I77/79 driving from GTA

[Cheerio]

We leave next Wednesday for Florida, our GPS tells us it's about 5hr, 30mins to just outside Pittsburgh, PA. DH wants to leave about 3am, we'd be just on the outskirts at 8:30am - putting us right in rush hour. I want to leave about 5am, hitting Pittsburgh at 10:30am? We are watching the weather, and also factoring it's about 12hrs to Charlotte, NC so leaving later means we'd hit their evening rush hour - WWYD?

 

[Skjhjb]

I just did the drive in November from Fergus - so about an hour north of you. We actually went to had down I75, but the GPS took us across Ohio and towards I77/79 after crossing at Windsor. I honestly can't remember that area at all.

But I do know we left at 4am, and with a quick lunch stop we ended up just south of Charlotte in Fort Mill about 7 or 8pm and traffic was pretty good then, but there was an accident so there was backup for a bit as well.....

 

[hardis5]

We drove the first week of Feb last year leaving the western GTA at 5:30 am and did hit traffic in Charlotte but it was not really bad our day and a breeze compared to Toronto traffic (stopping overnight in Columbia SC just before 8:00 pm so 14 1/2 hrs with border delay, bio, meals, and driver switch breaks along with traffic). IMHO I'd rather start even a few hours fresher (leaving later) if driving the longer distance day 1 but I'd plan that around the weather.

 

[Cheerio]

Thanks. Hubby is actually coming off nights, so he will sleep the better part of Tuesday so by 3am will be wide awake, he's doing to driving so I fear we may have to leave when he wants I've heard that the traffic isn't like what we are used to in Toronto so it may be okay lol.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We live in Oakville and when we do that drive we leave home around 2:30am. DH goes to bed by 9pm and has a good 5 hours of sleep. He can fully function on that. While he sleeps I stay up and pack the car etc. I sleep after we leave. This works very well for us. We have never been caught any where in rush hour traffic....the only traffic back ups have been for accidents. We drive until 9pm and then stop for the night. We are usually around Savannah, GA. We don't stop for anything other than gas and bathroom breaks. We pack all our own food/drinks.

We can get to Pittsburgh in under 5 hours. If I recall correctly the highway takes you around the outside of Pitt so I sort of doubt that you would have much, if any issues with morning rush hour. Also, the GPS will calculate based on the posted speed limit. Most people drive a little faster.

 

[damo]

You're not going to get traffic in Pittsburgh since you go around it. You can take the HOV lanes in Charlotte but there's not much else you can do about that.

 

[Cheerio]

Great thank you!