Need advice from NE road warriors

[DisCom4]

Hi everyone--

We're considering our first ever driving vacation to WDW in October and need some advice and info from those of you who live along the way.

Our plan is to leave Ct early on Friday... reach the Garden State pkwy before 5 am... to NJ turnpike, to I-95 through Baltimore (a little before 8?) to Washington ("ninish") and all the way to South Carolina. We'll stay overnight (maybe drive the extra 20 miles or so into Hilton Head and stay there), then leave the next morning for the last five or so hours to Orlando.

Our questions are:

1. What will the Garden State pkwy and NJ turnpike be like between, say 5 am and 8 am?

2. We think we want to avoid 95/Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore on a weekday morning... so what will 695 be like between 8 and 9 am?

3. We've run into incredibly heavy traffic on I-95 between Washington and Richmond on weekends. Will Friday be any better... worse... the same?

4. If we decide to spend one night in Hilton Head, is it generally warm enough in early October for the kids to swim?

Any insights you folks who travel or live along the I-95 corridor can give us would be appreciated.

 

[Lesley]

We found the only good time to travel 95 between Baltimore and Richmond was overnight....we lived in PA until about a year ago. Otherwise just avoid rush hours...midmorning weekdays or late evening are okay.

We never took 695 around Baltimore, but never hit it at a high traffic time. Also, we always used the Ft. McHenry tunnel, which is right on 95.

Unless travelling during a very light traffic time I do recommend taking 295 around Richmond. The only time I'd drive through Richmond would be at 3 or 4 am....

Early Oct. should be fine for swimming.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I have done this route previously from MA on a few occasions and think you will hit traffic around the Baltimore area which is better than the NY area at your stated times. If you can manage to clear Maryland and the beltway area by 7am then it will be smooth sailing the majority of the way. But I think you would need to leave at approx 10pm or so to pull this off depending on where in CT you reside. We once did this route from Boston to Daytona in 17.5 hours (3 drivers) without hitting traffic in any of the major metro's but we left at about 8pm and managed to clear the DC Beltway before 6am which was our goal.

My suggestions would be:
1. Multiple Drivers
2. Bring a radar detector (I know in CT you cant use them but most other states you can).
3. Depart at whatever time is needed in order to clear the DC beltway before 7am

 

[jbwolffiv]

I would agree with the others as well. We drive from central NJ and always plan to be beyond DC by 6 am to avoid all the traffic there.

 

[sheryl0521]

Have you seen this thread on the transportation board?

Good info...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=394351

We are making the drive starting this Friday evening - we don't check in until Sunday, so we aren't looking to power through the 18 hour trip. We are stopping twice - once in Maryland and once in SC - then off to WDW & SSR!

It's been cold around here this week - so I am looking forward to that FL heat!

 

[offtheice]

Originally posted by DisCom4
Hi everyone--

We're considering our first ever driving vacation to WDW in October and need some advice and info from those of you who live along the way.

Our plan is to leave Ct early on Friday... reach the Garden State pkwy before 5 am... to NJ turnpike, to I-95 through Baltimore (a little before 8?) to Washington ("ninish") and all the way to South Carolina. We'll stay overnight (maybe drive the extra 20 miles or so into Hilton Head and stay there), then leave the next morning for the last five or so hours to Orlando.

Our questions are:

1. What will the Garden State pkwy and NJ turnpike be like between, say 5 am and 8 am?

2. We think we want to avoid 95/Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore on a weekday morning... so what will 695 be like between 8 and 9 am?

3. We've run into incredibly heavy traffic on I-95 between Washington and Richmond on weekends. Will Friday be any better... worse... the same?

4. If we decide to spend one night in Hilton Head, is it generally warm enough in early October for the kids to swim?

Any insights you folks who travel or live along the I-95 corridor can give us would be appreciated.

\

I just drove down from south jersey couple weeks ago. First off the Garden State pkway should be fine if you get to the turnpike before 8am.. This means your going to hit Baltimore approx 3 hrs later , so you should be fine using 95 .. Just ck the electric signs they have .. (That saved us from getting jammed by a accident). Richmond and Washington areas will only be bad if you hit it from 4pm on ..Have fun with the long ,boring drive(lol)..

 

[Pluto4Pres]

I've done this trip many times both to WDW and Myrtle Beach. I'd say as long as you're in NJ by 6 am you're in good shape. Volume will be heavy from 6-9 am but the bulk of the traffic will be heading n/b to NYC. Stop for a quick snack and bathroom break in MD. The rest areas are large, clean and have lots of choices. This will put you through DC between 11-noon. The beltway is a problem no matter when you go, but I've never really found a worthwhile alternative. Unless there's an accident or other announced problem, I would just stick with it. You're going through between the rush hours so there is a good chance that you'll make it through without any backups. Once you get over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (Look right to see the Wash. Monument) stay towards the right lane for I-95 south. As soon as you get on I-95 south from the beltway be alert for the HOV lane entrances on the left. The HOV is usually a good choice. However, they are reversible so they may not yet be open to s/b traffic when you get there. Once you get to this point you're in great shape. I generally use the I-295 bypass around Richmond. When you get to NC the hard part is over. The rest of the trip is 2-3 lanes, 70 mph speed limit and no interchanges.

We have found that our best place to stop is in Lumberton, NC, plenty of motels. Allthough, our last trip we added our 17YO DS as a third driver and made all the way Jacksonville, FL on the first day, (I don't think I'll do that again though).

I don't think I would stay in HH, unless that was really something you wanted to see and make part of the trip. It's a good distance east from I-95 and will add hours to your driving.

We belong to AAA and always get a TripTik and guide books which are very helpful. They point out where you can find gas, food and lodging and also give you alternate routes in case of accidents or construction. I did also recently see a book advertised that was written by a husband/wife team that catalogs everything along I-95 from ME to FL. I might get it before my next trip. Here is a link to check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...9831241/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-2167153-8455942

If you are travelling with young ones, I highly recommend a DVD or VCR player. They're pretty cheap now. And think about it, what is a parent's biggest complaint about kids watching too much TV at home? "Joey! Get up! You've been sitting there for hours like a zombie!" Hmm.. that could come in handy.

Good luck Road Warrior!!

 

[Michelemouse]

I agree with Pluto4Pres...make sure you are into NJ by 6:00 and you'll be fine.

We drive this route at least twice a year. We leave CT (we're in the NE corner of the state) at 2am and have no trouble.

One suggestion though...we tend to stick to I-95 and skip the Garden State. We've done it both ways and find it faster and easier to just take 95 through NY, go over the GW bridge and then hook up with the NJ Turnpike.

Also, you'll have lots of people tell you to take the beltway around Richmond. We've never done this and have never encountered traffic in Richmond. You should be going through that part of Virginia between noon & 2:00 and there is really no traffic to worry about.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me. We've been making the trip since our kids were 4 & 1 (they are 12 & 9 now) so we've gotten used to it.

Safe travels!

 

[Coastie]

That is one ambitous schedule you have... make sure to stop and rest on the way every few hours.

I live in the DC/Richmond area and Fridays are terrible starting from about 2PM to about 8PM. The timeframe you have for hitting the DC area, you shouldn't have any problems. Keep in mind the Springfield "mixing bowl" is still under construction. The new I95 fly-over is complete and eases some conjestion. Stay in the LEFT two lanes about four miles after the Wilson Bridge. This is a recent change since the flyover was opened. The HOV lanes will be south bound when you hit this area. After the mixing bowl, if you have 3 or more people, take the HOV, this parallels I95 for about 20 miles.

Tune your radio to WTOP 107.7 on the 8's for the latest traffic reports when you get on/near the beltway (I495).

This past December, we stayed over at HH. We left here, in Stafford, VA at 4PM and arrived HH around 2AM - absolutly no traffic and cruising at about 70. As others recommended, take the bypass around Richmond, its a nicer route and less traffic.

Check this site for information on I95...
http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

 

[Uncleromulus]

Coastie:
Friends of ours in Springfield suggest that the "flyover" is a mess all it's own--when it all changes back into one lane at the end.
Is that so??

 

[PattnFmly]

Hey BostonDisneyKid we live in Lynn too! How long does it take from home to DC? I've driven it straight through to WDW, (2 drivers, nothing but gas & potty stops) but it was a few years back and I can't remember the timing. And do you do the pike to 84 into NY or straight 95? Thinking about driving for April vacation next year since the flights are so pricey!

 

[Coastie]

Re: Friends of ours in Springfield suggest that the "flyover" is a mess all it's own--when it all changes back into one lane at the end. Is that so??

The flyover merge to I95 does go into a single lane. It is my understanding there is suppose to be another HOV merge in that area. During non-rush hour the merge is really not a problem.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

FYI FOR ANYONE DRIVING THROUGH VA--

2. Bring a radar detector (I know in CT you cant use them but most other states you can).

Radar detectors are also illegal in VA.

 

[DBC]

If you don't have a fastlane (or fastpass or something like that) transponder you should pick one up before you leave. It makes travelling through NJ MUCH faster.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt in other states along the way.

 

[JudithM]

In addition to CT & VA, aren't radar detectors also illegal in the District of Columbia?