For those folks driving!

[heisman77]

In June we are packing up the family truckster (in the metalic pea ) to head to Disney from St Louis. We flew last time two years ago when our boys were 5 and 3. Has anyone else made the drive from St Louis? Where is a good place to stop for the first day so that we can only have a bit of a drive the second day and start to enjoy Disney.

 

[JonS99]

Where is a good place to stop for the first day so that we can only have a bit of a drive the second day and start to enjoy Disney.

Maingate West

 

[Mainers1stime]

We just came back and the I-95 trip from NC to NJ alone took us 16 hours. We left WDW and stopped in Fayetteville NC for the night. We were able to find a more than decent Motel 6, it was very clean and only about $45w/ queen beds. Enjoy the trip.

 

[pilferk]

We just came back and the I-95 trip from NC to NJ alone took us 16 hours. We left WDW and stopped in Fayetteville NC for the night. We were able to find a more than decent Motel 6, it was very clean and only about $45w/ queen beds. Enjoy the trip.

WOW!! Did you hit major traffic? Around DC maybe? I'm just wondering what made the drive so long.

It's never taken us more than 20 to 21 hours from CT to Orlando....about 15 - 16 from NJ to Orlando...before. But we tend to hit DC WELL after rush hour (or on the weekends) so don't get snagged up in the 2 to 3 hours you can spend on the beltway.

 

[Mainers1stime]

We were fine until we got north of Richmond VA. The traffic was so heavy, to a crawl in 3 different locations. There were no accidents that we could see, so I'm not quite sure what the reason was. I do know that I will from now on take the route we took down to WDW. That was such a relaxing drive. We took 84-81-77-26-95 like many have suggested. I would recommend this route to anyone traveling from New England area. We figured we'd try the 95 route on the return trip just so we could see DC and NY city. I can do without that next time. The trip was a dream other than the long drive home, we got home and all I can think about while watching another foot of snow fall from the sky is getting back to WDW as soon as possible.

 

[pilferk]

We were fine until we got north of Richmond VA. The traffic was so heavy, to a crawl in 3 different locations. There were no accidents that we could see, so I'm not quite sure what the reason was. I do know that I will from now on take the route we took down to WDW. That was such a relaxing drive. We took 84-81-77-26-95 like many have suggested. I would recommend this route to anyone traveling from New England area. We figured we'd try the 95 route on the return trip just so we could see DC and NY city. I can do without that next time. The trip was a dream other than the long drive home, we got home and all I can think about while watching another foot of snow fall from the sky is getting back to WDW as soon as possible.

Gotcha...yeah, the traffic can be killer if you're taking those roads during the main parts of the day...especially during the week. What time were you coming through there?

Your story is precisely why I try to time things so I hit DC (going south from CT) at about 7 to 8 PM-ish, and Richmond (going back north from CT) at around the same time. Things seem to thin out by then. Oh, and I avoid NYC like the plague because, no matter WHEN we hit the GW bridge it seems like traffic slows to a crawl.

I, too, like, the 84-81-77-26-95 route...but am too chicken to commit to it during the winter months. I'm always nervous we'll hit "weather" and hate to have to replan our route at the last minute. The nice thing about the route we take (84-684-Sawmill-287-Garden State-95) is all the roads are pretty well traveled and maintained during the winter months. But I wouldn't hesitate to take the route you suggest again, during spring, summer, and fall.

 

[Funwith4kids]

In June we are packing up the family truckster (in the metalic pea ) to head to Disney from St Louis. We flew last time two years ago when our boys were 5 and 3. Has anyone else made the drive from St Louis? Where is a good place to stop for the first day so that we can only have a bit of a drive the second day and start to enjoy Disney.

Not sure what "bit of a drive" means in your mind (a few hrs, 5 minutes, etc..).

From Central IL area, it is 14 hrs to Valdosta, GA, leaving 3-4 hrs the next day. Others stop in Ocala or drive all the way to Kissimmee as a previous poster recommends. You can use freetrip.com to assist with hrs remaining along your route to plan stops.

Best of luck in your planning.

 

[PattnFmly]

Is Boston to DC about 10 hrs? We are thinking of leaving about 2:30 pm after the kids get out of school. Not sure of our route yet, looking to travel in the Spring so we are only just looking at routes. Will also get a Triptik from AAA when we get closer.

 

[dawz1026]

we are 4.0 hours from Boston (uncle lives there) and we are western Long Island and it takes us 3.5 hrs maybe 4 to DC doing 55-60mph.So you are pretty close with the timing.Make sure you are careful the times you leave due to work traffic...it killed us in DC at 7am and all the way through VA...took us 2 hours longer than usual.If you hit NY area around 5 its trouble after 7 you are good

 

[Disneynutbsv]

BP or Exxon Gas stations on 95?

 

[MinMouse]

Once you are south of Delaware there are no gas stations on I95. You must exit for all gas. You might want to check out http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm It has all gas and food information for exits in VA, NC, SC, GA & FL. We print it out and use it as a reference on our drive down.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Once you are south of Delaware there are no gas stations on I95. You must exit for all gas. You might want to check out http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm It has all gas and food information for exits in VA, NC, SC, GA & FL. We print it out and use it as a reference on our drive down.

Thanks for the link!!

 

[cranbiz]

We just came back and the I-95 trip from NC to NJ alone took us 16 hours. We left WDW and stopped in Fayetteville NC for the night. We were able to find a more than decent Motel 6, it was very clean and only about $45w/ queen beds. Enjoy the trip.

That seems awfully long. Did you hit construction or traffic?

I usually did the entire trip in 19-22 hours from MA to FL. In fact my DB did the trip from MA to my house in 20.5 hours last week. he left Mansfield at 4am and pulled into my driveway at 12:30am

 

[cranbiz]

Once you are south of Delaware there are no gas stations on I95. You must exit for all gas. You might want to check out http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm It has all gas and food information for exits in VA, NC, SC, GA & FL. We print it out and use it as a reference on our drive down.

Technically, that's incorrect. There are gas stations on I95 in MD before you get to Baltimore. However once past Baltimore, MinMouse is correct.

 

[MinMouse]

Technically, that's incorrect. There are gas stations on I95 in MD before you get to Baltimore. However once past Baltimore, MinMouse is correct.

Oops . . . I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification cranbiz!

 

[KNJWDW]

We may be a little looney, but we have decided to drive down to WDW next summer with our 2 kiddos (4 and 7). We can't decide which route to take. Does anyone have any thoughts on which would be better: taking 57 thru IL or taking 65 thru IN?

Thanks!

 

[JonS99]

Coming from the far southwestern part of the Chicago area, we always take 57/24/75, always find the traffic to be far less..

 

[Funwith4kids]

Coming from Central IL, it is the same mileage if we take 74 over to 65 or 74 to 57. We have found it is quicker to take 57 as there is far less traffic and avoids 2 major cities - Indy and Louisville.

 

[KNJWDW]

Thanks for the replies. We are going to take 57!

 

[JonS99]

Like others have always said, one of the big things when going down 75 is to try to hit Atlanta during non rush hour times.. And obviously you will want to do the same with Chicago..

We are doing this trip in June and my wife talked me into taking two days instead of our normal stright through, so that first day we will get south of Atlanta so we are beyond it when we start day #2...