LONG-First Time Driving-Lots of questions!

[happily single]

I, at the very very last minute decided to drive from RI to Orlando for April vacation. ALONE! Well, with my three kids!!!

Right now the plan is the leave RI on Saturday, 4/17 about 5:00 a.m. (that's what time my nearest Cumberland Farms opens for coffee). We will then drive to Raliegh, NC and spend the night. Of course we will stop for breaks. Mapquest says it is about a 12 hour drive.

But,,,it occured to me that I could possibly leave Friday afternoon, between 3-4 p.m. and drive for about 6 hours and spend the night.

If I leave on Friday it looks like I'll hit NYC traffic right at rush hour?

For those of who drive from NE, honestly, is it that bad???

 

[sharadoc]

I, at the very very last minute decided to drive from RI to Orlando for April vacation. ALONE! Well, with my three kids!!!

Right now the plan is the leave RI on Saturday, 4/17 about 5:00 a.m. (that's what time my nearest Cumberland Farms opens for coffee). We will then drive to Raliegh, NC and spend the night. Of course we will stop for breaks. Mapquest says it is about a 12 hour drive.

But,,,it occured to me that I could possibly leave Friday afternoon, between 3-4 p.m. and drive for about 6 hours and spend the night.

If I leave on Friday it looks like I'll hit NYC traffic right at rush hour?

For those of who drive from NE, honestly, is it that bad???

Hi. Welcome to the world of driving!

We are below NYC, so I don't have actual experience but from everything I've heard the traffic will be horrible if you leave Friday afternoon. Will you gain anything by doing that? I think you would probably do fine with two days, rather than three with NYC traffic. Hopefully others with real experience can help you more than I did!

 

[dblr]

I would be more worried on the traffic in Ct.1st leaving Fri. You can miss NYCity area if you take the Tappen Zee bridge rt 287. I use this way and stay on it all the way back to the NJ turnpike in Edison,might be a little longer but I like that way best.

 

[happily single]

Thanks for the help. I have decided to stick to leaving Saturday. As my boyfriend put it "you work 8 hours a day and the drive is only 9 hours, sooo"

But I would love information on the Tappen Zee Road. Others on other threads have suggested it. AAA has me traveling through Raliegh, NC and apparently that isn't the way to go!

 

[Robert P]

AAA has me traveling through Raliegh, NC and apparently that isn't the way to go!

Not unless you are visiting people there.

From I-95 (Rocky Mount) to Raleigh beltline is just over 50 miles (52 I think to the inner beltline), almost due West. While you could do this, then take I-40 East the next day to connect back to I-95 South down near Fayetteville, Raleigh seems like a long way out of the way.

 

[dblr]

For the way to the Tappen Zee Bridge follow the sign for Rt 287 I think is is the last exit in Ct. or the 1st exit in NY heading south it should be well marked. We have also used RT84 across the middle of Ct. but then you have to deal with Hartford. You could stay on 84 to 87 south then pick up 287. Also you could try 84 to 684 south to 287, sorry I gave you so many options but I travel that way alot and try to find ways to avoid NY city.

 

[HeatherC]

We are in Mass., but drive the 84-684-287 Tappan Zee Route a lot since we have my parents in NJ.

But since you are leaving early Sat. morning, I would maybe leave an hour earlier...say 4am and go right through NYC. You should be able to be through there by 6:30am and traffic should not be that bad.

Have a great trip!

 

[happily single]

does the Tappan Zee add a lot of extra time? I have directions both ways ans havent decided which way to go yet

 

[HeatherC]

I think it would add a little extra time....less than an hour though would be my guess.

We are actually leaving tomorrow to drive from Central MA to Williamsburg and are going the Tappan Zee Route.

We take 84 to 684 to 287 over the Tappan Zee and hop on the Garden State Parkway which then connects back up with the Jersey Turnpike south of the NYC area.

I hate the Turnpike driving in the NYC area and prefer the Garden State Parkway even though it may add a little extra time. Just a lot less hassle to me unless you are used to driving through NYC and the Turnpike.

Balt/Wash is bad enough, so I like to avoid NYC if I can.

Have a great trip!

Hope this helps!

 

[happily single]

thanks for the quick response! We're leaving tomorrow also.

I have to admit I'm a little confused with all these route numbers that have been thrown out to me, but I'll review my maps again tonight and probably just make a decision tomorrow based on traffic and how I'm feeling

Have a great trip!

 

[BigTigger]

Best of luck on the trip.

I drive to FL and NC regularly and also drive to the greater NYC even more regularly, so I can offer some last minute tips.

If you can leave at 4 or 4:30 am you should be able to go straight through NYC on I-95 and over the George Washington Bridge without hitting any traffic to speak of. If you decide to take the slightly longer Tappan Zee route, then the exit to I-287 is just after you cross the border from CT to NY State on I-95 south. You then can take one of three routes through NJ after crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge. The first is the Palisades Parkway which will take you along the Hudson River to I-95 just west of the GW bridge. The second is the Garden State Parkway which you can then take all the way down to near Perth Amboy and pick up the NJ Turnpike there. The third is to stay on I-287 south which loops you out through central NJ and also joins you back on the NJ Turnpike near Perth Amboy. Which ever route you choose, gas is cheap on the NJ Turnpike and the rest areas are clean and have good food options. I usually stop at the Clara Barton rest area just after exit 2 to fill the tank and stretch the legs.

From NJ to DC is pretty straightforward with lots of tolls in the short Delaware stretch (I hope you have an EZPass) and rest areas in MD if you need to stop. On a Saturday you will hit traffic in the area north of Baltimore near White Marsh Road where a few interstates cross. I usually find DC southbound on Saturday to be OK to stay on I-95. Once over the river, take the express lanes to get away from local traffic. You will hit some slowdowns when the express lanes end and by Quantico. Richmond should be a non-event on a weekend, but you may want to take the I-295 loop just in case.

I'd recommend staying on I-95 through NC and not heading to Raleigh for a hotel as every interchange in NC has tons of lodging options. Roanoke Rapids is one you should easily reach by mid-afternoon. I'd suggest going further if you can hold out and try and make SC by the end of day 1 and the Columbia, SC area as it has lots of lodging options. It also makes day 2 a shorter day as you'll be in Florida by early afternoon.

Best of luck, PM me or reply here if you have any questions. I'll keep an eye on this thread and get back to you ASAP.

 

[ncc1701]

You may want to pick a place in North Carolina along I-95 and make a reservation before you leave.You never know what sort of events aregoing on that can cause motels to be booked solid for miles. My cousin & her family once had to drive straight thru from Orlando to Philadelphia.They started callingfor a hotel in Southern Virginia & couldn't find anything until the Baltimore area.At that point they decided to just head home

 

[Robert P]

I'd recommend staying on I-95 through NC and not heading to Raleigh for a hotel as every interchange in NC has tons of lodging options. Roanoke Rapids is one you should easily reach by mid-afternoon. I'd suggest going further if you can hold out and try and make SC by the end of day 1 and the Columbia, SC area as it has lots of lodging options. It also makes day 2 a shorter day as you'll be in Florida by early afternoon.

I agree with all the points, but need to point out that Columbia,SC is 54 miles off of I-95, going West along I-26. About the same distance off of I-95 as Raleigh is in NC. The driver isn't going to make Columbia easily unless they are going the 81-77-26-95 route.
Roanoke Rapids or Rocky Mount are the top 2 areas once you get near NC/VA line. If the driver pushes through NC into SC, and could get past Santee to where I-26 crosses I-95, they would have @ 385 miles left to WDW.
Travel Safe!