help with a few ?s about driving down

[goofiecrazy]

Me and my best friend were talking about taking a trip to the world in a couple years with her 3 kids my 2 plus us and leave the husbands at home.I was talking about maybe driving down from home(Delaware) that it would be cheaper for us and we could split the cost of gas.I will have a caravan by then so we will have room for all 7 us. We would stop for the nite before driving into Orlando and plan on packing a cooler for the ride down to make lunch and have snacks as well.
How much $$ do you think we would need to drive down and back for gas?
Where would be a good stopping place to stay the nite?(city,state)
Where exactly is South of the Border?I remember staying here when i was younger driving down to the world.
I have done map quest and it tells me its a little over 15 hours to the world if we drive.

 

[hebbynan]

We figured on $450 for gas. But we're pulling our travel trailer behind our truck to stay at Fort Wilderness. That's only getting us about 14 miles to the gallon. I imagine that you'll do a lot better than that! We're stopping in Walterboro, South Carolina to spend the night at a camp ground (can't beat the $25/night). That's about 11-12 hours from home (York, Pennsylvania). That way we only have a 5-6 hour drive the next day to WDW.

As for South of the Border...it's not the same as it was when we were kids. I'm 31 and it was always cool to stop there when we went on vacations. From what I read now, it's more of a rougher type of crowd. Lots of drug problems, prostitution, etc. And the pictures I've seen recently, were all very run down. If we stop this year...it will only be for the fire works.

 

[goofiecrazy]

I was there a few years ago and it didnt look like it was the same place.Just was wondering where it was really we are not spending the nite there when we drive down..

 

[disney.102399]

My DH doesn't like to fly so we always drive to Disney from Maine. We try and make it to Santee SC. Not sure how far that would be for you but we figure it's about half way for us. We have stayed just over the Georgia border before too... We always figure about $250 for gas. And we always try to find a hotel near a Crackel Barrel. It's our favorite place to eat while we are on the road! South of the Border is a dump in my opinion. I stopped there once and I honestly was a bit scared! It is a bit rough... But that's just my opinion...

 

[angeleigh]

How far is it for you to travel from Maine? We drove from NY straight through last year and it took about 18 hours.

 

[disney.102399]

We can do it in about 21 hours... We drove straight through last August and October when we went. We try and leave at night so we don't hit any traffic in Hartford and NY. I think in August we would of made better time but we hit awful traffic in Orlando. Bumber to bumber for about an hour!! We love to drive! It's all part of the adventure! On the way home we do stop over night. After a Disney vacation it's hard to stay up for 20 hours or so..

 

[coolbeans]

We drove thru South of the Border, rather quickly. It was kinda scary!

 

[jcc0621]

We've driven from Philly every year since 1991 (except this year we are flying) and we would fill our tank up when we left, once in Virginia, Once in South Carolina. Once in Georgia (last exit before FLA). Four times downs four times back (plus 2-3 times when we were there staying off site).
Last year my DB, DSIL, 2 nephews and niece drove from south jersey and stoped in Jacksonville (Days Inn or something like that) They really liked it there becasue then the next day they only had a copule hour drive and didn't feel like they wasted the whole day driving. The pulled into POFQ at like 1:00 in the afternoon.

As for S.O.B - IT IS VERY SCARY Stopped there once with then DBF (now DH) the way home. I was sick as a dog and DBF had to drive the whole 1000+ miles home. He stopped as S.O.B. becasue we needed gas (typical guy, lets keep going until we running on fumes). We pulled in, I woke up from the NyQuil induced coma I was in and he said "Do you have to go to the bathroom?" I said no. He said don't get out of the car and Keep the doors locked. I actually saw a drug deal occur while I was waiting for him (As a probation officer I know what those look like )

Janet

 

[radev104]

We drive from King of Prussia (about 40 minutes outside of Philly). We pack lunches and snacks too. We only stop for gas and bathroom/stretch breaks. It really depends on gas prices on how much gas will cost. We always go to I-95 website (http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm) to look for the lowest gas prices and hopefully they don't get too high when we go. We usually fill up about 4-5 times both ways (down and back). We drive all the way to Brunswick, GA the first day, it's only about 4-5 hours to Disney from there. It really all depends on traffic and you will hit traffic around DC, and Richmond. I hope you have a good trip.

 

[Harvestmooner]

We have driven down 3 times now, the last time being January 2007. We drive from Central NH, about a 24 hour drive. It costs us about $300 for gas, plus food (we have snacks and drinks in the car-but stop for a good breakfast and dinner and sometimes a ice cream if we are just going stir crazy in the car). We stay in a motel on the way home so that adds about $70. We have a DVD player for the kids and that is really a life saver for us and them!!
Good luck!!

 

[veraletta]

go here and find out how much gas will be.

http://websearch.cs.com/cs/boomfram...remove_url=http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/

 

[Barb D]

We drove down from Baltimore for Spring Break. We did the whole trip down in one day (7AM to 10:30PM, with lots of short breaks.) Going back, we did 3or 4 hours the first day (starting in the evening) and then stopped in Brunswick, GA. (Do NOT stay at the Sleep Inn in Brunswick. I swear the place is built out of paper.) We drove the rest of the way home in about 12 hours the next day.

 

[dman11]

The links in this thread are amazing!!

We're going in Nov and DW and I just spoke this morning about driving down instead of flying because we could add an additional day on to the trip and still save a ton of $.

One question for those who have driven before: Where would be a good place to stop for the night to be within about 3 hours of WDW? I'm planning for a Saturday arival and leaving Friday and driving until we're within about 3 hours of WDW so we have a short trip Saturday morning.

 

[DEBDENBD]

We drive from King of Prussia (about 40 minutes outside of Philly). We pack lunches and snacks too. We only stop for gas and bathroom/stretch breaks. It really depends on gas prices on how much gas will cost. We always go to I-95 website (http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm) to look for the lowest gas prices and hopefully they don't get too high when we go. We usually fill up about 4-5 times both ways (down and back). We drive all the way to Brunswick, GA the first day, it's only about 4-5 hours to Disney from there. It really all depends on traffic and you will hit traffic around DC, and Richmond. I hope you have a good trip.

We are in the Lehigh valley & contemplating driving this summer... just wondering how long was your drive time (not including stops)??? thanks!

 

[CastleCreations]

I recently drove from Florida to NJ. I live about 40 minutes from Disney. I made it all the way to Maryland with out having to stop and spend the night. Have you considered driving straight through? It would save you some money, but it would be hard on your backside. I have a kind of small car, a PTCruiser. I don't remember stopping a whole lot for gas.

 

[la79al]

We are planning on driving down in June from PA. On the way down we are leaving around 6 on Friday evening and driving straight through. On the way back though I don't know how things will go. We are staying at ASMo Friday night and then heading home first thing Saturday morning. This means we will be driving all day Saturday and I have fears about that (us going crazy, not traffic).
For gas costs, make sure to check out the AAA fuel calculator.

 

[ellenmiele]

We drove thru South of the Border, rather quickly. It was kinda scary!

DITTO!!!
DH stopped at South of the Border for gas on our way home from Disney last week. Granted, it was late at night but I don't really think daylight would make any difference.

 

[reginaastralis]

Stop in Georgia, the last exit before hitting Florida, the gas is anywhere from .20-.40 cheaper than it is down here right now.

I don't know much about three hours out to stay, or the interstate ... but I do know to stop in Georgia. I commend you for driving that distance, I live about an hour from Disney and there are days I dread that drive.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

We live in Ocean City Md. You are about 2 hours north of us. I am not sure how you plan on driving there however. Anyway it takes us 13-14 hours. We figure 16 mpg, at 2.50 per gallon for 900 miles. Gas may go up, so change your math if needed. We also use on more tank driving around whil there. We always find it easy to stop in Savannah on the way down . (about 8 hours for us) and that leaves us about 6 hlours the next day to drive. On the way back we stop in Fayetvill. Same thing, about 8 hours from Disney to there, and then 6 hours next day to get home. It has worke for us driving multiple times. Do not stay at South of the Boarder after dark. i think they make real life horror movies there!!

I highly recomend a tv and dvd's for the kids, and a cooler with drinks and snacks.

 

[dmaz]

We drive down from central NJ. We have had some problems finding inexpensive places to stay that were clean. After staying at some disgusting places we try to drive straight through. It's about 17-18 hrs for us. I'd rather arrive tired than pay $100 just for a few hrs of sleep. Plus the headaches of getting everything and everyone out of the car. We just leave at like 6pm and arrive in Orlando around 11 am.
As for gas, we usually spend about $250 total.
Also, as many stated SOB is not the way it used to be. Very scary!
Another vote for DVD's in the car!