NJ-WDW, Looking at Rt 81 for a change. Easter Week!

[Roveer]

We are preparing for our 9th drive down Route 95 from northern NJ to WDW. We usually leave NJ around 6-6:30am and hit Florence SC somewhere between 4-6 in the evening.

This past August we hit the most horendous traffic in DC. It's got us thinking about alternates. We literally lost 2+ hours and moved maybe 5 miles. My Father in law has gone down route 81 once or twice and it's got me thinking. We have 2 adults and 4 young kids so sitting in traffic is painful.

We will be traveling Mar 27 2010 which is going to be very busy for easter week. This has got me greatly concerned about the possibilities of huge traffic from Baltimore through DC. Does anyone have a good Route 81 alternate that makes sense? I see that it's adds about an hour if you go out 78 to 81 then down 17 to Richmond. I'd jump back on 95 there unless it makes sense to do something else. I'm really looking for someone that's done this before and has done it for the same reason that I'm looking to do it. Which is, a little more time, but no traffic jams and consistant forward motion.

Any ideas on how to save my family's sanity for our upcoming trip?

Roveer

 

[njcyclist]

Take 81 to 77 to 95 in SC. You will add about 50 miles compared to 95, but you will bypass all of the large east cost cities and a whole lot of traffic.

 

[dgaston]

We've done 84 to 81 to 64 to 95 and also
84 to 81 to 77 to 26 to 95.

Think it is much less stressful and very pretty. I've been caught in DC traffic at 3am, and also in terrible Good Friday traffic, so prefer the longer route.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[Roveer]

Excellent. I will investigate these routes.

"Think it is much less stressful and very pretty"

Exactly what we are looking for. Even if it adds some time.

 

[disneyfan55]

I have done both from Central NJ. I 95 is a shorter but usually has more traffic esp. up to Washington DC. I like the 81 route much better even though it's a little longer. We have gone this way in order to visit relatives outside of Atlanta. I 81 is a much less travelled route and very beautiful as well.