For those folks driving!

[mamapajama]

we drove straight thru last time, from Deptford, and it was tough. i cant sleept in the car so i did all the driving. we left at 9pm, in SC about 830 am. we got to FW at 3:30. I was tired. By Wed. that lost sleep catches up with you. this time we are leaving thurs at 2am, staying in brunswick GA which is about 1/2 hour from the FL border. this way we will be rested and have a whole day in the parks. just not looking forward to the rising gas prices I have a durago with a hemi, not too good on gas I actually enjoy the drive down.

We just bought an 06 Durango, no Hemi but a V8. But I love it and my Liberty was just too small with 2 teens and a car seat!

 

[mskermit]

We just bought an 06 Durango, no Hemi but a V8. But I love it and my Liberty was just too small with 2 teens and a car seat!

i like mine too. i bought it last year used with 52,000 miles on it. it has big 22 inch rims on it, tinted windows and loud exhaust!! I got such a good deal on it and it was already customized! I think its my mid life crisis!!!I got rid of the mini van, kids are grown, really no need for the van. i just needed something to tow the camper and room enough for the wheelchair. It is horrible on gas tho!! we have put away 600.00 to use for the drive down and back, hope that covers it!!!!

 

[diznee25]

Hi everyone!

We're drivng down in December, and this will be our third time driving from Maryland to Florida, about a 14 hour drive.

The first time we drove out, we left at 2:30am which was really difficult considering we didn't go to bed until 10:30pm. By the time we arrived at PC (5pm), we were so exhausted and we decided we'd never leave that early again.

So the plan for this trip is to leave at 4am on Sunday. I still can't decide whether to take 301 south, or just start on I-95. Can I shave off some time by taking one over the other, or does it matter? We live in Annapolis, and have always taken 301 south, just because we're so close to it.

Thanks,
diznee25

 

[katybugsmom]

Hi everyone!

We're drivng down in December, and this will be our third time driving from Maryland to Florida, about a 14 hour drive.

The first time we drove out, we left at 2:30am which was really difficult considering we didn't go to bed until 10:30pm. By the time we arrived at PC (5pm), we were so exhausted and we decided we'd never leave that early again.

So the plan for this trip is to leave at 4am on Sunday. I still can't decide whether to take 301 south, or just start on I-95. Can I shave off some time by taking one over the other, or does it matter? We live in Annapolis, and have always taken 301 south, just because we're so close to it.

Thanks,
diznee25

We'll be driving down in Dec. too, but from SC! Lots closer! 301 goes right through my little town and a lot of others! We ALWAYS take I-95 because we can get to where we are going much faster! How far away from I-95 are you? You might start out on 301, but I'd jump on the interstate as soon as possible!

 

[diznee25]

I just looked on Google Earth, and it looks like we're about 20 miles from I-95. Not bad, plus the fact that I-95 has a higher speed limit then 301 south and no traffic lights.

So I guess we'll just take I-95 all the way thru!

Let's see, you must have like a 7-8 hour drive from SC, right? I'm so jealous!

diznee25

 

[katybugsmom]

I just looked on Google Earth, and it looks like we're about 20 miles from I-95. Not bad, plus the fact that I-95 has a higher speed limit then 301 south and no traffic lights.

So I guess we'll just take I-95 all the way thru!

Let's see, you must have like a 7-8 hour drive from SC, right? I'm so jealous!

diznee25

Don't be too jealous-I have a bad back and can't drive or ride more than 4 hours a day!!!! It actually takes us two days and the added cost of a hotel going down and coming back! I've had to rent a scooter for our last two trips. I'm hoping if I lose a few pounds and strengthen some muscles I'll be able to walk the parks-maybe even drive a little further!
Hope you guys have a great trip! We'll be staying at POPs for the first time!

 

[mskermit]

Does anyone know from virginia to South Carolina, are there any Dunkin Donuts along I-95. Myself I am a WAWA coffee drinker and I know they stop at some point in Virginia. I am going to need coffee for this drive so I need to figure this out. Nothing like stopping somewhere and gettting horrible coffee!!!

 

[java]

Does anyone know from virginia to South Carolina, are there any Dunkin Donuts along I-95. Myself I am a WAWA coffee drinker and I know they stop at some point in Virginia. I am going to need coffee for this drive so I need to figure this out. Nothing like stopping somewhere and gettting horrible coffee!!!

I know there is a Starbucks in Lumberton NC

Dunkin Donuts near Fayettville I believe.

If you go to Google maps and search Dunkin Donuts in North Carolina you will see the ones that are along I-95

 

[kidd_freeper]

Does anyone know from virginia to South Carolina, are there any Dunkin Donuts along I-95. Myself I am a WAWA coffee drinker and I know they stop at some point in Virginia. I am going to need coffee for this drive so I need to figure this out. Nothing like stopping somewhere and gettting horrible coffee!!!

The southernmost WaWa is at 3199 South Crater Road, Petersburg, VA on I95

You can find all of them by
1. go to www.google.com
2. on the top left of the page, click on "Maps"
3. type in Dunkin' Donuts and click on Search Maps
4. use your mouse to position the map and the wheel on the mouse to zoom in/out on the region of interest.

There is a DD at 1669 East Market Street, Smithfield, NC‎...otherwise you'll have to travel 3-4 miles off of I95 to get to a DD south of Petersburg

 

[mskermit]

thank you to all my fellow coffee drinkers!!!

 

[danalee]

Hi everyone

So i just found this thread and started to go over it page by page(which could take a while, lol) thats ok I need all advice,tips, hints I can get! We will be making our first drive to WDW come this September~

Anybody here drive from Pittsburgh PA(or there abouts)?? If so where do you stop over nite, if you do? and what route(s) do you take? I have had a couple folks say 'take 95" others say avoid it at all cost

again any help would be so welcomed!!
thanks

 

[scottb8888]

We have traveled 77-26-95 a half a dozen times... we find we can get to the Embassy Suites in Brunswick just in time for happy hour. It's attached to the mall with many shopping and food choices and a great free cooked to order breakfast in the am. All in all a good value!

 

[ILVPOOH]

Anyone else count the "Pedro South of the Border" signs while heading south. We are bored so we do crazy stuff to make the time go quicker. We counted 100 signs, but we could be off by a few signs. We will probably double check our number when we drive down in November.

 

[katybugsmom]

Anyone else count the "Pedro South of the Border" signs while heading south. We are bored so we do crazy stuff to make the time go quicker. We counted 100 signs, but we could be off by a few signs. We will probably double check our number when we drive down in November.

That sounds about right! I live 10 miles from South of the Border!

 

[SondraC]

Hi everyone

So i just found this thread and started to go over it page by page(which could take a while, lol) thats ok I need all advice,tips, hints I can get! We will be making our first drive to WDW come this September~

Anybody here drive from Pittsburgh PA(or there abouts)?? If so where do you stop over nite, if you do? and what route(s) do you take? I have had a couple folks say 'take 95" others say avoid it at all cost

again any help would be so welcomed!!
thanks

Hello neighbor! We are in the process of trying to throw together a trip for June! We are usually such planners this last minute trip is putting me in a frenzy!
We are going to drive it, even though we usually fly. That's is the way we are pulling off this last minute trip though. We are going on a cruise in July, so we are budgeting on the travel down.
I drove this once before in 1991, but that was before kids, but they are 16 & 17, and we have a minivan so that should be okay.
For our routes AAA & google has us going 119/19/77/95. When I drove this before we did 95 down, but the nice lady @ AAA stated that was because we were coming from Johnstown at the time. She also said that if we try to do 95 from the 'burgh it would add another hour. It looks like our kids will miss South of the Border!
I was going to post on the 2,000 mile thread, but saw this post from you and thought I would chime in.

 

[danalee]

Hello neighbor! We are in the process of trying to throw together a trip for June! We are usually such planners this last minute trip is putting me in a frenzy!
We are going to drive it, even though we usually fly. That's is the way we are pulling off this last minute trip though. We are going on a cruise in July, so we are budgeting on the travel down.
I drove this once before in 1991, but that was before kids, but they are 16 & 17, and we have a minivan so that should be okay.
For our routes AAA & google has us going 119/19/77/95. When I drove this before we did 95 down, but the nice lady @ AAA stated that was because we were coming from Johnstown at the time. She also said that if we try to do 95 from the 'burgh it would add another hour. It looks like our kids will miss South of the Border!
I was going to post on the 2,000 mile thread, but saw this post from you and thought I would chime in.

Hey there!! thanks for chiming in...I to am in a tizzy and we dont leave til September!
We are actualy in Kittanning PA about 35-40 minutes north of Pittsburgh but nobody ever knows where that is so Pittsburgh it is!! We have two differnt routes "picked" out both ending up with 95, its just the starting points that are different

Please try and post back about your drive, I would love some "local" insight! We have an 11 & 6 year old making the trip with us, should prove interesting

Good Luck on your drive & have a great trip!! i am off to check out AAA

 

[mrodgers]

We are actualy in Kittanning PA about 35-40 minutes north of Pittsburgh but nobody ever knows where that is so Pittsburgh it is!!

We say Pittsburgh also. I know better where Kittanning is than the area of Pittsburgh, hehe. Grew up in Butler, but now live way up near I-80, which is only 20 miles from Butler and where I work, but everyone thinks I live so far away from work.

 

[danalee]

We say Pittsburgh also. I know better where Kittanning is than the area of Pittsburgh, hehe. Grew up in Butler, but now live way up near I-80, which is only 20 miles from Butler and where I work, but everyone thinks I live so far away from work.

So you get it!!! I say Kittanning and people act like they have to take a covered wagon and canoe just to get here really I can hit rt28 (which is 2 minutes from my house) follow it straight to Pittsburgh and be at a Steeler/Penguin game in 35-40 minutes...nice to see I'm not alone

 

[DisFan331]

We are leaving on a Saturday in August from central CT. How is traffic through the DC area on a Saturday?

 

[beachpal]

I live just north of Baltimore and travel down 95 frequently to visit my mom who still lives outside of DC and the traffic is always a toss up. I actually think it is worse in the summer than during the school year. The volume is heavy but it moves (as long as there is not an accident) so if you are a patient person, it shouldn't bother you much. If you suffer from freqent bouts of road rage, you should probably consider another route.