Lady drivers respond here!

[Mouse-n-Mini]

My mom and I are planning a trip in Dec. 2007 and are thinking about driving down alone from illinois. Any other lady drivers make the long drive by themselves?

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

my aunt and I have driven several times from illinios to florida. I am an excessive planner so I had a map from every state and all the rest stops marked. I also picked up the travel magazines at the rest stops and was able to find out where the hotels were coming up on the route and could call ahead on my cell phone.
Preparation is the best aide to making your road trip successful. I would also suggest joining AAA and getting a free individualizing map of your route.


Kimberly

But I would consider the cost of fuel to drive there verses flying by plane. I would also consider the cost of meals, and hotels. The cost saving may not be as big as you might think.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I done the drive from NJ to FL alone many, many times! Flying is not an option for me, as I get violently sick on planes. I usually take the AutoTrain in one direction (a five hour drive from my house) and drive the other (a 20 hour drive since I drive the speed limit!), but it is still about 25 total hours of driving! Over the last six years, I driven 19 times, either Florida to NJ or NJ to Florida. And I did these trips in an older car - as of this January, I was driving a 11 year old car with almost 200,000 miles on it, even! But it was reliable and I felt it could make those trips, and it did.

I am cautious about things when driving alone, such as I am very picky about the hotels I stay at on I-95, as I will only stay in "better" brands that have interior corridors (usually Hampton Inns or Fairfields), and I am willing to pay for it. I am also picky about where I get gas, as I look for well-lit, well populated towns off I-95.

Before I discovered Disney, I actually went 8 years without a vacation, mainly because I had no one to go with, and I wasn't willing to go by myself. I finally got over that, and realized if I always try to wait for others to join me, I would still be waiting, going nowhere every year! So I do the drive alone, and just use common sense and hope for the best!

 

[MidgeD79]

I have driven with kids form SE MI to WDW about 4x. I have never driven straight through. It may be more cost effective for you to fly with only 2 of you. We figure about $400-$500 to drive round trip with gas food and lodging vs $200 per person (x6) to fly.

 

[minkydog]

My 72yo mother drives by herself up and down the eastern seaboard all the time. She lives in Alabama! but we have a lot of family in VA, NC and MD. She & I recently took a trip to MD for a funeral and had a ball.

Planning is the key--stopping at well-maintained rest areas, shopping centers, restaurants. Staying in hotels with inside corridors. We leave early and get off the road before dark.

You can do it!

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

I really appreciate these responses, it's giving us more
confidence in our plans. Thank you!

 

[manning]

My 74 year old aunt has been driving up from the Tampa area to SW Michigan for the last 5 years by herself. We ride back with her. She's a snowbird.

When she comes up she has her cell phone on and we check in with her from time to time. She even has a friend in GA. He gave her a warning ticket last year for going 8 over. LOL

If she runs into rain she will call me and I check the doppler radars along the route to let her know what it's like up the line.

 

[daisax]

I haven't done the drive to Florida but I've driven from Massachusetts to Wisconsin and other long trips solo or with a female friend.

The majority of the trip is highway driving -- you'll be fine! Use common sense -- personally I'd rather be up at dawn and driving all day and check into the hotel in time to have a nice dinner and early to bed, then up early again. That avoids being out and about at night, but that also assumes you're an early bird!