Questions about driving from Ontario to WDW

[MaryannF]

We have done the drive from Toronto to WDW many times using I-75. We are driving down in September and think we would like to try a different route. Can someone give me some insight into the other route?
I'm guessing that you cross at Buffalo and then take 90 to 79 to 77 (at Charleston) to 95 to 4.
Where would be the half way point? Or better yet, where do you stop on the first day? Any suggestions or insights would be welcome.
Thanks

 

[chartle]

I map it out in Google maps and pick a point where I think the half way point is and add a destination or waypoint. Then move it up and down until the hours work out and there are hotels and restaurants.

We do this trip coming from Pittsburgh but we start at a different point can't tell you where your half way point is. One thing I can tell you is West Virginia is about 5 hours of the trip and there is not much along the route.

We have started around 5 pm and stop once we get into Virginia.

Try this

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tor...391fd01cf1a0!2m2!1d-81.563874!2d28.385234!3e0

 

[minnie mum]

I agree with Chartle. We just drove that route last week and ended up spending 2 nights in hotels enroute because of weather and poor road conditions. Half way would put you somewhere in Wst Virginia, and pickings are slim between Fairmont WVa and Statesville NC. Also, I'm not sure how you feel about driving those mountains in the dark. Beckley WVa is pretty close to the half way point and has the usual assortment of chain hotels.

 

[chartle]

On one trip we actually stayed in Statesville not sure if it was up or down. Once I get my route and possible stopping point I search for groups of hotels just off the interstate around that stop. I've found the more hotels the more competition so cheaper rates. Also the more hotels the better choice of restaurants the next morning.

OP one bad point for this route is no South of the Border.

 

[hockeygirl14]

We leave super early morning (3-4am) and try to push through to NC. Depends on how many drivers you have. I use i95exitguide.com to check out what areas have lots of hotels and restaurants. There are long stretches of nothing. Last time we ended up staying in Florence, SC. tons of hotels and restaurants. Thats about 14 hours the first day (completely crazy, I know!!). Just as a rough idea, left Georgetown, ON (just outside toronto) at 3am, flew down the 407 and hit the border by 4:15, across by 5 (I was travelling on a J-1 visa) ... we made minimal stops and were in Richmond, VA for dinner around 4:30 (meeting friends). We then drove until around midnight. We took a later start the next day (9:30) and made it to Orlando by dinner time. Our original plan was to stop in Fayetteville, NC, which has a ton of hotels/restaurants however we kept going because we felt okay! That said, I was able to split the driving duties up with my friend, and we're also in our early twenties so no young kids to worry about.

 

[cottontail]

We travel that same route from Hamilton. For us it takes 20 hours of driving over two days to get to Orlando. I know that Beckley WV is 8 hours of driving from here. We get out every two hours for a break for five min. Our meals are grab and go from Wendys along the way.
At the beginning of each state is a welcome centre that have people working in them, those are the ones we choose for our bathroom stops, we feel they are safer. We leave early in the a.m. 5 ish and drive 13 hours to columbia, south carolina. If you stay somewhere in North Carolina you will be out of the mountains.
Be careful of a town called Summersville, Wv, DO NOT SPEED, it is a speed trap.

There are a few motels in the mountains you would have to check each town. I use trip advisor to check out motels I have never stayed at to find one that is nice, usually with a continental breakfast so we can get back to driving. September would be a good month to drive, the highway is divided, meaning two lanes going one way and two lanes coming back the other way usually with a huge grassy area dividing them. It is beautiful thru the mountains.

Coming home we push it from wdw to Beckley WV 13 hours, which is alot, again leaving early only because I need to get home in time to get my dog from the kennel that day. I book a motel ahead of time and I would not drive that route in winter.

Deb.

 

[flopnut2112]

From Hamilton Charleston is about 14-16 hours depending how long your stops are and what time of day you begin your trip. Best time to start is 2-3 am in my opinion. This gets you a supper time arrival an opportunity for a good nights sleep and a 7-10 hour drive on day 2.
We have also gone straight through with 2 drivers in 21 hours departing at 5 pm arriving in Davenport FLA at 1 pm March break 2012

 

[migel]

We just got back yesterday driving from Grimsby. I agree, leave as early as possible, we left the house at 3:30 am. Unfortunately even at 4 am, we had a line up at the Peace Bridge that took 50 minutes. If you can manage it, we drove straight through to South Carolina (about 12 hours not counting the stops), I did all the driving. Lots of hotels around Columbia right off the highway. Again we left the hotel early, 5 am, and 7 and a half hours later were in Kissimmee. The second days drive is a breeze. On the way back, we pushed through to West Virginia for the overnight, then a 7 hour drive home. Plan for some slow downs, mostly due to accidents, or construction, and watch your speed especially through the Carolinas and Virginias. Good luck.