help again.......driving

[mom2smjn]

Okay........we will be coming down 81 from NY and we are trying to decide when the best/easiest time to cross over to 95 would be..it seems every one has a differing opinion and I would love some ideas. We thought we would spend the first night on or very near 95 so when we woke up it would be an easy pop onto 95 and we would be off!

Any thoughts on this?
One map generator had us rossing over to 77 then getting 95 in Charlotte NC! Cannot go THAT far first day as we are leavig after school....I thought 5-6 hours or so.

Also when you take 95 at what point do you get close enough to see the ocean if ever? My kids have never seen it and I would love to take a quick stop if we were close.

 

[tar heel]

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you to stay FAR AWAY from the map generator that had you getting on I-95 in Charlotte. I-77 and I-85 but NOT I-95 run through Charlotte!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by mom2smjn
Okay........we will be coming down 81 from NY and we are trying to decide when the best/easiest time to cross over to 95 would be..it seems every one has a differing opinion and I would love some ideas. We thought we would spend the first night on or very near 95 so when we woke up it would be an easy pop onto 95 and we would be off!

Any thoughts on this?
One map generator had us rossing over to 77 then getting 95 in Charlotte NC! Cannot go THAT far first day as we are leavig after school....I thought 5-6 hours or so.

Also when you take 95 at what point do you get close enough to see the ocean if ever? My kids have never seen it and I would love to take a quick stop if we were close.

I can't answer most of your questions but I'll try one. I drive 95 from Maryland to WDW 2-3 times a year and I've never seen the ocean from 95. That road does not go too close to water at all. The only water I've seen is some lakes and swamps. It doesn't look like the ocean and it doesn't smell like it either!

 

[tar heel]

Although you can't see the ocean from I-95, you are only a few miles from the ocean while you're driving through Ormond Beach, Daytona, etc. You can easily see the ocean with just a small detour.

 

[Poohnatic]

I used to live right by I81 here in Maryland, and I drive I 95 down twice a year.

I'd recommend waiting until you hit Maryland to cross over, but you will notice that I81 goes southwest, taking you further away from 95. If you want to maintain interstate travel, here are a few of your options

I81 to I78 (just south of Pine Grove, PA exit 91 or so)--takes about 3 hours to get to NJ Turnpike, which merges into I95 in Delaware. We travel from Maryland to NY a couple times a year and take 81 to 78 to LI. Okay drive, but heading south on the tpke is pricey.

I81 to I70 (Hagerstown, Maryland, just south of exit 5)- This option takes about an hour and a half to get you on I95 proper, taking I270 south in Frederick to the Capital Beltway (495). Very familiar with this trip and I know this one like the back of my hand. The advantage is that you miss all the tolls of NJ, Delaware and Maryland.

I-81 to I66 (south of Winchester, VA) This one also brings you into the Capitol Beltway, about 3 exits from getting onto 95 south. Done it, it's okay, but if you try it during morning rush you won't be happy.

I81 to I64 (Harrisonburg, VA) You miss all the DC garbage this way, but you've already moved quite a bit away from I81. Brings you out at I95 in Richmond, VA. From Richmond, WDW is about a 13 hour drive.

Further south, I'm not much help, but if you want info about any of these routes, feel free to PM me...I'll be glad to give you estimates of distance, times of day that are bad, hotels from about Harrisburg Pa down to Hagerstown, etc. Depending on where in upstate NY you're coming from, you'll probably want to stop somewhere in PA that first night. If you're coming from Binghamton, Hagerstown is 5 hours on a bad day!


Also, if you aren't driving through the next day, here's a web site that I love http://www.usastar.com/i95/lodging.htm
I've transported their info into a speadsheet, then whittled it down to places we'd stay/eat in each state...those pages are now stapled to the corresponding page in the road atlas. Makes it so easy when someone says "I'm hungry" and you can figure out what food is coming up that they'll eat!

Suzanne

all those years of being Dad's trip navigator growing up really have been useful!

 

[jpm_wjm]

I cant be much help to you north of Virginia. I go from WV to FL about twice a year. If you do take I-81 to I-77 south after Charlotte, NC near Columbia, SC you take I-26 east toward Charleston, SC. It takes you right to I-95. (this is the way I almost every time) . There may be a quicker way to cross over to I-95 north of Viginia, but if you like the mountains there are lots of scenic opportunities on this route. Also once you do reach I-95 from Georgia to Florida there are lots of exits you can take to the beach without adding to much time to your travel. (It is almost a custom for us to stop at a beach off of I-95 on our way home to add one last exciting excursion. (we enjoyed Jeckyll Island, Georgia(nice quiet beach with changing rooms and showers). We also enjoy New Smyrna beach, FL (just south of Daytona). Hope this helps.

 

[dumbo33]

Hi THere
We have lived in upstate ny. Where abouts are you from. We were from Ithaca. We recently moved here to florida and love it. We did drive down when we moved and before that, drove down a few times. We did the 81 to 66 route and that wasn't bad, if you could find 66 on the way down. Otherwise it is a straight shot. No you won't see the ocean going 95, unless you go to Myrtle Beach. A slight detour. Anyway, e mail me if you would. Would like to talk to someone from upstate ny like us. E mail address is tfrcoach@aol.com

 

[dsnyfamily]

I've lived in PA all my life and I make the trip to FL 2-3 times a year. A point to keep is mind - I95 traffic is very heavy around Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington, DC, at rush hour. I would avoid the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike - it's costly and very, very heavily traveled.

I would recommend Poohnatic's suggestion to take I81 to I70 (Hagerstown, Maryland, just south of exit 5) is a good option and a nice drive (and less expensive hotels than turnpike area).

If you want another suggestion, I81 into Harrisburg than onto 83. 83 will take you right to the beltway around Baltimore.

Have a great trip!