New Englanders - what does your typical drive down look like?

[KristinU]

Hi All!

We're eagerly anticipating picking up our new Aliner in May and have reservations for the Fort for Thanksgiving. I know its a bit early, but it's still chilly here and I *need* to plan...

We've driven down to WDW once before, but that wasn't pulling anything and we didn't have a child yet either - so we drove straight through. Clearly we won't be doing that method again in November with an Aliner and a 4 year old DS in tow, so I'm looking for tips and tried-and-true methods from you seasoned Fort folks from New England.

Do you stay over one or two nights on the road? Where do you stay on the way? What time of day do you hit the road? What's your route?

Thanks in advance!

 

[seabee]

We come from Maine. We tried to avoid the GW bridge and Baltimore the last time and took 84 into PA then 81-64-95. We won't be doing that again this time. We took 95-15-84 on the way home and it was much better. Yes the GW bridge and Baltimore was a bit hairy but not that bad. We will be going 95-90-84-15-95 this time. We stop at truck stops. What I usually do is look at where 10 hours would put us, that usually is just past Baltimore, and find a Flying J or TA in the area. Then we stop somewhere near Savannah, GA for the second night. There was a TA right off of 95 that we stopped off at the second night that was great. I think it was in Savannah. There was a Waffle House right there too, my girls LOVED that, since this a ritual for our drive down. We get up and are on the road by 9-9:30 usually. We usually arrive at the Disney around 1-2 pm.

 

[MadFF]

I'll be watching this thread! I started a thread a while ago with similar questions:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1681916

We are going to be in Disney in October, and are very much looking forward to it.

 

[seabee]

When in October, Mad? We will be heading down on the 16th and coming back the 26th.

 

[lostacresfarm]

I would honestly reconsider the overnight.

We have driven far down south several times to visit relatives with DD now 8 and DS 5 and twice with niece now 11. Once with a tent and twice with our popup. We usually leave from Western CT around 12 noon and try and get through most of Jersey before PM rush hour. To do this, I think that you need to be past Danbury by 2 pm. We hit Danbury at 3 once and did not work out well - too late to get through metro New York.

We usually go 84 to Tappan zee across on 287 and then to the Garden state (or Jersey Tpk forget which). We stop for dinner just before the Delaware bridge at the Cracker Barrel there. Then Baltimore and DC are busy, but not at full rush hour.

We are not big on letting our kids watch a lot of movies, but when we do this trip - all rule are thrown out and they can watch as many DVD as they want. Most of kids are asleep by 10:00 or so and I am usually pumped to drive. I usually get us past Richmond and then DW takes the wheel for a hour or two. When we get through to sunrise and are usually OK from there.

I actually think that it is easier for the kids to sleep through. If both drivers are dead - you can always stop at a rest area for a cat nap.

Coming back is harder as you are tired from the trip. Kids should be OK for driving through - it is the parents that are more tired coming back. If I were going to do the 2 day thing, I would stop on the way back before or around Richmond as the hotel costs are less south of there. We have stopped a SILs in DC and it works out OK, but it is less than half way. If I were to break the drive into two days, I would go further south. South of the Border, I believe, was originally the half way point between NYC and Miami. I am not sure where I heard this, but I think that was part of the original plan.

 

[MadFF]

When in October, Mad? We will be heading down on the 16th and coming back the 26th.

We will be at Disney 19th to the 25th. Maybe we can say hello!

 

[mrsscooter]

OMG.....another CT diser...we are in Norwich, so not too far down Rt. 2 from you guys. We have driven down just about every year, and we have done it in our mini van, and then recently in our camper. They are two completely different trips.

The mini: we leave on a friday or saturday at about 3am and drive until around 4 or 5 and find dinner and a hotel, which we usually end up around themiddle to lower party of South Carolina. Then its were usually on the road by 8am the next day and we usually hit Ocala, FL (family) around 3 or 4 pm due to food, gas, potty, etc.

The camper: first, let me say that 1. we need a new truck (lol) and 2.this was our "maiden voyage" with the camper (this past Oct.).......SO, we packed up the camper the night before(thursday), let the kids go to school for the morning while we finished and then headed out on Friday at 11am picking them up from school on the way out. We were good and on the road around 12noon due to lunch, etc. We drove until we hit Maryland, in the Severna Park area and found a KOA. I think that was until around 6pmish. The KOA was clean, friendly, they had pull throughs, so you didnt even have to un hook. So we left on Saturday, the next morning after a little tire snafu around 10am and drove down to South Carolina about mid state, we took our time, stopped, etc. Again, found a KOA which again, we loved. We were on the road Sunday morning by 8am and we hit Ocala, FL. around 3pm.
THis is probably a bit longer then most people take, but like I said, it was our first trip with the camper and we need a new truck (coming this October....yippeeee) so I am sure that our next trip will be much better. Another reason why we took a little longer, was because we wanted the kids to have fun actually camping down a few nights, since we were going to spend the whole week in "grammas back yard".LOL
SO, I am sorry if I was long winded, but hey, thats what us girls do, right? Have a great trip....

 

[seabee]

We will be at Disney 19th to the 25th. Maybe we can say hello!

Most definately! We will have our big "Dis" sign, thanks to BDR! I have requested either the 1400 or 500 loop. Hopefully you will find us in one of those loops!


Has anyone else used the Tapanzee(sp?) Bridge to bypass the GW? I was looking on another forum and was contemplating trying that route this year. Any thoughts?

 

[KristinU]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone!

Mrsscooter - howdy neighbor! (and another Kristin to boot!) your level of detail is just what I was hoping for I think I have the leave at 3am method in my head for some reason. We have family in the Raleigh area...that would be something to ponder for an overnight spot.

Seabee - hopefully someone will answer your question about the Tappan Zee vs. the GW. I know we took it when we drove down several years ago, but I really don't think I have anything notable in my memory about that route (maybe a good thing that it wasn't notable???) What was bad about the 84 into PA method? Just extra time and mileage that wasn't warranted?

Lostacresfarm - lots of food for thought. I'm not so great staying up late, but getting up early is fine by me. This will be our first year towing a camper, so I guess I'm leaning toward the cautious side of staying overnight. We're picking up our camper in WI then going on to MN to visit family, with a conservative two nights planned for the way back. That should give us a good idea of how we do on long distances while towing.

 

[seabee]

Extra time, mileage, and HILLS. You cut across the mtns. in Virginia. My poor car(which is pretty much weighted out-upgrading tow vehicle in the next month hopefully)did the towing, but I wouldn't want to do that too many times. We pretended to rock back and forth up the hills to help the car out. After all that driving, stupid things are really funny to us! On the way back home we just stayed on the 95 route and it was much better. I think I will deal with the traffic through NY and Baltimore rather than go that way again. Nice scenery though.

 

[gon2wdw55]

Hey SEABEE were you in the seabee's? just wondering as my dad was in WW2 & Koren war.

 

[MadFF]

Most definately! We will have our big "Dis" sign, thanks to BDR! I have requested either the 1400 or 500 loop. Hopefully you will find us in one of those loops!


Has anyone else used the Tapanzee(sp?) Bridge to bypass the GW? I was looking on another forum and was contemplating trying that route this year. Any thoughts?

I have not towed across the Tappanzee (sp? lol) Bridge, but we use it regularly depending on what time it is. If it is near rush hour in NYC, we use the Tappanzee, but other times we use the George Washington Bridge. Also, listen to AM radio stations out of NYC as you near the area. I always listen to 880 CBS -- they give traffic updates every 8 minutes. You can change your mind at the last minute if there is a backup on one of those routes. If BOTH routes are backed up, I'd rather be on the Tappanzee. The scenery is a bit nicer than gray city buildings. Saturdays and Sundays are a gamble regarding traffic through NYC, but the last few years it seems like there is a lot of traffic on weekends, especially on Sunday afternoon-night.

 

[seabee]

Hey SEABEE were you in the seabee's? just wondering as my dad was in WW2 & Koren war.

My DH was a SeaBee(I should say IS-they never really are out) Construction Mechanic. I miss it,sometimes, and all our friends.

 

[KristinU]

I'll be watching this thread! I started a thread a while ago with similar questions:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1681916

We are going to be in Disney in October, and are very much looking forward to it.

Mad FF - thanks for the link. I finally took the time to read through the thread you started. Very helpful!

 

[aldebnj]

When driving the RV (previously trailer),we take the Tappen Zee. We are not too crazy about taking the RV through the crazy interchanges in NYC. Also, if something goes wrong, I would rather be stuck at the side of the road along I-287 in Westchester county than along I-95 in NYC. We frequently camp on Cape Cod making the trip from our home in NJ.

I hope this helps.

Al

 

[dfg02790]

We have made a number of trips in a Class A towing and find that going over the Tappan Zee Bridge is the easier route.Went over the GW once.It was not worth the hassle. We also go over the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore. We also avoid going through Washington.If you would like a detailed route let me know and I will post one.

 

[seabee]

I would love a detailed route! Thanks!! DH and I were just talking about taking the Tappanzee Bridge instead of going through NYC. Do you avoid all the tunnels in Baltimore by taking the Francis Scott Key bridge?

 

[KristinU]

We have made a number of trips in a Class A towing and find that going over the Tappan Zee Bridge is the easier route.Went over the GW once.It was not worth the hassle. We also go over the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore. We also avoid going through Washington.If you would like a detailed route let me know and I will post one.

Yes, yes! I'd love for you to post your detailed route.

 

[3gr8kids]

Hi ~

We are planning on towing our new hybrid down in April '09, and I, too, am interested in your detailed route. Thanks!!

 

[dfg02790]

We take 287w over the Tappan Zee Bridge to the Garden State Parkway.(exit 14a) to New Jersey Parkway (exit 129) to Delaware Memorial Bridge route 295 which becomes 95 in Maryland.Follow 95 to 695w to Francis Scott Key bridge(exit 33/64)(This lets you bypass the tunnel).Follow 695 to 97S to Annapolis.Pick up route 301/50 which becomes 301s.Stay on this route to Ruther Glen Va.Pick up 207 to 95s.(This allows you to avoid DC traffic)
Follow 95 to rte 4 in Fl to Disney.
We will be leaving on 4/13 to Disney.We will spend 8 days with our son and his family in Disney and then travel across country for a couple of months.