How Much Do You Spend on Driving to FL/WDW?

[DisDarling]

We are driving from WI, roughly 18-19 hour drive. Besides gas, what have you spent $ on, on the way to FL? We plan on driving straight thru, just stopping to eat and restroom breaks. Any help, hints, suggestions on the cost would be GREAT!! Thank you!!
D.D.

 

[disneysteve]

We drive from NJ. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but gas roundtrip was about $180 as I recall. We stopped overnight so had a hotel bill each way. Other than that, food - nothing fancy: Wendy's, Denny's, Waffle House, etc. We packed snacks and drinks and on the way down we packed our dinner (cold cuts). There are a couple of things we like to get along the way like Pecan Logs in Georgia so leave a few bucks for regional snacks like that. You may also find some local souvenirs you like. But basically, driving is quite cheap.

 

[TLS4Mickey]

We drove dow, in Nov, from Pittsburgh, pa and spent around $3 or $400, Round trip. But this include 2 nights at a hotel (1 on way down and 1 on way back). The rest was for gas, food, drinks and snacks. Unfortunately, we could only do fast food. We were traveling with our dog, so we couldn't go into a restaraunt and leave him in the car for an hour or so.

 

[arminnie]

I drove from Arkansas in October (roughly 1000 miles - 18 hours). Gas was $165 round trip (Honda Odyssey). We spent a night on the way down (~$55) and drove straight through on the way back. We took snacks in the car (doughnuts) plus water and softdrinks. We had breakfast at the hotel (free) where we stopped on the way down. We had one lunch at Cracker Barrel on the way there but the rest was fast food.

 

[Free4Life11]

You also have to factor in wear and tear on the car. Every mile you drive costs you money in maintenance, insurance, etc. Here is some good information on it:

http://www.oasisdesign.net/transport/cars/cost.htm

Also factor in how much your time is worth.

 

[LovePug]

Our drive is about 1100 miles from NEPA. I budget $200 for gas R/T. We stop overnight on the way down and back ($120ish). We pack a cooler with drinks and take some snacks. We eat at drive-thrus because of Cassie~the Pug in the pic.

Here's a link that may help in figuring gas cost.....Trip gas calculator

 

[disneysteve]

Also factor in how much your time is worth.

But make sure you compare accurately. So many people ask me why we drive when we could fly in 2 hours. In reality, flying takes about 7-8 hours when you count drive time from home to airport, time to park, check-in, get through security, wait for the flight, fly, deplane, get to baggage claim, get a rental car and drive to the hotel.

So for us, it isn't 2 vs. 17 hours. Its 7 vs. 17 and driving is much less of a hassle and we are able to pack much more stuff, bring food and snacks, etc.

 

[speedyf]

We are driving in June 2005. We flew Southwest in May 2004.

If they happen to have another sale and we can fly for $80 round trip...like last year....we will probably opt to fly....$240 total for 3 of us.

It's about a 12 hour drive from South Louisiana. To help save on the cost of hotel rooms and gas, I've been doing a few reward sites.

RewardTV.com lets you answer questions about nightly TV shows for points. You can then turn the points into $5 and $10 gift cards that include places to eat (fast food & restaurants) and gas cards (Exxon, Citgo, etc).

I was also able to trade RTV points in for 1,000 American Airline miles....which I converted to HHonor points (Hilton). I can use these for free rooms at Hampton Inns, Hiltons, etc....

Between Reward TV and E-Rewards....I have over 30,000 HHonor points saved up and will have a free hotel room each way when I get to 40,000 points. I will then be using my Reward TV points to purchase $5 and $10 gas and food gift cards to help with the fuel and meal costs. My only cost will be wear and tear on the car (2002 Toyota Camry).

If you are interested in doing the Reward TV thing....PM me....I can send you the link. It takes about 10 minutes per day.....

Beside the air-fare....you also have to consider your transportation from the airport to Disney and back. That's what usually kills me. It costs us each $80 round trip for air...but, then it costs us another $80 for 3 of us to shuttle back & forth from the airport.....

In May, we had 7 people in our party. I was able to rent a mini-van for the 1 day that we arrived and the 1 day that we departed. We paid $45 for each of these days for a total of $90 for 7 of us (Thanks to Mousesavers for the codes to get $35.99 per day rental on a mini-van at Alamo). Mears would have been about $190 for the 7 of us. Alamo/National has a return counter on the Disney property. We had no problems returning the car and then bussing on to the Transportation Center and catching a monorail to the park.

Speed

 

[Ellester]

Fill up in Georgia before you cross the Fl/Ga border. Gas taxes are much higher in Florida. We often pack a picnic and eat one meal at a rest stop picnic area. Pottys are usually cleaner than a fast food place or gas station and the kids love to run around and get brochures from the visitors centers. Of course, time of year and weather need to be taken into account. We do always stop for a pecan log at the FLA/GA with our fill up before crossing the border, but that's on I-95. I'm guessing you'll be on I-75, but still there will be no shortage of pecan logs near the border!

 

[disneymom3]

Speedyf--and then there is the cost I always forget to count--parking at the airport when you get home!! Sheesh--that can cost a fortune!

For the OP--we budget about $300 for a drive from the Mpls area of MN, so about 6-8 hours further than you are saying. We spend one night in a hotel on the way down, so that is included and drive straight thru on the way back. We pack a lot of snacks juice boxes etc for the kids and have a generous budget for caffeine and sugar for DH who does most of the driving. We have picnicked in the rest stops or had McDs, but usually do a real restaurant for dinner. We Try to find a hotel with a free breakfast or just have dry cereal, cereal bars or poptarts in the car.

We love to drive and wouldn't have it any other way. We have three kids and the hassle involved in flying and packing are not worth it to us at all. Yep, time is money, but the quality of how you spend that time matters too!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

No way do I intend on doing laundry and wasting a vacation day so we drive so we can bring enough clothes for the two weeks, or more, that we tend to stay. We also bring other items that make our room more homey.

That being said it cost us $140 for gas from Indiana to Florida and the 16 days we stayed and drove off site to eat many times and to the parks each day.

I always stop at the Georgia border and pick up a motel coupon book and often get a decent room for under $40 a night. On the way home we stop in Tenn and do the same. All I want is a clean bed to sleep in, all else is negotiable. LOL

We eat at one buffet restaurant a day and have a small meal one other time and that satisfies us.

It is easier for us to drive 15-16 hours down than to drive to Indpls and fight the airports and luggage etc. etc.

SG/Linda

 

[kerry34]

It costs us about 200 dollars R/T for gas to drive from MA. We stop overnight also so we spend about 160 dollars on rooms R/T. We bring alot of stuff with us so we don't spend a fortune on food really. Someday when it is just hubby and I, I will fly, but for now it costs too much with five kids. Way too much hassle at the airport. Kids do well in the car and we make sure we stop for them to get breaks. I look at it as part of our trip.

 

[DisneyForLife]

We just got back this past Sunday. It cost us just about $600.00 for gas. No typo there, we were in an RV. 8 miles to the gallon doesn't go far. You really have to enjoy RV'ing to pay those prices. Next time maybe we will take the diesel Jetta we have. At 50+ miles to the gallon it would be a whole lot cheaper, haha!!!!!!!!

 

[swilshire]

My DH likes to stop overnight, but I don't. (Too much trouble to drag everybody in IMHO.) We can make it in 13 hours if there are no serious construction or accident delays. Unfortunately, there are usually plenty of both. Leaving early Saturday morning, so keep your fingers crossed for us.

We always eat at Cracker Barrel each way and snack around the rest of the day. Sometimes the kids whine until we make a second, fast food stop, but usually we just press on.

Going down I-75, we always make a stop at the "We're Nutz" place. You can't miss the billboards. They're just a mile or so off the interstate, have very clean restrooms and lots of free samples. We always buy all sorts of pecans and usually assorted other goodies.

We always stop at the official Disney welcome center in Ocoee, but usually don't buy a lot there.

We also stop at Georgia exit 5 just before entering Florida to gas up and buy cigarettes. Both are much more expensive in Florida.

Sheila

 

[sweet maxine]

Well, I'm guessing it's about a 13 or 14 hour trip for us driving, and 1 and 1/2 hrs. flying. The thing is, you do have to figure in time spent waiting for delayed flights, the drive to the airport and gas to get there, parking (which can really add up!), time spent going through security and check-in, and all that other "time" as disneysteve mentioned. It can really be frustrating having to be at the mercy of the airlines and their time schedules that aren't always "on time".

I love the freedom that driving offers to me, and especially the knowledge that I won't have to worry about the weight of my luggage on my return trip (from all those souvenirs!). I just load it all up in my car/truck/van and go! And my husband (God bless him!) loves stopping at all those tourist trap places on the way down. That does add a bit of time to our schedule, but he really gets a thrill looking at all that kitchy stuff, and he's the one paying for our trip anyway.

So I guess it's to each his own. It just is better for some folks to drive, and others to fly.

 

[brivers222]

We come from Detroit, Michigan area so its about a good 20-21 hour drive (2,250 Miles Round Trip) down I-75. On our last trip we spend $160 round trip on gas. We also spent about $50 on hotel rooms (1 there and 1 back). For 4 people $210 is not a bad price at all for Transportation! It would be nice to get down there in about 3-4 hours flyig but I can't justify paying the costs of Airfare and then a rental car on top of that for the week.

Driving is the way to go!

 

[nepean]

We drive 26 hours from Ottawa, Canada. The cost would be about $500.00 including two nights hotel. We drive a 2003 Impala and the gas mileage is incredible. We like the space and having our car when we arrive. Airfare for the three of us including Taxes would be about $1500.00 (Canadians are taxed to death on everything). Then we would have to rent a car, pay to park our car at the airport or pay for a taxi. The savings basically pay for our tickets and then some. We pack our plug in cooler with snacks, sandwiches and drinks. We might stop at a fast food once each way to add something hot to eat. Our purpose is to get there as quick as possible and enjoy the sun.
Nepean

 

[KissMeKenley]

We are driving from WI, roughly 18-19 hour drive. Besides gas, what have you spent $ on, on the way to FL? We plan on driving straight thru, just stopping to eat and restroom breaks. Any help, hints, suggestions on the cost would be GREAT!! Thank you!!
D.D.

Us too.!! We drove several times from New Orleans and we stop in Tallahassee for the night on the way and usually Alabama on the way back. Two hotel bills, 125.00 for gas, 30 for snacks and alcohol. I guess roughly 300.00 dollars depending on the price of the hotel. We usually like to stay at a rather nice hotel. Not too fancy but nothing over 100.00. It has to have a fitness center because I am hell if I don't get my workout for the day

 

[disneymom3]

30 for snacks and alcohol.

Umm, just curious.....when are you drinking this alcohol?

 

[Straitlover]

Pecan logs -blech!!! My mother worked at one of those tourist-trap/gas stations when I was small; I think I ate my weight in pecan logs. I'm 39, and I haven't had one in probably 25 years! I cna't hardly stand looking at them now .

Anyhoo, when my sis and I drove down in May from NC, we spent approx $90 in gas (car averages 25-27miles/gal). RT mileage is around 1,100 miles plus what we drove during the week. I am a member of MyPoints, and I earned Points that I traded in on gas cards. I ended up w/ $50 in free gas, and only had to pay for the difference (90-50=40). We packed water and snacks. This trip we did stay overnight at a Red Roof (think the total was less than $50??). Did that because I did not want to burn a whole Saturday travelling, so we left Friday evening and stopped near Savannah, and was able to get our outlet shopping done on the way into town on Saturday. Paid for 2 meals on the road, approx $20 total for both of us (third meal was at Cracker Barrel, and my sis had a gift certificate someone had given her for her birthday, so that was free).

Cheap trip for me!