For those folks driving!

[JenSinMA]

You can do it! When we've done the drive (from Eastern Mass...about the same distance as you) we've done the same thing: short to medium drive the first day depending on when we can leave, then a long day in the middle, and a short day to finish up. It's not bad.
What happened to the Direct Air flights?

Nevermind...I'm reading the thread on the DA cancellations right now. How awful. Kudos to you on maintaining such a good attitude.

 

[pigletto]

You can do it! When we've done the drive (from Eastern Mass...about the same distance as you) we've done the same thing: short to medium drive the first day depending on when we can leave, then a long day in the middle, and a short day to finish up. It's not bad.
What happened to the Direct Air flights?

Nevermind...I'm reading the thread on the DA cancellations right now. How awful. Kudos to you on maintaining such a good attitude.

Thank you!!

We have to look at it as an adventure! Many people have done this drive.. we can too! And the kids are just being awesome about it and already planning

 

[fbarker]

we drove from chgo on sunday march 4th using the same route we had no major construction delays but it was a sunday we drive down on the weekends to avoid nashville & atlanta rush hour delays the indiana exit at henryville and rest stops closed to everyone due to the tornadoes national guards posted at exits to allow only residents to exit you can see the damage from 65 but the roads were clean kentucky had some constuction in the center lanes causing lane closures leaving only 2 lanes open traffic was heavy but moving have a great trip travel safe

Thanks for the information I really appreciate it.

But right now I am a bit confused. It's March 15th and I am sitting in my back room with the door and windows open enoying 80 degree weather at 7:10pm. What winter??

 

[hearts8701]

Thanks for the information I really appreciate it.

But right now I am a bit confused. It's March 15th and I am sitting in my back room with the door and windows open enoying 80 degree weather at 7:10pm. What winter??

it has been the best winter ever have a safe trip

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Here in Kissimmee now and gas is running about $3.75 average. Up and down a few cents depending on the day. We will be heading home to NJ in a few weeks. Any ideas on the advisabiity of cutting off of 95 just after Richmond Va and getting on 301? We hit terrible delays on the way down and dont look forward to that going back. We will be traveling on Sat, staying over one night and hope to get home sometime Sunday? TIA for any input/ suggestions. Grammy

 

[mally29]

Looks like we may be driving in August. I have always wanted to, but hubby does not. He may fly with my brother in law and I will hit the road with my 17, 13, and 6 year old. We will be traveling from se mass...I have read a lot about travel through dc, and changing routes. What is the suggested route?

Also, any suggestions on places to stay? Thinking of either two short days and one long there, and two long back.

Thanks!

 

[aggordon2]

I am so glad that I found this board!! We have been driving down the last four years always in August and this August is no exception. I live in the heart of NYC and we usually leave about 4 or 5 in the morning. Drive straight to Florence, SC and stop for the night, then onto Disney the next day. The trip is not that bad and the family are pretty good travelers (so far). As everyone has mentioned the worst part of the trip is from DC to Richmond, VA. It always seems to be a parking lot no matter what time we get there. Luckily we found a few exits in that stretch that offers us a breather from traffic.

 

[Tallent]

I'm considering an August trip this year but dh will have already used his vacation days for our family summer vacation. My mom lives in the WDW area so it's a good chance for her to pal around with the grandkids at Disney when we go. I'm thinking of driving from the Baltimore area with ds who'd be 7 by then and dd 10. DD is a good traveler, ds gets car sick but does well with children's bonine. Any suggestions for how to do it without sharing the drive? We could take 3 days to drive down and 2 to drive home.--even considering driving down the whole way and doing the auto train for the way home. I have to be back at work on the 14th. Dis dates would be Aug 5-12 with us leaving for home on the 12th.

 

[caitlinsdad]

We also do the Aug drive from CT to WDW,
Not a problem, just do your own pace and enjoy the trip.

 

[linzmot]

You all are making me so happy that we live in Mississippi. We drive 5 hours to south Alabama, spend the night with our family (where we are from). Then we drive the last 6 hours the next day. Not as good as when we lived in Atlanta, but still not bad!!

 

[cah5525]

I see others traveling from NY and Canada and just wanted to share our experience...we just drove from the Lake George, NY region to DW last month. I have always taken I-87 to I-95. Seems that I would always hit construction/accidents/back-ups no matter the time of day we left. This time, we went through Binghamton (88 to 81) and eventually to 95. Mapquest said it would add an hour to the trip...NOT really! Not when you account for all of the delays you would run into driving straight south. Plus, no tolls!!! we were in the D.C. area at 8 a.m. and traffic did pick up but remained steady, about 55 mph. This was the least stressful driving trip to Florida that I have ever taken! I will never again drive the 87 to 95 route.
Another tip - all of those city loops (you know the 295, 495, etc.) they were meant to divert traffic that didn't need to go into metro areas. Well guess what? Since everyone today uses gps, they are all congesting those loops. We stayed on the 95 through Richmond and rocky mount areas and it was a breeze! Why add the extra miles to go around? Planning this same trip again for Dec. but might have to buy train tickets now as a back-up in case the gas prices reach $5

 

[julluvsdisney]

Looks like we may be driving in August. I have always wanted to, but hubby does not. He may fly with my brother in law and I will hit the road with my 17, 13, and 6 year old. We will be traveling from se mass...I have read a lot about travel through dc, and changing routes. What is the suggested route?

Also, any suggestions on places to stay? Thinking of either two short days and one long there, and two long back.

Thanks!

Hi There neighbor! We are from the south shore area of mass and are taking our 2nd car trip in august. Last year we did it in july. We left at 8pm hit dc around 5am arrived at disney at about 6pm it wasnt too bad! No real traffic. We had planned on stopping in south carolina but we knew orlando was only a few short hrs away so we pushed it! Few things I wish I had known for the way back. Dont go to a park on your depature day. We went to MK until about 3 didnt leav the orlando area until 5 or 6 by the time we got to GA we had had enough so we got a hotel That of course made day two AWFUL! This time we will leave at about 9am and get to about VA and stop for the night. Then make our way to PA to see my father -in-law then trek home mid day on day 3. If my father-in-law wasnt moving to PA (today actually he is moving) we wouldnt split it up into 3 days we just wanted to visit with him. If he wasnt in PA we would make it a 2 day trip! The trip down is way easier since your excited! The way back is more tiring for sure! Good luck! We LOVE driving!! Seeing the states change is AWESOME!!!!

 

[peppermintpea]

so glad to have found this thread....
this is going to be our first time driving (eek) from northern il to wdw...husband is kinda nervous but flying is soooooo expensive for 5 of us right now!!

hints, help, tricks,???? we are driving straight through
thanks!

 

[flagdaytwins]

We reserved a 12-passenger Ford/Chevy van for our trip from New England to Orlando. It was all good until....I came across this other van rental option:

http://www.fullerrv.com/rental_item.asp?id=202

It's a bit more money but is it worth it? The fact that it has a bathroom has me totally distracted. And a microwave, and a fridge, and a stove.....

Any thoughts, has anyone rented a Sprinter Cruiser?

 

[areno79]

Hey all,
We're making our 4th driving trip down from NH to FL in just a couple of weeks. We were going to leave early on Friday April 20, stop for the night in Florence, SC, then get to Orlando around 4pm on Saturday (when we can check into the villa we're renting). However, hubby wants to leave YESTERDAY so he wants to leave on Thursday afternoon/evening, and stop for 2 nights. Our biggest concern is getting by they NYC/DC traffic.
I was thinking of leaving at 4PM on Thursday, driving to Wilmington DE, stopping for the night, then taking the 301 around DC on Friday morning. Then stop in Savannah on Friday night, and take our time getting to Orlando on Saturday morning.
I'm not really sure if we should stick with this plan, or try to drive a couple extra hours on Thursday night and get a motel somewhere after going through DC. That would mean us getting to DC around 1AM, then we'll probably leave around 8AM the next morning for GA.
So, you experienced drivers...what do you think?
The other option is driving completely around NYC/DC (81, I think?)...but I think at that time of night we should be good going down 95.

 

[Braydon]

Nice sharing.
I hope you add more info, we are coming from central
Texas for the first time and have no idea how long it will really take...

 

[Lees3rwe]

Anyone driving from NY or below, Rocky Mount, NC is a great little stop over. I recommend staying at the Country Inn & Suites and having a great meal at the Highway Diner. We also have an awesome Children's Museum with a digital Planetarium and Art Museum that isn't too far off of the highway if the kids need to blow off some steam! And it is free on Sundays! (charge for Planetarium though, but the museums are free!).

 

[matdamom]

We are driving down from SW VA at the end of May. We'll take I-26 down to I-95. But I'm very concerned about driving 95, and delays and traffic, etc. So far, I've not seen anyone take a more "scenic" route. Does anyone not go I-95? And is there a website where I can get information on delays/construction/accidents?

 

[domiii]

Is there any place I can go to see the gas prices from NJ to FL??

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

Is there any place I can go to see the gas prices from NJ to FL??

GasBuddy
http://www.gasbuddy.com/