Help....driving from Syracuse!!

[samsid99]

Okay I have ressies for Monday Aug 22 - Mon 29th

Here is my plan....I know it is not ideal but I feel it is doable.

We will leave from Syracuse on Sunday the 21st around noon. I cannot leave early because daughter has a horse show (it is her last one so can't be missed). I would like to drive 12 hours and stop and get a room for the night. Get up early and finish the trip the next day which would be Monday the 22nd. I am thinking this would put us at Disney eveningish....8 or 9??

My DD's are 9 and 11 so behavior is not an issue, we have a fun tv system and believe I can hook up the playstation to that (although I have never tried).

My questions for all of you upstate NY driving experts are:

1. What is the best route? Is the one given to me on map quest good or do I need a trip tik from AAA?

2. What are the best places to stay for the quick sleep over...I am looking for no frills and as reasonable as possible. We will have breakfast food in tow so free breakfast not necessary.

3. What can I expect for tolls?

4. I am the only driver....so I don't want to take "back" roads I do want the quickest possible route.

I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[samsid99]

Bumping up....would love any input

Thanks!

 

[JudithM]

What route did Mapquest take you? Are you trying not to get involved with traffic in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area? I think you are in for a long ride in a short amount of time.

 

[snowy76]

We're in Syracuse too (Camillus), but have never driven to Orlando from here. I've used Mapquest pretty successfully to get around places like Atlanta and Tampa, not to mention navigating NYC.

So for curiosity, I ran Mapquest from Syracuse to WDW. I've driven part of this route, staying on 81 until Maryland. The drive from 81 over to the DC area is a nice one; secondary roads but not backroads, beautiful countryside (comparable to driving routes 20 or 5 in NY). With this route, you avoid the main traffic of Philly/Baltimore/DC and this is critical, since slowdowns in any of these cities can add hours onto the trip.

We've made it to VA Beach this way in about 9 hours. I think you can get to Fayetteville, NC in about 12 hours and stop there. From F'ville it's another 9 hours to Disney, according to Mapquest.

As I was looking at the route I also noticed that Mapquest has you going around Scranton to avoid city traffic. That's the only toll I'm aware of. You'll need a dollar in quarters. I think they also take EZ pass. But I don't think Scranton traffic is bad enough for this detour. It's like taking 481 around Syracuse. Id say just stick to 81 through there.

 

[dgaston]

We take 81 all the way into VA to avoid the DC traffic. You can move over to 95 on 17, but we like to take 81-77-26-95. It's a bit longer, but beautiful. We have often hit terrible traffic in DC that lasts all the way to Richmond, so prefer cutting over to 95 later.

 

[taurus8012]

Okay I have ressies for Monday Aug 22 - Mon 29th

Here is my plan....I know it is not ideal but I feel it is doable.

We will leave from Syracuse on Sunday the 21st around noon. I cannot leave early because daughter has a horse show (it is her last one so can't be missed). I would like to drive 12 hours and stop and get a room for the night. Get up early and finish the trip the next day which would be Monday the 22nd. I am thinking this would put us at Disney eveningish....8 or 9??

My DD's are 9 and 11 so behavior is not an issue, we have a fun tv system and believe I can hook up the playstation to that (although I have never tried).

My questions for all of you upstate NY driving experts are:

1. What is the best route? Is the one given to me on map quest good or do I need a trip tik from AAA?

2. What are the best places to stay for the quick sleep over...I am looking for no frills and as reasonable as possible. We will have breakfast food in tow so free breakfast not necessary.

3. What can I expect for tolls?

4. I am the only driver....so I don't want to take "back" roads I do want the quickest possible route.

I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks.

If you go to thread "For those Folks Driving" there are a couplr people who gave their trip reports that I found useful in my trip planning .I found Drcell01 trip report most useful he will be 16th thread on the report. Ill be leaving soon (July) I just bought a GPS portable navigation system from shopathometv.com .Its like QVC,HSN except they focus of electronic equipment for 699.00 They give you 30 days to see if you like it with three stretch pay options. I suggest buying it before your trip if you like the GPS keep it and if it satisfied your trip but dont think its worth the money return it in the 30 days . That was my plan but since Ive been using it I cant see myself with out it.........agaIn check that thread

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I agree about staying on 81 through Scranton on a Sunday afternoon. We did get stuck there on our way to WDW for about 2 hours, but that was only because of a huge accident.

The detour around Washington depends on what time you will be going through. We've done both the more back country roads, and staying right on 295 (?) around Washington. If you will be going through around 6:00 pm on a Sunday, non-holiday weekend, it might not be worth taking the longer, slower route. Maybe someone more familiar with Washington traffic patterns can help you out there.

I would push as far south as you can make it the first night, or Monday the drive will seem like it's forever. You also need to think about what time you will be going through Jacksonville as it will be a work day.

We left Binghamton at 3:00 pm and drove straight through, the timing with all major cities traffic worked out great. We didn't take the Washington detour.

 

[cranbiz]

I just love my GPS unit. I would not go on any trip without it.

I drive to FL all the time from MA. I use I95, but from Syracuse I would most likely go the I81 etc route.

 

[disneyagain]

We drove down Christmas a year-and-a-half ago. We left at 3:00 in the morning and drove to Savannah, GA (arrived around 6pm). We were back on the road at 6:30 the next morning and were at MGM by noon. We went straight down around Baltimore and Washington DC. We ran into little or no traffic, but it was Dec 26th and a Friday, I'm assuming most government workers were off that day. We drove the same route coming back on New Years Day and the traffic wasn't bad, but it seemed more hectic going north than south. Rte 83(?) that goes from Baltimore to Harrisburg was under construction and after dark was not great. We wished that we would have taken 17 from Fredericksburg over to 81 coming back.
We've gone both ways on other occasions to the beach etc.. I think that if I was driving myself, I would take 81 to 17 to 95. We had the passenger to watch for signs, lane changes etc.. as we worked our way around the beltways. Enjoy your trip, drive safely!

 

[samsid99]

Wow!!! The power of a bump. Thanks for all the input guys!

Here is the route that map quest suggested it is a lot more detailed than 81 to 17 to 95!

I like the simple ones best!

I would really like to travel 800 miles the first night, so I am trying now to figure where that will put me so that I can make cheap clean ressies to sleep only and get back one the road by 7ish at the very latest. We will be so excited that it will prob. be earlier.

6: Merge onto I-81 S via the ramp on the LEFT. 183.8 miles Map

7: Take the PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE exit- EXIT 194- toward US-6/US-11/CLARKS SUMMIT. 0.1 miles Map

8: Merge onto I-476 S toward ALLENTOWN (Portions toll). 16.0 miles Map

9: Take the PA-315 exit- EXIT 115- toward I-81/PITTSTON/POCONO DOWNS RACE TRACK. 0.4 miles Map

10: Merge onto PA-315 S via the ramp on the LEFT toward I-81 S/WILKES BARRE. 0.8 miles Map

11: Merge onto I-81 S. 104.6 miles Map

12: Merge onto I-83 S via EXIT 70 on the LEFT toward SOUTH HARRISBURG/YORK. 9.3 miles Map

13: Merge onto PA-581 W/HARRISBURG EXPY via EXIT 41A on the LEFT toward CAMP HILL/GETTYSBURG. 2.3 miles Map

14: Merge onto US-15 S via EXIT 5B toward GETTYSBURG. 68.8 miles Map

15: US-15 S becomes US-40 E. 0.2 miles Map

16: US-40 E becomes I-270 S. 30.2 miles Map

17: Take I-270 SPUR S toward I-495 S/NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 2.0 miles Map

18: Merge onto CAPITAL BELTWAY/I-495 S. 16.8 miles Map

19: Merge onto I-95 S via EXIT 57A toward RICHMOND. 86.1 miles Map

20: Merge onto I-295 S via EXIT 84A on the LEFT toward ROCKY MT NC. 43.2 miles Map

21: Take the I-295 S exit on the LEFT toward I-95 SOUTH/EMPORIA/ROCKY MOUNT NC. 0.9 miles Map

22: Merge onto I-95 S. 661.2 miles Map

23: Merge onto I-4 W via EXIT 260B toward ORLANDO. 65.1 miles Map

24: Take EXIT 67 toward EPCOT/DOWNTOWN DISNEY/ANIMAL KINGDOM. 1.1 miles Map

25: Merge onto EPCOT CENTER DR. 2.8 miles Map

26: Take the ramp toward MAGIC KINGDOM/MAGIC KINGDOM RESORTS/FORT WILDERNESS. 0.5 miles Map

27: Merge onto WORLD DR. 0.6 miles Map

28: End at Walt Disney World MGM Studios
3111 World Drive, Bay Lake, FL 32830, US Map

Total Est. Time: 21 hours, 50 minutes Total Est. Distance: 1329.76 miles


Does this time and distance sound good? Or should I plan on longer? I think I will be okay with traffic on Sunday but I will run into rush hour on Monday, so that will probably delay us.

Thanks again.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I like the directions except for the detour around Scranton. I mentioned before that I would stay right on 81.

It took us around 19 hours, stopping 2 times for gas and the bathrooms. We drove a lot at night though as we left Binghamton at 3 pm.

 

[LovePug]

I would (and do) just stay on 81 right down into VA at least. Driving by Scranton is nothing (I live close by), especially on a Sunday. I cross over to 95 via 17 in VA and then shoot down that until 4 in FL. I don't like the way Mapquest is taking you. I don't care for 83 and I hate going through the Washinton area. I avoid that at all cost . I81-17-95 is the simplest, quickest route with the least traffic that I've found.

 

[hobogary]

We nearly always go 81 17 95 but 81 77 26 is a nice ride also (i'm leary of it in the winter). I do the pa turnpike around Scranton, traffic isnt bad in Scranton, but the turnpike is deserted and you avoid lots of hills and curves. I do 295 around Richmond and Jacksonville, but that depends on time of day, day of week and construction.I would avoid the beltway in DC unless it 3 am( and maybe even then). If no one has mentioned it yet, www.usastar.com/i95 is a great website. we are 1240miles Norwich to Disney. 800 miles is a third of the way thru SC. Many people disagree, but We like South of the Boarder for an overnight stop. Sure it 's tacky, but lots to do, room prices are not bad.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I'm driving down in only a few days, really - leaving Cortland on 6/28. My relatives who drive the route several times a year recommend 81 to 64 (Staunton, VA) to 95 at Richmond. However, I've never heard anyone on the DIS talk about Route 64, so I'm leery. Any feedback on that? Also, for the return trip, where do most folks stay?

 

[LovePug]

Also, for the return trip, where do most folks stay?

On the return trip I just can't make it as far as I can on the way down and only drive about halfway home. I'm just too exhausted from "doing WDW". I stop at Lumberton, NC (8 or 9 hours from Disney) and stay at the Quality Inn.

 

[Drcell01]

On our April trip we followed the directions provided by Mapquest exactly as shown. We left Syracuse at about 9 pm and arrived in Orlando about 3 pm the next day (driving straight through).

If you are stopping I would suggest pushing as far as possible the first day and making your second day as easy as possible. Try to stop somewhere in SC. Our favored spot is a Ramada or Days Inn in Santee, SC which is 98 miles north of the SC/GA border. I have stayed at these particular places many times over the past 20 years and can tell you that they are reasonable and clean.

There are no tolls on the route as shown on the route provided by Mapquest.

If you are in need of any additional information please send me a message via PM.

 

[stahshee]

good luck we are from ilion NY

 

[strmtroopr96]

Hi there!! I just read your post about being from Ilion. We live in Ilion too!! Whereabouts are you? How funny! Shoot, now "It's a Small World" is stuck in my head. LOL So when is your next trip? We are headed back the end of September. Rebecca