Just Back - Drove from CT Didn't Go I-95 IT WAS GREAT!

[Mickeydad]

Just got back from a week of great sun and fun at Disney.

For the first time, my DW, DD8 & DS5 drove down to FL. We didn't go the familar I-95 route, but instead went the alternate route and it was FABULOUS!!

I-84W to Scranton, PA. We picked up I-81S in Scranton, then merged onto I-77 just south of Roanoke, VA. We then followed I-77 to I-26 in S. Carolina. I-26 led us right onto I-95 in Savannah, GA. I-95 to I-4 and we were there. It took approx. 20 hrs. of driving.

I highly recommend this route. I-77 is beautiful. We saw tons of deer, cows, sheep and horses. The valleys were pretty as were the hills.

We averaged 78 mph pretty much throughout. We hit a major traffic jam near the Georgia/Florida state line. People actually got out of their cars and there was NO ACCIDENT (thank goodness) and NO CONSTRUCTION. So, we really don't know why we stopped. We lost about 1 hour because of the backup.

We gave the kids a surprise every time we entered a new state (only if they didn't fight or wine-if they did, they wouldn't get a surprise. this worked GREAT!!)

The kids watched TV, played on their LeapFrog pads and colored. Going down, we all were very excited and R E A L L Y couldn't wait to get there. On the way home, we took our time and really enjoyed the drive home. We stopped in SC for dinner at a Western Sizzlin' (won't recommend it - food wasn't that great). We slept just north of Roanake, VA in a hotel that gave us free breakfast (only $69 for the night with AAA). The next day we stopped in Hersey, PA and visited Chocolate Town. Did the tour, bought a ton of chocolate and got back home to CT by 8:15pm.

Again, I highly suggest you do this route to avoid heavy city traffic and construction on I-95.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by Mickeydad
We then followed I-77 to I-26 in S. Carolina. I-26 led us right onto I-95 in Savannah, GA.

Just a clarification ... I-26 & I-95 intersect north of Savannah, GA in South Carolina - between Santee & Walterboro.

 

[momof2sons]

Sounds like you had a wonderful drive.

We drive from central Ohio and have a choice to either pick up I-75 or I-77. We always choose I-77 it is a beautiful drive even though we have to pay $4.50 in toll fees in WV.

 

[RobinMarie]

Hiya Mickeydad! Thanks for the report! We're from Ct too and just experienced an awful trip (via 95) down to VA a week ago. We took a route different from 95 on the way home and really enjoyed it much better.

I'm curious, how long did you spend IN Florida and did you feel like you needed to recooperate from your drive when you got there?

What time did you leave CT to go to Florida? The budget-minded me wonders if we could/should choose this method in the future.

Driving to Virginia this past vacation allowed us to bring our dog (fairly new to our family and dd couldn't imagine being without her). We boarded the dog close to where we were staying so we were able to visit her periodically. I'm contemplating a long vacation to FL next year and am considering this driving option.

Thanks again!

 

[NALA 24]

Using this route, about how many miles and hours was it from Scranton to WDW?

 

[TinkHappy]

I am so glad you posted your trip down!! I actually signed on the transportation boards to find your previous report to see if it was updated...WOW!!!

We are driving down on Friday and your report was very helpful. I am just worried where to stop. We are just so used to doing it one-way...I95.

Thank you for posting.

 

[Mickeydad]

We wrote down the mileage from different points in the trip. I will post the report shortly.

FYI - it is about 16 hours from Scranton, PA.

 

[cpl100]

I am happy to hear of this route. We are driving for the first time (have always flown) this July from Massachusetts. Since there will only be one driver, I was thinking it would take me four days of driving. How many drivers did you have?

What roads were you on in NY and near D.C.? Or were you totally able to avoid NY?

Any other tips or notes would be appreciated!

 

[markey]

I am also leaving tomorrow, Friday, and driving from Central Pa., but have to stop and pick up my daughter 17 miles south of Baltimore off of 295/95 at Ft. Meade. Anyone know how I could pick up 77 from there? I would very much like to avoid the Washington area. Thanks

 

[Mickeydad]

Ok, a couple of things...

1. It should not take you 4 days to drive down from Mass. Two days will easily do it. I did the most of the driving. My DW did only 2 hours of the total driving.

2. This route keeps you CLEAR of NY city, etc. You do drive in the Brewster, NY area, but that is well north of the problem areas in NY & NJ.

3. I believe it is I-61 that cuts across Maryland to I-77. It may be I-66, but I think it is I-61. Check Mapquest

 

[cpl100]

Hi Mickey Dad...

I should have mentioned that I plan to drive in daylight only, except for leaving from Massachusetts at about 5:00 a.m. How would that go? I still think I'd need 3 days anyway.

 

[sheryl0521]

We drove in Feb from CT and it took us 27 hours. We left the Hartford area at 6:00 Friday night, stopped in VA at about 2:00 AM. Got back on the road at 7:00 am Sat, and pulled into WDW at 9:00 Saturday night. 2 drivers with stops at all the state welcome centers for about a half hour to stretch & eat.

We drove Merrit Pky to I-270 (north of NYC) to NJ tpke to I-95.

I think you are overestimating your travel time unless you plan to do some sightseeing along the way.

We are flying next week, but we plan to drive in August. Our tentative plans for 2004 Feb & April have us driving as well.

Have fun!

 

[cpl100]

Hi Sheryl,

I am planning to spend one night with a friend, but as I said above, I do not see myself driving at night in a strange place. It will be my two children and I and I plan to 'be' whereever I'm staying before 6pm. Also, I would not be able to drive for 12 hours myself, let alone the 14 you did on your second day. Nine hours would be about tops for me I think.

Thanks for your input.

Cindy

 

[musical2]

markey,

I live just off I-295 near Fort Meade also. There really is no good way to get to I-77 from here without going so far out of your way that you'd be better off going down I-95 if time is an issue. I drove down in December from here. I left at about 4:00 am and got South of Savannah Georgia by 4:00 pm by going down the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (I-295) to I-95. It was smooth going the whole way. I may have just been lucky.

To get to I-77 from here you'd still have to take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to the Washington Beltway (I-495/I-95) and take it into Virginia where you'd pick up I-66 west to I-81 south to I-77 south. This will take you a lot of time from this area.

Bart

 

[Mickeydad]

Sheryl,

Wow, 27 hours!!! 19-20 was all it took for us. We didn't SPEED down, but I did maintain a average speed of 78mph. Most of the trip the speed limit is 70!

 

[sheryl0521]

Hi,
I counted the 5 hours we stopped in VA and caught some sleep, so take that out and we did it in 22 hours.

I didn't mention that we also had 2 boys in the car, so there were frequent stops for bathrooms & food.

Speed limit, what's that?!? We just stayed with the flow of traffic and We kept it at about 80mph all the way down except for DC, and some construction on I-95 in FL and also on I-4 heading into Orlando.

It wasn't as bad as I expected, but we did do the NJ turnpike and DC at night.

Sheryl

 

[suevee]

Hi

We live in the BWI/Ft. Meade area and recently drove down I95. We left at 4 am. The Washington Beltway was not to bad at that time. We made it from our area to Ocala in 14 hours. We had 2 drivers and stops were minimal. We are planning to do the same in August.

 

[TinkHappy]

We are leaving tomorrow also, I was just wondering about rest-stops. It's funny, we have driven I-95 so many times, we have them memorized. We have two DD's and need to stop (not to mention I need to stop as well) are there as many rest-stops?

 

[Captain Hook]

We are driving down from Ct as well. Im looking for a place to stop over night I figure I'll drive 12 hours the first day and make up the rest the following. We will going down with my two DD 5,1

 

[Mickeydad]

Don't worry, there are PLENTY of hotels along the Route. 12 hours should get you to the Carolina's.

Have a great trip!