For those who have driven from NH or VT

[pyrxtc]

Were doyou stop to get out and stretch your legs? We will be leaving on a Friday afternoon between 1 and 3 PM. We ned to be at the Holiday Inn on saturday evening for check-in. Iplan on calling when in GA to let them know we may be later than the 4 PM check-in. (but hopefully not too much later) we will be eating dinner in the car but want to stretch at about 8 Pm. I will have 5 kids ages 14, 11,8,4,2 in the car with me. We are driving straight through.

We will be stopping for Breakfast in the morning and grabbing drive-thru food for lunch with a stretch somewhere after lunch. We don't want to stop too many times. all of our kids are pretty good in the car and the two younger will probably sleep from about 1 til 3 or 4 in the car..

Any help will be appreciated but we will not stop for sleep overnight no matter what. We will take turns driving and have done this very well in previous vacations so we have become good at taking turns driving.

 

[threeboysmom]

Hi! We drive from NH all the time with our 3 kids. We too drive straight through the night - just doesn't work for us to stop for the night and spend 2 whole days in the car. We usually stop every 3 hours or so to stretch legs. We don't usually plan special stops - a rest area is usually our pick for stretching legs. Some of them are very nice with grassy areas and picnic tables. Any time we stop for gas, the kids always get out to stretch legs. They usually head inside the store to pick out a snack or drink to "re-energize" themselves. I have a neat little book that I bought online that lists every exit along route 95 with the restaurants, gas stations, stores, rest areas, etc. at each exit. Very very handy for driving along route 95 (we pick it up in NJ and stay on through FL). Cracker Barrel has always been our favorite for breakfast - a reward for Mom & Dad for making it through the night!

 

[pyrxtc]

How long does it take you to get there? What route do you drive before you pick it up in NJ? We were planning Rte 91 to 95 all the way to Florida. Is there a better way?

 

[cranbiz]

I drive from MA all the time.

We stop when we feel the need. Usually for gas and restrooms. That is usually when we streatch and switch. We normally leave around 5pm and do stop for a real breakfast.

From Cape Cod, with an hour stop for breakfast, it will take from 19 to 23 hours. Traffic, driving speed and weather are your biggest factors.

Last trip down was over the April New England spring break and we had the worst traffic in NYC and the New Jersey Turnpike, slowing us down considerably. Took 22 hours that trip.

 

[my3princes]

We have driven from VT 3 times. Once in a motor home and twice towing a 30 foot trailer. We stop for gas every 3 hours or so and stop for one or two quick meals. It usually takes us 23 - 28 hours depending on traffic and weather. Last trip we hit a bad storm and sat at a rest area for a couple of hours to wait it out. We have tried many different routes and they don't seem to effect the distance. You never know how traffic will be around the big cities. Road construction is prevailant the entire way.

 

[Kristi1357]

We just drove down from Nashua during NH school vacation week.

We just kind of stop when the mood hits us. We like to stop at the Potomac Mills outlet mall near DC - Disney catalog outlet - if we are passing when it's open. We have also pit-stopped at the outlets along 95 in the Carolinas. Nice diversion. I always have to persude DH to keep driving by Pedro at SOTB!

One of the best almost-overnight drives was the one previous we did last December. We left at 8pm on a Thursday night and stopped at a hotel off Exit 3 in GA around dinner time Friday night. We had a nice meal, took a dip in the indoor pool and drove the 3 additional hours Saturday morning to my grandparents' house in The Villages, FL. We got there by noon, refreshed and relaxed. The time before that we drove right through and as soon as we got there, they wanted to take us out, talk all night, etc. We were so beat and just wanted a shower and bed!

Many times when we drive straight through, we end up at a rest area snoozing for 1-2 hours. Us, and many other minivans & SUVs from the north! Those wee hours from 4-6am kill us every time!

Have a great & safe trip!

Kristi

 

[dgaston]

We take 84-81-77-26-95 on our drive from NE CT (near Worcester) to Orlando. This is a bit longer, but much nicer drive. When we drive the 95 corridor, we take 295 through NJ. You pick that up near Ft Dix (one of the 7 exits) and it will take you all the way to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Again easier driving. We just hate the DC traffic and the tolls and are willing to trade off the extra mileage. NC rest stops are beautiful along the 77 route!

 

[baileybelle]

We're also going the 84-81-77-26-95 route from Southern Maine in October. The scenery in October is breathtaking and this route is a lot less stressful. Time wise about the same because we avoid NY, NJ, Baltimore, DC and Richmond. I would avoid this route from mid November thru March because of snow and ice.

 

[Sammy]

I just want to to the people who drive from the Northeast....and with kids!!! My 3 kids can barely make the 3-hour trip to their DGM's camp in Maine for the weekend!!!!