PA to WDW drivers

[Cinbride]

Do you drive straight through both ways or stop? If you stop, any recommendations? When we go we drive. I'd fly but my dh won't. We have stayed a little passed Charlotte before. I didn't think the area was very good. We stopped at Dennys, late dinner. Leaving the doors at night walking to our vehicle (me and youngest) apparently a guy followed us to car. DH came out behind us. I got us in car as fast as possible. Dh surprised the guy following when the guy realized he was there. Followed dh to drivers side and asked dh if he had any cash he could have. Scared the willys out of me. (I had the car fob in my hands for alarm) Luckily he said no he didn't have cash on him and the guy started to walk away. I will never forget that and now I make him park closer to doors when traveling. (so always be on high alert when not in a familiar area)

Anywho..... I need some suggestions on decent areas to stay.

 

[ArielRae]

We drive from southern NJ occasionally when airfare is to high. We usually leave at 2am to beat DC traffic and drive with occasional rest stops until we get to Jacksonville, FL and where we have stayed at a few different hotels (quality Inn, and comfort suites on airport rd). We like to eat at the Ruby Tuesdays there. We then have only 4hrs the next morning to drive to Disney. If we don't feel like driving that far on the first day we like to stay at the Comfort Suites in Florence, SC right off of I95. It is newer and never had any issues. There are a few good restaurants in the area. We usually just walk over to the Arby's for dinner. There are a few other restaurants (Taco Bell, Krispy Kreme, Fatz) in the area along with a small traveler information store with gas station. There are also two truck friendly rest stops across the street from the hotel if your pulling a larger camper but we haven't had a problem parking our small camper in the hotel parking lot when we had it.

 

[SweetMissy]

What a scary experience! Glad nothing happened. Anyway...we're from NY (upstate) and we've driven 3 times. We leave in 12 days...yay!...and we're flying this time. I don't ever want to drive that far again....I say that every time we're halfway there, lol. When we do drive, we stopped outside of Savannah, GA. The area seemed ok for the night. The 1st year we drove (2011), we stayed the night at this crappy motel....the pics online were very deceiving. The other 2 times were fine.

 

[DisGin]

Do you go down through Atlanta or Jacksonville? Between Durham and north Atlanta there isn't much if you go that way. I'd probably try to get all the way to Atlanta. I would absolutely not stay south of Atlanta unless I got all the way to Macon. We just did this drive 2 days ago from south jersey and got caught in dc traffic for 2 hours. It was torture. So I guess my short answer is I'd stay north of Atlanta or in the Macon area. I'm not sure about the other way as we have family in Atlanta and always drive through.

 

[Iamthequeen]

If you are coming down I95 I highly recommend the Comfort Suites in Florence SC. We usually drive straight through on the way down, but we always stop on the way home. We spend 1/2 day in the park before we have to leave and Florence is a nice stopping point for us. If you are coming down I81, I don't have any suggestions, sorry.

 

[Accident]

I can't really suggest a route, I haven't traveled by car down to florida much in the last decade. When I do drive though, how far would depend on the number of drivers and if someone is rested. We never took any chances and will find a nearby place long before it's a risk to be driving still. It's fairly easy these days with smartphones and gps to find somewhere nearby and even reserve a room then show up 2 minutes later.

 

[powellrj]

I would post your question on the transportation board for more answers.

 

[disny_luvr]

We just drove to Cape Canaveral from our home in PA a few weeks ago. We traveled I95. We stopped for the night in Florence, SC on our way down. We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express. Both the hotel and town were very nice. On the way back we drove straight through, leaving Cape Canaveral at 7:53am and pulling into our driveway at 11:32pm. It was very doable. We stopped for lunch at McDonalds, dinner at Subway and gas a few times. We'd drive straight through again (and we are next summer).

 

[isabellea]

We live in Montreal, QC but on our way back from WDW we always stop 1 or 2 nights in PA to visit our dear friends in Williamsport. In the past we did both drive-thru and with a night stop (Mooresville, NC just north of Charlotte). We all prefer the drive without any night stop. For some weird reason we feel LESS exhausted then when we stop for the night and continue the next day. Same for when we drive down from Mtl which is a 24h drive (with gas and meals we are talking of 28-29h). Our favourite itinerary is I-81 to I-66 to I-95. We are driving down again in less than 2 months but will avoid the I-81 this time of year and try I-87 to I-95 instead (not looking forward to the NJ turnpike).

 

[pixiefrnd]

We always drive, from northern Maryland. We stop in Brunswick, Ga on the way right off the highway at a Hampton Inn, there are two restaurants right there. Oh and we leave our house at 4 am to get through DC. On the way back we stop in Fredericksburg VA. There is a few hotels right along the highway, Cracker Barrel, chick fil a and more

 

[thesugarpixie]

We made the drive from Pgh, PA to Orlando last year. Left just after 7am. We had dinner on the north side of Charlotte at Sonny's around 4pm (one of favorite restaurants when we're in the south), and stayed the night on the southern side of Charlotte at a Courtyard. On the return trip we stayed in Columbia, SC at Fairfield Inn.

This year we're choosing to have dinner in Charlotte, and drive the next hour or so to Columbia, SC to spend the night. While Charlotte is pretty much the halfway point, I feel we have more energy driving the first day which will make for a shorter second day. (Then on the way back probably stay in Charlotte.)

When we moved from PA to FL, then FL back to PA this stops worked out best for us! (Yes, we chose to leave FL and go back to PA )

 

[Cinbride]

Thanks! I'm thinking we go I95. But I'll check. We won't be leaving until around 2pm on Sunday which cuts a big chunk of our driving day but we have a communion in the morning. I'm guessing we'd drive until 9/10pm depending on area.

 

[Momof3WDW]

We drive from South East PA. We have been doing that yearly since 2009. We found that leaving after dinner and driving straight through the night was the best for our family. We have 3 kids. They watched movies and fell asleep around 10 PM. They didn't wake until about 6:30-7AM. That gave DH and I almost 9 hours of good driving without stopping for potty breaks. My DH drove that whole time till about 6 AM when he woke me and I drive the remaining 4-5 hrs. He had taken Friday off work so he could sleep and relax at home alone to be ready for that drive. Last year we left around 6 PM and pulled into CBR around 10:30 AM. We were lucky our room was ready and then DH took a nap while I took the kids to explore and swim.
On the way back we try not to stop, but the last two years we have around Florence. This year I will just plan on that and prebook a hotel. Nothing is worse than trying to find a hotel at 2 AM. The way back is not as much fun because you are leaving the happiest place on earth, so the drive feels like it take so much longer.

 

[jtopp]

Nothing is worse then the drive home. We tolerate the drive down, with the goal of a Disney vacation, but every trip home I swear will be the last on I drive. That being said, we used to drive to Florence, SC and stay at the Hampton inn. Clean, inexpensive, and a free breakfast to boot. Straight thru on the way home. Recently, we have all split driving duty, and drive straight thru. with multiple drivers, we can all get sleep and arrive relatively fresh and relaxed. Have a fun and safe drive.

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

We drive from Ohio. We don't have a set place to stop. I do however always pick a Hampton Inn or Hilton Garden Inn. I find hotels that cater to business travelers like that to be cleaner and safer. Good luck.

 

[amk43]

Nothing is worse then the drive home. We tolerate the drive down, with the goal of a Disney vacation, but every trip home I swear will be the last on I drive. That being said, we used to drive to Florence, SC and stay at the Hampton inn. Clean, inexpensive, and a free breakfast to boot. Straight thru on the way home. Recently, we have all split driving duty, and drive straight thru. with multiple drivers, we can all get sleep and arrive relatively fresh and relaxed. Have a fun and safe drive.

We usually end up driving straight through on the way home, too, even if we've planned otherwise, because we just want to get it over with and can't bear to "waste" eight hours or so sleeping. We drive to the Boston area and make one stop, to have breakfast and buy bialys at Rein's Deli in Vernon, CT.

 

[vintagemomma]

Those of you driving from PA, what do you spend on average between gas and tolls round trip?

 

[jtopp]

On our last trip driving we rented a Tahoe, and with high gas prices at that time our trip price soared. For 1008 miles, door to door from southern NJ, we spent almost $700 on gas and tools. Our previous trip, with similar gas prices but in a minivan, was just over $500. Of course, now with gas half the price as it was then, the cost should be in the $300 range. Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[yaya74]

We drive from South East PA. We have been doing that yearly since 2009. We found that leaving after dinner and driving straight through the night was the best for our family. We have 3 kids. They watched movies and fell asleep around 10 PM. They didn't wake until about 6:30-7AM. That gave DH and I almost 9 hours of good driving without stopping for potty breaks. My DH drove that whole time till about 6 AM when he woke me and I drive the remaining 4-5 hrs. He had taken Friday off work so he could sleep and relax at home alone to be ready for that drive. Last year we left around 6 PM and pulled into CBR around 10:30 AM. We were lucky our room was ready and then DH took a nap while I took the kids to explore and swim.
On the way back we try not to stop, but the last two years we have around Florence. This year I will just plan on that and prebook a hotel. Nothing is worse than trying to find a hotel at 2 AM. The way back is not as much fun because you are leaving the happiest place on earth, so the drive feels like it take so much longer.

taking notes.. It will be our first drive to WDW this summer. DH suggests to leave at dinner time and drive straight to WDW. The idea sounds exciting. Just hope there is not many wild deers crossing I-95 at night.

 

[Momof3WDW]

We drive a minivan averaging about 22 MPG. We spent about $300 is gas last year as prices were coming down. We drive about 1023 miles one way. We also drive to all the parks, although that is minimal gas usage. We don't go through any toll roads so our cost is all gas.