leave off, rather than just taking a 1/2 day, and just nap for most of the day so I'll be well rested for the drive.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

Husband and I are driving down in a few weeks from Annapolis, MD. (Driving down Thurs. 24th, and driving back on Tues. 29th.) It'll be just the two of us, and we plan to drive straight thru. Leaving at 4am....

We're new to the east coast....just moved from Colorado.

What is the best route to Disney World? (less traffic, scenic, etc..)

Map Quest is estimating a 14 hour drive. (From Annapolis, MD to Pop Century.) Is this accurate or could we get there in less time?

I'd also like to avoid any construction if possible!

Thanks for the help!
diznee25

this is what we are doing... we are leaving at 4 am and driving straight through. it's just my husband and I also. it's a 16 hour drive for us! But, we have done 10 to 12.. we figure we can do 4 more hours. My husband can't drive at night.. doesn't matter how rested he is.. when it's dark.. or middle of the night.... he will fall asleep.. and i have terrible night vision. So our best option was leave as early as possible in the morning.. between 3 and 4 am... and drive all day.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

any ideas for any good rest stops or places to visit or stretch along the way?

We are coming from Indiana.. we will be taking 65 South down to Nashville, then I believe 24 E. Then 75 S. the rest of the way to florida.

Anyone ever driven it from Indiana before? Any better routes? Please.. this is our first trip. We would love any advice?

Are there any toll roads? Cost of tolls?

 

[pamouselover]

Looks like we will be driving to Disney World, unless some great really cheap airfare comes out.

So what we are planning as of now is to drive to Georgia and stay over the night.On the way back we are thinking of staying over night in South Carolina, likely Myrtle Beach.

So all my Georgia friends out there, what is good to see in Georgia and stay reasonable?
South Carolina friends were is it reasonable to stay in Myrtle Beach?

 

[pilferk]

Looks like we will be driving to Disney World, unless some great really cheap airfare comes out.

So what we are planning as of now is to drive to Georgia and stay over the night.On the way back we are thinking of staying over night in South Carolina, likely Myrtle Beach.

So all my Georgia friends out there, what is good to see in Georgia and stay reasonable?
South Carolina friends were is it reasonable to stay in Myrtle Beach?

For South Carolina, I'm partial the kitchy South of the Border.

 

[coltink]

What exactly is South of the Border and where is it? Do you know the hours? We will be driving down in september from Virginia, and will be leaving in the afternoon. I have no idea what time we will be hitting that area.

 

[pilferk]

What exactly is South of the Border and where is it? Do you know the hours? We will be driving down in september from Virginia, and will be leaving in the afternoon. I have no idea what time we will be hitting that area.

This should answer all your questions:

http://www.pedroland.com/

It is the ultimate in Kitsch, so you really have to appreciate that kind of thing, I think, to enjoy your time there.

The only thing I don't think is posted is the hours of the motor lodge. We've arrived as late as 11 PM...I think there's pretty much always someone manning the front desk.

 

[tinyrip]

any ideas for any good rest stops or places to visit or stretch along the way?

We are coming from Indiana.. we will be taking 65 South down to Nashville, then I believe 24 E. Then 75 S. the rest of the way to florida.

Anyone ever driven it from Indiana before? Any better routes? Please.. this is our first trip. We would love any advice?

Are there any toll roads? Cost of tolls?

I've driven from northern indiana. and that was basically the route we took. although we got to add in US 31 to it too, before we picked up 65. and the only tolls is on the florida turnpike. the only advice i have is to drive as far as you can the first day. our goal is always to be up and in the car at day break and as close to the georgia / florida boarder by nightfall, i drive it with my mom and she hates driving at night and not to fond of other people driving either. so she'll only let me drive the first part of indiana and once we hit the stuff that i dont drive regularly then its all her.

we carry a list of hotels and exit numbers with us for around the atlanta and southern georgia area that way once we're getting ready to stop we can decide how much further we feel we can go.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

thanks! We have decided to drive it straight. We are leaving the night before.. about 9pm and driving overnight. We will sleep all day the day before.

We do plan on staying somewhere half way ont he way back though.. not sure though.. we are thinking North Carolina... cause my hubby wants to see someof the nascar stuff.. so who knows. Not sure what the best th ing to do on that would be!

thanks for your help!

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

Hi! I'm kinda curious if anyone knows any websites besides AAA that you can order free road maps?