Is anyone Driving to WDW This Month?

[ang]

I can kick myself in the butt!! I missed last night chat about traveling in Janruary. I planning a trip for next Janruary to WDW. I will be driving....Oh Boy!! With all this snow I'm kind of warey now. I tried to talk my DH out of it yesterday but it did not work.
I'm traveling through Ohio, WV,V, NC,SC,GA and into Florida. I was going to drive straight through...but now, I think I will make a stop in SC....that will be a 12 hour drive for us.....head to florida the next day.......does that sound good?...I do most all the driving...so, I'm all ready getting nervous.......LOL.....I'm not thrilled driving through mountains in the snow.....do they keep the highway clean in WV, V, NC?

Has anyone driven this route......route South on 77 in Janruary?
Any help will be great!! Thanks!

 

[brad833]

My Mom and Dad just drove from Pittsburgh to Bradenton on Saturday. They did not have any problems on I-77. They said they keep that road pretty clear in the winter. They did see some snow down in Columbia SC from that snowstorm of last week, but the roads were clear. They drove from Pittsburgh to Savannah GA on Saturday. (10-11 hours) Then on Saturday drove the rest of way to Bradenton. Weather today in the 50's. I hope that helps some.

Best Regards,
Brad

 

[DancingBear]

For your planning purposes--

There are not a lot of motels on I-77 between Rock Hill, SC (just south of Charlotte) and the intersection with I-20 (just north of Columbia, SC)

The part of I-77 which goes around east of Columbia between I-20 and I-26 is relatively new and there are still not a lot of motels here.

The stretch of I-26 between Columbia and I-95 has a few motels but pretty scattered.

There are motels at several exits on I-95. There are clusters of motels off I-95 near the SC/GA border (Savannah, GA area). We stayed at a very nice Country Inn & Suites there last December. It was brand new, comfortable, and had a Cracker Barrell next door. I think it was this one:

Country Inn & Suites Savannah Interstate

 

[sandramaac]

We drive drive down usually for one of our trips to Disney each year. (from NJ) I would make a stop in South Carolina. We usually stay at a Hampton Inn. They are located up and down the southern states on I-95. The great thing is too if you feel you can drive a little further you can simply change your confirmation to the next Hampton Inn. The best thing to do is to call Hampton Inns and ask them to mail you their locations book. Then get a state atlas/road book. This way as you go down I-95 you can see what stop are coming up and make your ressies or changes accordingly.

They are clean hotels. Most of them are located near Cracker Barrels(another good bet for a decent, consistent meal). Many of the Hamptons have a continental breakfast which is OK at best. Hope this helps. ANy questions let me know

 

[NicsMom1500]

Yes we are driving this month. We leave on Friday Jan. 25th. We are taking the drive slow on the way down. First time going to Florida with our son. He just turned 2. Grandparents following in their vehicle.

First night:
leave 3 pm and hope to be at Roanoke Rapids NC by 9pm or so. Holiday Inn Express.
Second night:
stopping at Brunswick GA. Embassy Suites.
Sunday - arrive Animal Kingdom Lodge by 1 p.m.

Coming home:
Stopping one night in Lumberton NC. Country Inn and Suites.

We've made this trip twice before but never with a child nor grandparents following us. It'll be a new and hopefully fun experience.

We travel 81 South and make our way to I-95 at Fredericksburg. We used to go through DC but find the new route much easier.

Good luck!
Kim

 

[Lesley]

I don't know about the mountains, but I really wouldn't worry about snow once you hit the Carolinas...its rare there!

We are leaving on a Friday evening, spending the Saturday with friends in Columbia,SC and arriving in WDW on the 20th. Of course if weather dictates otherwise we will revise our schedule. We have previously stopped overnight in Walterboro SC or driven straight through.

The drive really isn't that bad...just remember to "know when to say when" as far as needing a break. Stop where you need to...don't push yourself further. We're usually so excited to get to WDW its no problem! The way home is what's rough. WE try to stop about halfway...but that depends on how late it is.

Have fun!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I am just back from a trip to Florida in which I drove down from NJ and took the AutoTrain home. UGHH!! - I had to drive through that freak snow storm in the Carolinas that hit right after New Years. I left New Jersey and had prefect driving conditions, and stayed in Raleigh, NC at my brother's house for a few days. But when I left Raleigh to head for Florida (this was two days after the foot-deep snow stopped falling!), I had many moments where I regretted the decision to drive! The roads outside Raleigh were terrible and downright undrivable in spots. I experienced such lovely things as driving on exit ramps that had never been plowed, seeing 18-wheelers jack-knifed off the roads, and viewing accidents and abandoned cars littered all over the highway. I even saw many SUV's in ditches from sliding off the icy roads. It was scary and I feel very fortunate that I managed to get through those awful roads safely. It took a good 30 miles south of Raleigh until the highways improved greatly. I am still quite mad I just happen to pick the absoulte worst time to drive through the Carolinas, but that is winter. So ..... I am not sure I will do this again. I already had a great fear black ice and snow, and this was basiclally all my fears come true. But I did arrive safely in Florida that night and had the best time! But it was truly scary on those roads and we did arrive a day late because of it. But I had planned into my schedule extra days at an offsite hotel in case this happened, and I am very glad I did.

Well, that was my $.02!

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