For those folks driving!

[cranbiz]

I guess it depends on what you want to do at South of the Border.

I don't get there usually while the whole place is open and yes, it's a dump but the food is good if you are looking for a quick inexpensive meal.

We normally get there around 8am and Pedro's diner is always open and has fresh food cooked to order. You can get a full breakfast for about $5.00. The diner is definately not the Ritz but it's safe.

 

[TrsisHi]

We are driving from Scranton, PA in June. We'd like to drive more than halfway on our first day. I need suggestions on where to stop. After reading through these boards, I think we'll take the 81-77-26-95 route. I think we'll leave aound 3 or 4am. I don't want to drive through the night. Can anyone help?

Teresa

 

[baileybelle]

Teresa:

On our last trip down this past October, we went the 81-77-26-95 route and hated it. The 77-26 part is very mountainous and slow going with all the trucks. Charlotte, NC was a nightmare with all the construction going on.

On the way back we went 95-295 (around Richmond, VA)-95-17-66-81. We cut off more than 1 hour going this way. I've also heard that going 81-64-288(around Richmond)-95 is a good route.

We left Maine at 1am and got to Rock Hill, SC around 6pm, 17 hours, with just bathroom breaks and one lunch stop. The next day it took us about 8 hours to reach WDW. We brought lots of food and water with us. So about 25 hours total.

On the way back we left Orlando at 5 am and reached Chambersburg, PA around 7pm, about 14 hours. From Chamberburg, PA to Maine, it took us about 10 hours. So a total of 24 hours.

I'd guess it's about 17 hours from Scranton to WDW. You could probably do it all in one day or you could stop in Brunswick, Georgia or around Jacksonville, FL for the night. Good Luck and have a great trip!!

 

[TrsisHi]

That's very helpful, thank you. Somewhere else on this thread I saw someone suggest the 81-64-288-95 route. I'll start looking into that,

Teresa

 

[kimnscott]

we are thinking of driving from oklahoma in december for a suprise trip. we woould like to get as close as we can to disney the night before we actually want to go to the park. Well my questions are what is the best route to take and the best hotelk to stay at for a cheap place to rest up for the parks the next day. any info would be great.
TIA
kim

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

We are taking our first car trip (with kids) from Columbus, Ohio to Disney in October. We had planned to take 77 to 95 and then in. Any sugestions?

We too will be driving from Central (Hilliard) Ohio and would greatly appreciate any advice on good hotels in the GA/Fl border area or closer to WDW. and any places that we should steer clear of. Has anyone else here driven this (OH to WDW)?

 

[Stitch1404]

Not sure where Hilliard is, but we are probably driving down from Cincinnati Ohio and I am wondering a good place to stop at the Florida/Georgia border too. I am also not sure how long it is going to take us.

 

[corinascot]

We drove from Ohio the past 2 years. Are you driving I-77 to I-95? That's the route we took. We liked the Country Inn and Suites in Kingsland, GA. It's at the FL border. It's about 3 hours from WDW. Buy your gas in GA, b/c it's more expensive in FL.

We liked eating at Sonny's BBQ on the way down and our son loved the buffet at SHoney's (cheap.)

Stopping at the FL welcome center was fun. Free OJ.

We actually enjoyed our drive. We're flying for the first time b/c of time restraints.

Have fun!

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

Thanks fellow Buckeyes. We do plan on the 77/95 route. Kingsland, GA was on our list of a possible stop. Do you need reservations for Country Inn, will calling from the road a few hours in advance or should we do it days or weeks in advance? We plan to leave the house around 6-6:30 am is this an ok time to leave? By the way Hilliard is a suburb of Columbus. Thanks again for all of your help to one unexperienced WDW traveler.

 

[corinascot]

Thanks fellow Buckeyes. We do plan on the 77/95 route. Kingsland, GA was on our list of a possible stop. Do you need reservations for Country Inn, will calling from the road a few hours in advance or should we do it days or weeks in advance? We plan to leave the house around 6-6:30 am is this an ok time to leave? By the way Hilliard is a suburb of Columbus. Thanks again for all of your help to one unexperienced WDW traveler.

We reserved ahead of time. You could also reserve and then cancel from the road. You have til 6 pm to cancel without charge, I think. If you get there by dinner time, they offer a discount to the 3 restaurants that are next door. One's an Applebees, one I can't remember and the other is a local Italian place we enjoyed. It took us about 12 hours to get to Kingsland. We were glad we stopped there b/c the exits around Jacksonville looked a little seedy.

 

[scottb8888]

We too will be driving from Central (Hilliard) Ohio and would greatly appreciate any advice on good hotels in the GA/Fl border area or closer to WDW. and any places that we should steer clear of. Has anyone else here driven this (OH to WDW)?

When are you going? We are leaving the middle of October... We are going down the costal route (77 to 95). We plan to stay in Hilton Head for a day or two on the way. We hope that the visit will break up the trip.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

We will be going June, 23-30. 77-95 also. I am contempleting staying an extra 3 nights at St. Auguetine Beach 6/20-6/23 before we head to WDW. I just have not convinced my frugal husband yet.

 

[corinascot]

We stayed at St. Simon's Island in GA. on the way home to break up the trip a couple years ago. It worked out well and we could spend a few days at the beach. We stayed a at VERY inexpensive place at St. Simon's. It's a Methodist retreat called Epworth by the Sea. They cater mostly to retreats and scout groups, but they rent to individuals, also. We stayed in a regular motel room. They had a great, inexpensive cafeteria, too. and a small pool. We're not Methodist, either. I think we paid $55/night.

 

[hannahsmomma]

Does anyone know of a good place to stop, somewhere in GA off of 95, that has an indoor pool? I would love to tire the kids out before we hit the road. Last time we stopped in Savannah, but I don't know if we will make it that far this time. TIA.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

Well our plans have changed again. The beach is out an additional day at POP is in. We plan to leave on 6/21 sometime in the morning and stay somewhere in the Carolinas We will then head to WDW and hope to be at POP in the late afternoon. Our new plan will eliminate the need to leave our home at the crack of dawn and then leave the next day bright and early also and be too tired to enjoy our 1st day Our first park day will be 6/23.

 

[Flyerfan]

Does anyone know if the area around Walterboro, SC is safe to stop over?

We are in the planning stages of a December drive from NEPA (81-77-26-95)and have been looking at this area.

 

[cranbiz]

Walterboro has several typical motels there, I would consider Santee instead as there are many more places there plus outlet shopping. Santee is around mile 98, Waltersboro is around mile 50.

I will normally stop for gas in the Walterboro area but i'm not overly excited about staying there.

 

[SomePixiedust]

We stayed over in Walterboro several years ago. I don't remember anything being particularly wrong with the area. We stop around 8pm and are on the road early--not looking for anything other than a shower and bed. It was fine.

 

[Flyerfan]

Thanks. We're basically just stopping to sleep and eat as we will be travelling far that day.

 

[TrsisHi]

We're driving from NEPA in June. We're planning on staying over in Orangeburg, SC. Our friends who drive every year always stop there.