For those folks driving!

[OklahomaTourist]

Hello, All...

Our family is planning its return trip to Disneyworld next month!!!! We're about to burst at the seams with excitement.

We're driving from central Oklahoma, heading east on I-40 to Memphis, then down 78 to Birmingham. We're planning a stopover in Memphis mid-day to visit the Mud Island museum before heading to Birmingham for the evening. That's day one. Day two is Birmingham to Tifton, then south into Orlando.

We took a different route on our last trip in '01, where we headed from Memphis to Huntsville, Alabama, to tour the space museum, which was really disappointing. Not doing that again, and saving a day en route.

I contemplated the south/gulf route, going down I-35 to Dallas, then heading east through Louisiana and the lower gulf route into Orlando. I opted not to take that route because I didn't want to parallel the Gulf the whole way.

We are, as most everyone else, counting the days - we leave in just under six weeks!!!! WOOHOOO

-OT

 

[PoohBuddy]

Does anyone know if there is a difference taking the Fort McHenry Tunnel vs the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore? We are driving down from the Philly area, leaving around 2:00 AM on a Saturday. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ham Ham]

http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Fort_McHenry_Tunnel.html
http://www.mdta.state.md.us/mdta/se...url=/TollFacilities/BaltimoreHarborTunnel.jsp

I-95 is the Fort McHenry Tunnel
I-895 is the Harbor Tunnel

 

[PoohBuddy]

I knew they were two different routes, I was just wondering if one is better/shorter thane the other. Thanks.

 

[Ham Ham]

Both routes appear equidistance to me.

 

[MinMouse]

Does anyone know if there is a difference taking the Fort McHenry Tunnel vs the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore? We are driving down from the Philly area, leaving around 2:00 AM on a Saturday. Thanks for the help.

We have made the drive from Wilmington, DE several times. We always take the Fort McHenry Tunnel right through Baltimore. At this time of day I don't think you'll run into any traffic issues regardless of which tunnel you use. We have never run into a back up in Baltimore but it does help if you have an EZ Pass . . . the other toll lanes do seem to back up.

 

[OklahomaTourist]

All

Been trying to plan out some more driving details for our trip next month, and have come across conflicting information about the extent of construction and attendant delays on the I-75 route in Georgia between Tifton and the Florida state line. Can anyone offer any details or information on this particular segment of interstate?

Many thanks,
OT

 

[Rhody73]

All

Been trying to plan out some more driving details for our trip next month, and have come across conflicting information about the extent of construction and attendant delays on the I-75 route in Georgia between Tifton and the Florida state line. Can anyone offer any details or information on this particular segment of interstate?


It just depends on the time you hit the area. There is literally construction for 30+ miles north of the Florida Welcome Center. Going down we hit an accident on a bridge and lost 90 minutes. Going North we sailed right through.

 

[Rhody73]

We drive 1,400 miles to Florida several times a year. We always shop around and make our hotel reservations ahead. This past trip I made a reservation in a Best Western In NC for $63( AAA Discount) per night which was $10 cheaper than a Jamison we normally stay at. When we stopped in the NC Welcome Center I grabbed one of those coupon books and the same hotel was listed at $45 per night. I called and they swapped my reservation to the lower rate. So where we normally pay $73 we paid $45 for a comparable place.
I always thought those coupon books were just ads but they saved us $18 or even $28. I am sure the "coupon rooms" all face the highway but we didn't hear a thing since we had been on the road for 12 hours. So have a reservation but check those books.

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

It just depends on the time you hit the area. There is literally construction for 30+ miles north of the Florida Welcome Center. Going down we hit an accident on a bridge and lost 90 minutes. Going North we sailed right through.

We will be hitting 75 in Georgia from about midnight to 6am. What should we expect? Any thoughts?

 

[Rhody73]

We will be hitting 75 in Georgia from about midnight to 6am. What should we expect? Any thoughts

I am not sure if the bulk of the work is being done days or nights.

 

[jagar100]

I read somewhere that by the end of the year gas will be approx. $200 a barrell. That's $7.50 per gallon in my area. By the time December gets here, there NO WAY we could afford to drive!!! Check out the calculator, you input your vehicle year make & model as well for a more accurate cost.

http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/TripGasprice.aspx

 

[mgilmer]

All

Been trying to plan out some more driving details for our trip next month, and have come across conflicting information about the extent of construction and attendant delays on the I-75 route in Georgia between Tifton and the Florida state line. Can anyone offer any details or information on this particular segment of interstate?


It just depends on the time you hit the area. There is literally construction for 30+ miles north of the Florida Welcome Center. Going down we hit an accident on a bridge and lost 90 minutes. Going North we sailed right through.

Check out this site for real time traffic and construction information throughout Georgia:
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/

 

[cranbiz]

Does anyone know if there is a difference taking the Fort McHenry Tunnel vs the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore? We are driving down from the Philly area, leaving around 2:00 AM on a Saturday. Thanks for the help.

It's just about the same amount of time. My GPS always routes my thru the Harbor tunnel, it seems to think it's faster.

 

[Lumpster's Mom]

We are considering driving from Fort Worth, TX in August. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best route?

 

[OklahomaTourist]

Lumpster,

Looks to me like you've got a couple of decent choices.

This is probably the most direct route, starting with I-20 thru Mississippi...then down to catch I-10, then to I-75....looks like 17 hours.

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/6-fJ_DuA*HbGNJ

For me, I'm not crazy about driving that coastal route...don't ask me why...if you want an alternative, staying on I-20 farther into 'Bama, then jump down US280 to just south of Tifton, GA, then on I-75 into Orlando.

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/8-bb8_bG_sm2e2UFYkEicc

 

[genetic jackhammer]

Thank you for the fuel calculator, I'll definitely keep this as we are considering driving to Disney next year instead of flying. Even with escalating driving costs, thje cost of airfare is increasing too so it still may be more beneficial to drive than fly, unless a too good to be true fare comes up.

Once again thanks for the calculator link.

 

[beachpal]

I knew they were two different routes, I was just wondering if one is better/shorter thane the other. Thanks.

I live in the area and travel that section of 95 a lot to visit my parents in DC. I usually take the harbor tunnel during heavy traffic times but the Ft McHenry the other times. The distance difference is negligible. Give the time you are leaving I would take the Ft McHenry. That one has 4 tunnels each way whereas the Harbor Tunnel has only 2 so if an accident happens in the Harbor Tunnel, it's more of a nightmare. Safe travels!

 

[Goofy22]

As we are at the 3 month mark it is looking more and more like we will be driving this time to florida I just can't justify paying over $1000 for airfare never have in the past! Unless we get a last minute deal some say at the 30 day marks you get good deals we shall see if not we will be driving!

 

[pilferk]

As we are at the 3 month mark it is looking more and more like we will be driving this time to florida I just can't justify paying over $1000 for airfare never have in the past! Unless we get a last minute deal some say at the 30 day marks you get good deals we shall see if not we will be driving!

We're running up to the 6 month mark, and I'm becoming more and more sure of the same thing.

Maybe SW will run one of their deals for early December....we'll see.