I95 rest stops?

[rriley25]

Our family is driving from DC to WDW. Rather than booking a room, we would rather drive straight through. We may have to take a power nap along the way so does anyone have any info about the rest stops? Are they safe, clean, etc. BTW, this is our first attempt at making this trip by car.

Bob Riley

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well--let me put it this way. In daylight they're probably OK, and they claim they are "policed" on a regular basis.
After dark is another story altogether---

 

[JustHolly]

They were pretty sketchy at night, especially the one we stopped at in Virginia, about 2 1/2 hours south of DC. ICK. We actually paid for a hotel room in Fayetteville for a 3 1/2 hour power nap... it was well worth the money! The sleep was just enough to get us to the WDW area.

 

[FloridaCat]

Rest stops in SC, GA and FL are clean and well lighted.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I would never stop at night at any of the rest stops along I95. For that reason, we wound up driving straight home from WDW...back to Jersey. All hotels along NC and VA was sold out. If you leave very early in the morn, there is no reason you couldn't do it straight through. It should take about 14-15 hours!

 

[FloridaCat]

If only 14 hours, then AC is right. Idid not realize it was that short as it takes me 9 hours to go up to my DD in NC.
It takes me 17-18 to go back home to Illinois and I drive it stright through unless I get a real late start.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We made it home on Sunday morning in 15 hours and that was with an hour delay on I4. There was a terrible accident around Lake Buena Vista Saturday afternoon. We left Disney around 2pm and arrived home at 5am.

Most of the welcome centers are nice and clean. NC, GA and FL were really good. Va and SC needed cleaning. But, I'd rather stop there than at the gas station. Those places are really bad.

However, I wouldn't feel comforable napping there in the middle of the night.

 

[billybaruch1]

This is astounding! In the first place only foreign tourists are slaughtered at Florida rest stops. In the second place, well...

This is astounding! I've driven from Ohio to Florida (and back again) many times and have never felt unsafe at any rest stop along the way. What's the deal with I-95? Is that a neglected corridor? You should be okay if you can stay awake until the carolinas.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Originally posted by billybaruch1
This is astounding! I've driven from Ohio to Florida (and back again) many times and have never felt unsafe at any rest stop along the way. What's the deal with I-95? Is that a neglected corridor? You should be okay if you can stay awake until the carolinas.

I guess it is just the city girl in me coming out and not trusting anyone! We tried to stop in NC at various spots, but it was 2AM and we were lugging precious cargo...our children! I didn't feel comfortable enough stop...and if we did stop, I probably wouldn't have been able to sleep! Everyone has a different comfort zone. If you decide to stop, park near the lights and visually scope the area(while in your car of course).
FloridaCat-sorry, didn't mean to contradict you!

 

[FloridaCat]

None taken, since I have never been that far north on the East coast, I assumed it was a lot farther. My late Wife and I had no problem making long drives as we would switch off. The secret for us was to eat "light" until we were where we were stopping for the day. It has also been our experience that past 11:00 PM it is hard to get a room. DW would have me estimate travel time between points and book a "late Arrival" ressie. Like you, we would never stop in a RS when we had kids home. When we were "empty nesters", we would pull in for a catnap and back on the road.

I was also basing my thought that I travel from FL to NC to see my oldest DD several times a year and I hit the RS's along I-95. I have been impressed by their upkeep and have noticed a lot of Police presense. A lot better then the RS when I head to IL.

Everyone have a special day.

 

[rriley25]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still undecided, but leaning towards just driving straight through. My DW and I can share the driving duties while our DD (3) sleeps.....well, we hope she sleeps most of the way anyway We may stop for the restroom facilities, but I think that napping is out. I have read/heard that the drive time from DC to WDW is anywhere from 13 to 15 hours. Why the significant difference? We are planning to leave the DC are at in the early afternoon on Friday. I know that is a very heavy travel time, but we won't be using I95 near DC. Instead, we use 301 and then get on I95 just north of Richmond. We plan to take our time, switch drivers as often as needed, and arrive in the Orlando area in the early morning. Maybe around 8:00 AM or so. Then a leisurely breakfast, a stop at a grocery store, and then to the BWV for check-in. Even if our room isn't ready yet, we can lounge around the pool or walk over to EPCOT until it is. Does this plan sound reasonable? Thanks again.

Bob Riley

 

[Straitlover]

This is what I would do. Go to Roomsaver . This is the website that does the books you can pick up along the road that have discount coupons for hotels. Print out the pages for Georgia. Around 9 PM, I would start calling places in mid to lower GA (depending where you are on the road at that time) and see if they have any vacancies. If you can find something for $30 or so (very possible w/ those coupons), I would gladly pay that rate than risk sleeping in a parking lot. You could crash for 3 hrs or so and hit the road again.

Better safe than sorry!

 

[FloridaCat]

Sounds like a plan. Pack swim gear and needed items in a seperate bag and use the resort publice bath to change.

 

[sherry8253]

For the last several years my DH and I have driven from the Harrisburg PA area. Depending on traffic and number of stops it takes us 16 to 17 hours max. If you switch drivers like we do every 4 hours or so, the trip is not bad at all. I would never pull over to a rest area to sleep in the car but that is just me. I just wouldnt feel comfortable. Have a great & safe trip!

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We live in Annapolis and we left on Friday, Aug 15 @ 5pm. It took us 2 hours to get to the Potomic River Bridge down 301. The traffic was bumper to bumper. However, we will still go that way because traffic on the beltway is even worse. Once we got into Va is was smooth sailing and we pulled into WDW at 7:45 am.

 

[icelady]

In the past 3 years that Ihave been going to WDW we spend a few hours napping at the first reststop in GA.Also in this time I have seen more state troopers in the reststops then I have seen running speed traps.
Regards; icelady's dh.