Need advice on driving from Philly

[dwkwootton]

We're in the midst of deciding whether or not to drive for our next cruise in January. We've never done the drive before but I just saw a thread about driving from NC so I hoped to get some feedback about driving from the Philly area ... traffic patterns, length of drive, any info that would help would be much appreciated. Mapquest and Yahoo maps just aren't as helpful as talking to a real live person!! Thanks!

 

[Otimon]

If you belong to AAA they will supply you with all you need. Just give them your destination and they will take care of the rest. If you don't belong, perhaps a friend who does will get the map route and books for you.

Have a wonderful time.

 

[dwkwootton]

We are AAA members but I'm hoping to get opinions/feedback from people who have actually made the drive. Would you drive it again? etc!

 

[DVCLady]

Delete

 

[jel0511]

We drive every summer (to WDW) from Princeton, so not far from Philly. It will take 2 days, or 16 - 18 hours straight through. We usually leave here at 3:30AM and make it through DC with minimum traffic. We usually stop for the night in Savannah, GA arriving anywhere between 4:30 and 6:30 depending on traffic. The next day it will be about a 5 hour drive to the Port or to WDW. I personally wouldn't drive in January because of the threat of snow/ice as you're driving down. That could get VERY tricky and also cause MANY more delays getting there. We drive an average MPH of 75 while on the road, so if there is a snowstorm while you're trying to get down, it would SEVERELY slow you down.

 

[SweetSpot]

We leave tomorrow from across the bridge in South Jersey for our 4th drive down to Florida. I prefer to drive and it really isn't that bad. We usually leave around 3:00AM to get through DC before rush hour and drive straight to the port. It's a 16 hour drive if you don't stop for more than gas, bathroom breaks and fast food taken back to the car (preferrably all in one stop). We are usually at the Radisson before 7:00 that night depending on traffic in Jacksonville. It's an easy drive, it's just straight down 95. We put a tv in the car and along with gameboys the kids are fine. The ride home is a bit more difficult because you get home so late.

This year we are leaving after school tomorrow and staying 1/2 way so we can get to the hotel earlier and be able to enjoy the day.

 

[goofyforlife]

I grew up in NE Philly..... My mom DROVE us down to DW each year and I promised myself then that I would never do that to my children......

In January the Cape May Ferry might not always run due to weather.....

and keep this in mind....

Last year my aunt drove down the 2nd week in January to save money....

On her way home...she spent over 9hours on I-95 in just GA because an ice storm had closed the roads. She eventually found a hotel for the night...only to get stuck again the following night because 95 (and all other roads for that matter) was still closed.

My mom flew home on the day my aunt left FL and got right home to PA.... (a moral to driving in January)

 

[Scrappy520]

Dwkwootton -

I struggled w/ this issue too but dh wasn't too happy about it. He went to school in SC & said the drive was way too long.

I then gave up the idea when I got United airline tkts from Phili to Orlando for $175 per person round trip - the day after Thanksgiving. I thought this was pretty good! We'll get there 1 day before the cruise & will be able to relax.

I agree w/ Jel0511 - driving that distance in mid winter will be too risky.

 

[sweet angel]

I'm with Goofyforlife. You couldn't PAY me to drive to Florida again. I went once with my parents as a kid -- don't remember how long it took us, but it was sheer torture being in the car for that long.

I went again with my ex-husband in 1987 or 1988. He wouldn't let me drive (claiming motion sickness as a passenger), we only made it into Maryland the first night because there was an accident on the NJ Turnpike. Second night I think we stopped in Georgia, right outside the FLA border. Third day brought us to our destination. When I tell you I was a babbling idiot when I got out of the car, that's putting it mildly. I absolutely dreaded the ride home.

 

[tracyl921]

When we were kids, we drove to Fla (sarasota) every summer for vacation (from south jersey). My dad, older sister and I would drive and my mom and younger sister would fly. I can truly say these were some of the best times of our lives! The drive never bothered us (and this was before tv in vans, etc), in fact, I always had a great time playing co-pilot. In fact, I have the best sense of direction in my family. The time with Dad was great too! Who else would let us go swimming late at night (we'd always stay at Holiday Inn - on the 2nd floor fo course!) and go to bed with a wet head! What's funny is, now as an adult, my DH and I have taken our kids to WDW for the past 3 years and plan on driving, but my dad always pays for our airfare. Go figure! However you get there, have a great time!

 

[jgalecpa]

Dear DWKwooten

I have driven from just above DC to WDW a number of times.

I would never recommend trying to do it straight through.

I can tell you it takes about 20 hrs from here and the total costs including meals, one night lodging (each way) and fuel is about $350-400.


I usually drive as far as Florence SC the first night than to Orlando the next day. That trip from DC is about 8 hrs.

I leave Florence about 9am and arrive in Orlando around 6pm that night.


I agree with the idea about the Cape-May lewes ferry, that greatly reduces stress but does cost $49 each way for a vehicle with 4 total people on board.


Let us know what you decide.

Jim

 

[disboo]

How about the auto train? We have done it several times. You drive to No. Va. (3 1/2 - 4 hours), get on the train which departs around 4:00 and you get in the next morning around 9:00 AM WITH YOUR CAR! YOu get two meals, a movie and an uncomforatble night's sleep in a reclining seat. My kids loved it.

 

[disney3144]

We have made the drive several times. We always drive straight through...taking turns of course. It usually takes us 15-16 hours. We leave about 6 pm. That way by the time we hit Washington & Richmond, rush hour is over. And most of the driving is done throughout the night when there is not much traffic. Also, if you hve kids, they sleep through most of the trip. It's straight down 95 until you get to Florida. Since you belong to AAA, ask for a trip tic. I like it because I can feel that we are getting closer every time I turn the page.

Jennifer

 

[DigiDude]

I was just on 95 a bit ago too lol
(driving back from phantoms game)


Try and get a head start in the morning or else you'll get major traffic jams with the people heading to the city

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

A couple of things to think about:

* You're going to have enjoyed a wonderful cruise...
* Then, you'll have to get in the car and drive 20 hours to get home, pay over $2 a gallon for gas, and worry about the weather and whether you can actually make the drive.
* Amtrak delays from FL to northeast happen more often than not.

Fly the Friendly Skies!

 

[dobelover]

We drove from central Md to PC last January for the 7 nt eastern. Left on Thursday and got to Florence, SC. Can't remember what time we left Friday am, got to PC around 6pm Friday. We were lucky and had great driving weather. The trip back was good and we took our time. Saturday nite in SC and stopped for the Super Bowl in Richmond Sunday nite. Home early on Monday. It was a fun trip, 3 adults and no hurry. I usually do fly in the winter, this was something different.

 

[mickeymom923]

Over the past 18 years, I have driven from NE Philly to WDW atleast a dozen times. As a single parent driving with children, I always enjoyed the quality time we got to spend as a family driving. I always drove in the summer. I'm afraid to chance it in the winter. What I usually do is try to get a good night's sleep and leave around 8 am. I drive about 4 hours and stop for breakfast/lunch in Virginia. Then I drive atleast another 6 hours and stop around S. Carolina/Georgia for the night. I try to get a hotel that offers breakfast and then we're on the road early and usually arrive at WDW around noon. I just booked airfare on Southwest for $226 pp in December 04 for my cruise. If you do decide to fly, definitely fly in the day before the cruise especially in the winter.

Bev

 

[dwkwootton]

Wow! Thank you all so much for all the helpful information. Your ideas have us leaning toward driving down and taking the auto train home. We're planning a few days at DW before the cruise so we have some time flexibility. (You'd think we're deciding the fate of the free world the way we're thinking this decision to pieces LOL) Might even pick up the Farmer's Almanac to qualify our planning as absolutely obsessive!

 

[MiaSRN62]

We've been driving back and forth from Philly since '99-'00. Can't beat the price of $300 for a family of 5 vs what airfare and van rentals would be. We normally leave around 8 am and drive the first 12 hours which brings us into southern SC. We tend to stay in a little down called Waltersboro where a $60/night hotel gets us a free hot breakfast in the morning. It only takes us about another 5 hours to get to WDW from there. We drive all the way down I-95 south using the "outer circle" around DC. Most traffic congestion we come upon is DC and then again the Richmond, VA area. Usually it's cool sailing doing about 75 mph the further south you get (beats the mandated 55 mph in our area). We have a van with a TV/VCR in it to keep the kids occupied. My dh and I trade off driving (he does most of it though) and even he'll sit in the back and watch TV a bit. We do make several very short pitstops to use restroom or get snack or stretch legs and this helps to break up the driving too. We always build two extra days into our trip for driving there and back.
I noticed someone said it takes 20 hours from DC ? I'm not sure if they're calculating rest stops and breaks into that time period or not, but we've never had a drive over 17-17 1/2 hours from Philly ? Once we even made it in 16 hours----no traffic I guess !
I would agree with their assessment of :

the total costs including meals, one night lodging (each way) and fuel is about $350-400.

This sounds about right. I do pack sandwiches on the drive down to FL for us to have for lunch and then we stop and get a hot dinner in SC. Beats airfare of $1,000-$1,200 plus the $400 for a rental van once in FL. I suppose it's really an issue of time vs money. If needing to factor in an extra 2 days (roundtrip) of driving during your vacation is going to stress you, then go for the airfare. We only fly if we're planning on a short trip. We feel the need to stay a minimum of 7 nights to make driving worth it. Once we drove there and back and our stay was only 4 nights. We felt it didn't give us enough time to rest/relax from the long drive. Good luck with your decision

 

[goofyforlife]

Quote:
"Usually it's cool sailing doing about 75 mph (beats the mandated 55 mph in our area). "


Last time I checked our speed limit is 55 is most areas as well.
It only increases to 65 in rural areas.

The only place I've ever seen a 75mph speed limit is in rural FL on East end of the Bee Line.

(If your gonna drive 75 allow a budget line item of $200 or so for the speeding ticket that could occur.)

Oh by the way....my co-worker did get one in FL on his way home last year.