For those folks driving!

[CUKU4DIS]

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.

We drive to FL from the TX, we live about 30 from the Texoma borderline. The 1st time we went it took us about 24 hours only because we got a little lost when we arrived to Orlando. My husband drives straight through w/ gas fill up and restroom breaks and we eat in the car (we try to pack snacks) and maybe stop to eat breakfast or lunch. The first time we went we also took a more scenic route, we did park at the beach (Biloxi) only because there was an accident which led to traffic. The 2nd time it took us maybe 20 hours. Here in September we will be driving again, we enjoy our road trips! It beats flying when it comes to saving $$ for our vacation. FYI, WDW website does have directions.Goodluck! dh me dd dd

 

[tinkerbell615]

We are driving to WDW from Southwest OH in two weeks. We will be driving straight down I75.

Can anybody tell me what the speed limits are in the different states? Does anyone have any idea? Is there a web site that I might check.

Also, we are still trying to decide where to stop and where to stay along the way. We will be leaving around 10:00 am and would like to get as far as possible so that we really have very little driving to do the next day. Any suggestions?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

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?

What route is Mapquest giving you? I doubt you could make it from Annapolis to WDW in 14 hours unless you did 75 mph minimum. I live in Richmond, and it's been a few years since making the drive but we did it in 12-13 hours, probably averaging 70 mph. I would think it's an additional 2.5-3 hours from Richmond to Annapolis, making it 14.5 (at best) to 16 hours. Taking US 301 down into VA might shave some time off but not too much.

 

[SSR05]

Well after driving two cars with 9 people total, two of them ages 2 and 7, last year in August from Philadelphia area, we are treating ourselves and flying this August. We found Air Tran round trips for $118.00. That sealed the deal for me. We'll probably drive next year, if we can find a VERY LARGE VEHICLE.

Gerry

 

[SSR05]

What route is Mapquest giving you? I doubt you could make it from Annapolis to WDW in 14 hours unless you did 75 mph minimum. I live in Richmond, and it's been a few years since making the drive but we did it in 12-13 hours, probably averaging 70 mph. I would think it's an additional 2.5-3 hours from Richmond to Annapolis, making it 14.5 (at best) to 16 hours. Taking US 301 down into VA might shave some time off but not too much.

We actually made it in 17 hrs. from the burbs of Philadelphia last year. This includes several food and bathroom stops.

 

[pilferk]

What route is Mapquest giving you? I doubt you could make it from Annapolis to WDW in 14 hours unless you did 75 mph minimum. I live in Richmond, and it's been a few years since making the drive but we did it in 12-13 hours, probably averaging 70 mph. I would think it's an additional 2.5-3 hours from Richmond to Annapolis, making it 14.5 (at best) to 16 hours. Taking US 301 down into VA might shave some time off but not too much.

From the time we hit Richmond (actually, we stayed at a hotel just after getting on the 295 "wraparound") to the time we hit Orlando was about 10 hours back in 2001. We left Richmond just before 7 AM and were checking in at our hotel just after 5 PM (one of the DTD hotels). It took us almost as long to get from CT to Richmond as it did to get from Richmond to Orlando.

We made the whole drive home to CT, non-stop (well, other than food and potty breaks) from Orlando in about 19 1/2 hours. I will admit, I have no earthly clue what my speed was from DC on north (95 traffic, even overnight, seems to pick up considerable speed from there heading north and I travelled with traffic)...but south of DC I stuck to about 70 MPH.

 

[ckoncurat]

I apologize in advance if this has already been asked..
We are driving down in November for the first time, from the Baltimore Maryland area. Anyone have a good suggestion for a halway point to stop for the night? Any reccomended hotels? We have six kids, so a place with suites OR an inexpensive place to get two rooms would be great. Thanks!

 

[kimbac3]

We actually made it in 17 hrs. from the burbs of Philadelphia last year. This includes several food and bathroom stops.

We did too..from South Jersey!

 

[DaisyD]

What route is Mapquest giving you? I doubt you could make it from Annapolis to WDW in 14 hours unless you did 75 mph minimum. I live in Richmond, and it's been a few years since making the drive but we did it in 12-13 hours, probably averaging 70 mph. I would think it's an additional 2.5-3 hours from Richmond to Annapolis, making it 14.5 (at best) to 16 hours. Taking US 301 down into VA might shave some time off but not too much.

It takes us around 14 hours to get from Annapolis to the Poly. We've done it probably 10 times so far. Of course we break it up over a few days but it totals about 14 hours. We average 65-70mph.

 

[melmlantz]

I apologize in advance if this has already been asked..
We are driving down in November for the first time, from the Baltimore Maryland area. Anyone have a good suggestion for a halway point to stop for the night? Any reccomended hotels? We have six kids, so a place with suites OR an inexpensive place to get two rooms would be great. Thanks!

My husband and I drive from just north of Philadelphia, and usually drive straight through... but of course we don't have kids. From Baltimore, I would say Savannah GA might be a good bet. The nice part about that, is that you are right near the FL border by that point....... so you don't have nearly as far to drive the next day and can just get started on your vacation. The one time we stayed in Savannah, we stayed at the Country Inn and Suites. It was not very expensive at all; it was right off of I-95; it was nice, and there was also a Denny's like one exit away or nearby or something for breakfast.

 

[melmlantz]

What route is Mapquest giving you? I doubt you could make it from Annapolis to WDW in 14 hours unless you did 75 mph minimum. I live in Richmond, and it's been a few years since making the drive but we did it in 12-13 hours, probably averaging 70 mph. I would think it's an additional 2.5-3 hours from Richmond to Annapolis, making it 14.5 (at best) to 16 hours. Taking US 301 down into VA might shave some time off but not too much.

Actually, 14 sounds about right. Mapquest is very accurate in that even when you stop for food, gas, or whatever else, it usually takes about the amount of time they suggested. It takes us 16-17 hours to get from Allentown (north of Philly) to the Mouse. In October, it took us about 17.5-18 hours, and that was with me being sick *and* us stopping at South of the Border for an hour easily.

I'm about 2.5 hours from Annapolis, I think (about that far from Baltimore).... so 14 sounds right to me.

Plus don't forget, the speed limit on most of I-95 is 65, and in some spots it is actually 75. So going 75 to 80 mph (in the 75mph zones) is realistic.

 

[ctjtexan]

I read these boards often and am grateful for all the great info. We'll be taking the I-81 to I-77 route through VA, NC, SC. My husband would prefer not to get on 95 at all, so rather than take I-26 over to 95, I've been studying the maps. He'd love to cut over to 75 and take that in. There are a few US highways that look like a possible way to go.

Any info on US 301 or 84? I did searches for these and read about all the speed traps on 301 in FL. We plan to stay the first night in Orangeburg, SC, so it looks like we could pick up 301 there. Take that to 84, then through to 75.

We leave in 9 days! Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[pamouselover]

Hi fellow Pa'er!
Delware County here!
Thanks for the info. driving to see the mouse for the first time!

Actually, 14 sounds about right. Mapquest is very accurate in that even when you stop for food, gas, or whatever else, it usually takes about the amount of time they suggested. It takes us 16-17 hours to get from Allentown (north of Philly) to the Mouse. In October, it took us about 17.5-18 hours, and that was with me being sick *and* us stopping at South of the Border for an hour easily.

I'm about 2.5 hours from Annapolis, I think (about that far from Baltimore).... so 14 sounds right to me.

Plus don't forget, the speed limit on most of I-95 is 65, and in some spots it is actually 75. So going 75 to 80 mph (in the 75mph zones) is realistic.

 

[pamouselover]

Thought I would shar a link for fellow I-95 drivers.
http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

anyone take I-75?

 

[tinkerbell615]

anyone take I-75?

We will be leaving at the end of this week from SW Ohio and take I-75 all the way.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

cool... we are from east central Indiana... we will take I-65 to Nashville, TN.. and then I-75 from there to Florida!

 

[tinkerbell615]

I75 is a pretty nice drive. We don't mind it at all. It does look like there is some construction along the way according to our Triptik but not too much.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

i see.. do you know where that construction is exactly?

 

[CharityLynn]

We took I75 home last year and had no problems what so ever. We drive from SW Michigan. I was pretty amazed at how easy driving was for us, we drove straight through the first night (left at 3:30pm) ny husband and I did trade off for driving. We stopped in Valdosta Georgia, then drove on to Disney the next day. Amazingly we didn't run into any traffic, construction problems at all last year on any interstate, I hope our luck lasts this year.