HELP PLEASE...Driving from NY next week!

[DisneyDreamerz]

Help please from anyone who has ever driven from Rochester, NY to Fort Wilderness. We are supposed to be leaving next Thursday (Dec. 20), towing our 35’ fifth wheel…our first time traveling to Disney by vehicle! We are freaking out because it’s cold, snowy and icy here in NY and there’s a storm predicted for today and a blizzard warning along the Eastern US for Sunday! Now, we can only hope all this bad weather is gone by the time we leave, but luck usually isn’t on our side…unless it’s BAD luck!
Anyway, everyone is giving us different directions, so we need some help sorting all this out! We’d like to know the safest, not necessarily the shortest, route avoiding treacherous mountains and tunnels.
Friends of ours who travel to Florida every winter suggested this route: Route 15 to I-180 around Williamsport, PA to 147 to US-11 to 22/322 to I-81 to I-64 near Staunton, VA to 288 or 295 around Richmond to I-95.
Now, another friend said DO NOT do 15/11 through PA, especially in the winter, because of the mountains around Trout Run. Also he said I-64 near Staunton/Waynesboro has another treacherous mountain!????? He suggests taking I-90 to Syracuse, then jumping on I-81 all the way to Winchester, VA, and catching Route 17 to I-95.
My brother-in-law said 17 is a terrible road and we should take 15/11 all the way to Route 70 in Maryland to 270 to 495 around DC to I-95. This route scares me a little, because we want to avoid DC if possible.
Also, do any of these routes have tunnels which prohibit propane???
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[disneyagain]

We live in Binghamton, NY and usually take 81 to 17 to 95 (bypass Richmond & Jacksonville) to 4. My parents drive down to Florida every winter (February) and use this route and have never complained of adverse conditions. They took 81 further south and over through Charlotte one year and said never again in the Winter....It was beautiful, but that far south on 81 gets you into the Apalachin mountains....

No tunnels on this route, enjoy......Living in the northeast you know it's hit or miss with weather. My sis and I drove down the day after Christmas 4 years ago (with our 5 kids, left the husbands home) and couldn't believe how lucky we were with weather....It was clear and dry.......down and back!


Enjoy your stay!

 

[Drcell01]

We live in Syracuse and take your brother-in-laws route but use I-295 around Richmond VA and its I-95 all the way to Daytona Beach and then I-4 West to WDW. JUst be prepared to take your time until you get out of the snow area and have a great trip! We have taken this route for the last 8 years.

 

[Drcell01]

We live in Syracuse and take your brother-in-laws route but use I-295 around Richmond VA and its I-95 all the way to Daytona Beach and then I-4 West to WDW. JUst be prepared to take your time until you get out of the snow area and have a great trip! We have taken this route for the last 8 years.

 

[darkroom]

I agree with the 90E to 81S route. It's looking good weatherwise this thursday in SYR. Happy driving!

 

[rigs32]

Another vote for the largest highways possible. They tend to be better salted and plowed, so any lingering ice will be less of an issue. And even though you're adding miles, you'll be more likely to be able to drive the speed limit than on the smaller, local highways.

 

[Melissa_E]

He suggests taking I-90 to Syracuse, then jumping on I-81 all the way to Winchester, VA, and catching Route 17 to I-95.

We have taken the 81 to 17 to 95 and LOVE that route to get to Pittsburgh from here. The traffic isn't that bad, 17 is a state route where it has stop lights in some sections and is a "highway" in others. You'll end up south of DC and what I call the black hole of 95 (Lorton area) into Fredricksburg. Then you can take 95 to 295 around Richmond (LOVE this highway), then 95 to what other posters have mentioned.

 

[ChasIInd]

I have been driving from Rochester, NY to points south for many years in all sorts of weather. The Route 15-180-147-15-322-81 route to get to Harrisburg is a good one. It saves time off the 90 - 81 route, and I have had difficulty in snowstorms near Scranton.

Years ago route 15 was a difficult route, but they have made so many improvements in the road over the last ten years that it is very similar to driving on an interstate highway. There are a couple of spots yet to be upgraded, but during a snowstorm they wouldn't be any worse than taking route 81.

From Harrisburg south you have a couple of options:

81 - 581 - 15 - 70 through DC to 95 - I would avoid this one as the traffic can be tough depending on what time you go. Also, there is a very difficult right turn from 581 to route 15 that I would never want to face without the ability for quick acceleration.

81 - 17 - 95 - This used to be a good route, but there is more traffic than in years past.

81 - 64 - 288 - 95 - This is a good route, but there is a difficult hill on route 64 that I have seen cause trouble in dicey weather.

81-77-26-95 - This one is nice because it avoids the traffic on 95, but if the weather is snowy it is better to drive closer to the coast.

To me it all depends on the weather. If there is significant snow - head for the coast earlier (81-17-95), in a lot of cases it will only be rain there this early in the season.

 

[hobogary]

By the way everyone taking 81 from NY, I found that taking the PA Turnpike around Scranton is a lot nicer then 81 thru it. You get back on 81 just below the airport. Wave to the Dunder - Miflin people as you go by.

 

[DisneyDreamerz]

Anyone know anything about how the montain (hill?) is between Cogan House and Trout Run, PA....above Williamsport I believe? Thanks! Getting ready to leave early tomorrow morning! Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[TSMAMI]

we have drive from Albany NY to florida a few times in the Winter..Talk with AAA they can give you a great route(if you are a member). I was told by them not to cut thru Penn in the winter that back roads get icy there...

 

[canwegosoon]

I hope you made it out OK with our light snow overnight....I am hoping you have a safe trip...weather looks clear for today, let us know how you made out