Questions for veteran Ont. to Fl. drivers.

[Csaks]

We just recieved our triptik for our upcoming drive and it has a warning sheet with it. It states they have directed us through Charleston WV. because of excessive speed enforcement around Summersville WV. on US 19.

My question is is it worth the chance to go through this area or do I just eat the extra 75 kms and go around stress free?

How realistic is it to reach Savannah GA. the first day? Ok maybe I should ask how far is Savannah in hours from the GTA?

How far is Disney from Savannah?

I did this trip a bunch of times as a kid and can't remember distances or time frames. Any tips on this would help with the planning of the drive.

Chris.

 

[chucked]

I have done the drive many, many times. Take US 19, just don't speed. The police are mainly around the Summersville area where the limit drops and like to set up in the median at night.
Savannah would be a real push for one day. We leave Orillia around 5:00 AM and stop in the Statesville/Charlotte area around 6:00 PM.

 

[Disneyof3]

We have done the drive 3 times that way. We go around because they target Canadian plates as per our CAA rep. If you are in a major rush to get to Florida take it but beware. They nab you if your under the limit and just slightly over. In some places they don't even have the speed limit posted until it is too late. We drive straight through 23 hrs to Florida and we get to the NC border at around 2:30am and we leave at 6pm. Hope this helps.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I must caution to watch your speed in ALL U.S. states. I got a speeding ticket in Connecticut in March of this year and it hurt.

$294 U.S. for 19 miles over the speed limit. I don't even want to know what 20 miles over the speed limit would have cost.

That was about $ 338 Canadian at the time. Ouch.

After that I decided all future trips would be via JetBlue.

Knox

 

[Charlesaway]

I must caution to watch your speed in ALL U.S. states. I got a speeding ticket in Connecticut in March of this year and it hurt.

$294 U.S. for 19 miles over the speed limit. I don't even want to know what 20 miles over the speed limit would have cost.

That was about $ 338 Canadian at the time. Ouch.

After that I decided all future trips would be via JetBlue.

Knox

That's pretty close if you think about it to what they charge in Ontario. You were effectively clocked at 31 km over the limit. I believe Ontario is $295 for 35 km over, unless it recently changed.

That being said, since we moved down here last summer (both from Canada, here for work for a few years) we were warned by locals that they do strictly enforce limits. I still use the old '10 over' rule, only in miles, whenever we drive between here and Atlanta, and haven't been tagged yet.

And road work areas are worse; most states it's immediately a doubled fine if you're caught.

As to the original question, part 2, The drive from Savannah to Disney is between 4 and 5 hours in our experience.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

We just recieved our triptik for our upcoming drive and it has a warning sheet with it. It states they have directed us through Charleston WV. because of excessive speed enforcement around Summersville WV. on US 19.

My question is is it worth the chance to go through this area or do I just eat the extra 75 kms and go around stress free? Absolutely take US 19. Just set your cruise control and make sure you stay alert to the speed limit.

How realistic is it to reach Savannah GA. the first day? Ok maybe I should ask how far is Savannah in hours from the GTA? Not feasible at all, especially if you're going during the winter months. My husband and I consider it a long day if we drive straight through to Charlotte NC. If you're driving with kids, I wouldn't even consider it.

How far is Disney from Savannah?An easy day's drive. I'd guess about 3 1/2 hours.

I did this trip a bunch of times as a kid and can't remember distances or time frames. Any tips on this would help with the planning of the drive.Don't push it. If you can, take time to see the country as you drive through. It's beautiful.

Chris.

Beth

 

[adamsloco]

Ok, I have a question on this, if you don't mind. I am going to be driving down to Florida in less than three weeks, and I would like to clarify this Hwy 19 thing. Which route is that on? Is that if you cross the border in Niagara Falls, and work down the coastal route, or is it part of the route if you leave Canada at Detroit?

Our (tentative) plan is to leave at 8:00pm on Monday the 26, and drive through to dinner time on Tuesday the 27. The goal is to get within 2-4 hours of Disney, then stop for the night, leaving an easy trip to arrive on Wednesday the 28. I had planned on taking the Detroit route, but would like to avoid any 'trap' areas.

(I often work overnight, 12 hour shifts, so driving through the night, and trading off for the day is no problem for me.)

Thanks

 

[nosnobunny2006]

In order to use the US 19 route, you'd be driving to Erie PA then turn straight south on I-79 past Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Columbia then east to Savannah then south to I-4 to Disney.

Beth

 

[adamsloco]

Thanks Beth. I was leaning toward the i-75 route as being simpler ... I think this might just cement the idea.

 

[Daisy*Duck*y]

My husband and I drove through the night, trading off via the I-75 route. We left London, ON at 4pm and made it to the check-in desk at the Disney hotel at
1:40pm the next day. We didn't go more than 5 miles over the limit at any time, but we also didn't stop much (and we didn't hit any bad weather). Driving home we left the Magic Kingdom parking lot at about 11pm and arrived home at about 11pm the next night (we stopped more). If you're used to driving through the night, driving to Disney World should be a breeze!

edit: We also got a book out of the library that showed all of the exits on I-75 and the gas stations/food that were there - it was really helpful. I think it was called "I-75 and the 401". It was also helpful in reminding us when the city-circle highways were coming up - I think it helped that we didn't have to drive through many cities.

 

[Ham Ham]

We''ve used US 19 dozens of time no issues. We stay below the limit approaching and through Summersville, VA ands any built up parts of US 19.

Story of one man's issue with speeding.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/07/786.asp

There is a nice museum and visitors center on the north end of the New River Bridge on the east side. Well worth the stop.


We left Mississauga on a wednesday at 17:00 drove past Savanah, GA around 12:00 the next day.

So that's about 19 hours. We lost an hour to traffic in Charlotte, and hour for breakfast and an hour trying to sleep at a rest stop that wasn't very successful.

If you don't stop to much 16 hours is a reasonable time to Savannah.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

Thanks Beth. I was leaning toward the i-75 route as being simpler ... I think this might just cement the idea.

You're very welcome! We have kids living in south Florida, so my husband and I are down there several times a year. With flights being so affordable these days, we find ourselves flying more than driving lately. Not my preferance at all. I like the drive. But that presents it's own problems in our household. I prefer the I-75 route and my husband likes I-79, etc better. And then it begins.....

Whichever way you decide to go, I'm sure you're in for a great trip. Getting there really is half the fun. Drive safe!

Beth

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

I'm going in April, so I haven't started to think about the route yet...but this is a good thread to bookmark - so I am!

Planning on leaving the GTA at about 4 a.m. and stopping "somewhere" the next afternoon for an overnight - about 12-14 hours away...any thoughts?

Obviously want to get as close to Disney as we can, but we'll be there 8 nights, so I don't mind arriving in the early afternoon the next day.

My kids tend to llike to stop a little more then DW and I would like to, but we'll be on vacation, so I won't mind.

 

[Ham Ham]

QEW, I-190, I-90 west, I-79 south, US 19 south, I-77 south, I-26 west, I-95 south, I-4 east.

Link to an earlier post of mine about speeding on US 19.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=21675897&postcount=11

Leaving G'town at 4:00 am will put you in Charlotte, NC PM rush hour 12 to 14 hours into your trip, depending how fast you drive and how many meals you eat in restaurants.

If budget allows, leave at 19:00 night before drive, until Cranberry, Pa 5 hours from our place in Mississauga.

Stay over night, Leave by7:00 am you should squeeze by Charlotte before their PM rush hour. Aim for Brunswick, GA for the night. Easy drive to WDW next day

Here's a link to the route on google maps. Nothing beats CAA and real maps. I like GPS but a state/local map is a great back up.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=e...6416&sspn=0.498448,0.913239&ie=UTF8&z=10&om=1

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I'm going in April, so I haven't started to think about the route yet...but this is a good thread to bookmark - so I am!

Planning on leaving the GTA at about 4 a.m. and stopping "somewhere" the next afternoon for an overnight - about 12-14 hours away...any thoughts?

Obviously want to get as close to Disney as we can, but we'll be there 8 nights, so I don't mind arriving in the early afternoon the next day.

My kids tend to llike to stop a little more then DW and I would like to, but we'll be on vacation, so I won't mind.

Judging by the ages of your kids, you may be stopping more than you think. Have you considered leaving late and driving through the night? Sometimes that works well with young kids.

I'm guessing that since you're from TO, you'll be crossing the border at Buffalo. That would make Pittsburgh about 5 hours. Pittsburgh to Charlotte another 7 hours, Jacksonville is another 6 and Orlando 2 more hours. So it looks like Charlotte is the place to stop for a break. Just in case you've never been there before, Charlotte can have horrendous weekday traffic in the morning so I'd recommend you stay on the south side of the city. You'll be heading out against the traffic that way.

Beth

 

[Hockeychic]

Definatley take US19. We have taken it many times with no problems at all. just don't speed and you will do great

Kim

 

[ntsammy5]

We go through Summersville several time a year and as long as you stick to the posted speed limit you'll be fine. Be careful of the curves on I-79 just past the Pittsburgh bridge, they're pretty sharp and also when coming down to the Piedmont on I-77 near the VA/NC border there is one very long, very steep downward slope which is sometimes quite foggy.

 

[Csaks]

Thank you everyone for your insight. I think I'm going to take US 19 very carefully. I can't fathom tacking on an extra 75kms and close to an hour driving time. I'm already nervous about the drive and am wondering why I have taken it on but it's done and too late now. 20 plus hours in a vehicle what was I thinking.

Chris