Santee, SC exit 98 to WDW

[diskids2]

How long will it take me to get from exit 98 Santee SC to WDW? We are thinking of making this our overnight stop. We will be driving from NY and I don't know if I can make it further. We'll be leaving about 3 am and I want to drive until about 5 pm. We will probably stop a few times fuel/bathroom/short food breaks.

 

[jel0511]

Not including any stops approx 6 hours of straight driving with no traffic.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I believe that Lori's estimation of 6 hours sounds right, with NO traffic and no stops.

If you want to estimate a practical time from Santee to WDW, I would think that 7.5 to 8 hours would be useful with stops and moderate traffic. A friend last week traveled from the intersection of I-26 and I-95 (just down the road about 15 minutes from Santee) to WDW in 8 hours. There are some potential traffic slow down areas in SC and GA due to road construction. Also, traffic just south of the I-295 intersection with I-95 at Jacksonville has a way of being very slow due to major road construction down to about the Palm Coast. And.............I-4 northeast of Orlando from the bridge construction at Lake Mary has a way of getting quite frustrating through downtown. It all depends on the time of day and the possibility of wrecks on I-4.

After driving from New Rochelle for 14 to 15 hours the day before, I might just consider getting a good night's sleep before making the final push to WDW. Just a thought.

And, you probably already know that lower gas prices in GA would probably make everyone consider filling up at exits 6, 3(Kingsland), or 1(Saint Marys) in GA before coming across the river into Florida.

Have a safe trip and remember that the road construction at Springfield Virginia near the mixing bowl at I-95 and I-495 can make one very frustrated if conditions don't work out the way you think.

 

[diskids2]

HMMM, I was hoping for a 6 hour drive with some traffic and little stops factored in. Does anyone think I will make it further than Santee driving 3 am - 5 pm from New York? ( I live in Westchester County, it takes me about 30 minutes to get to the GW Bridge.)

 

[jel0511]

To be honest, probably not much further. We left Central Jersey at 3:15 AM and made it to Brunswick, GA at 5:30PM. Santee is approx 2 1/2 hours north of Brunswick, and with where you are to where I am, that's approx 1 1/2 to 2 hours more of driving from where we are. Also, since you are farther from me, you'll hit DC closer to rush hour than we did, so you'll probably see more traffic there than we did. We got hit the beltway about 6AM, and hit traffic just before crossing into VA, which delayed us about 20 - 30 minutes. Getting to the beltway 2 hours after that will result in MUCH more traffic, and will delay you more than we were. You might be able to push it another hour or so, but I know after all that driving, we were wiped, and Brunswick was our intended stop so we did push it the last hour. We really should have stopped in Savannah and will next year. We stopped twice only driving down. We ate breakfast and got gas, and then stopped for lunch and also got gas. Both stops probably were a total of 1 1/2 hours, so use that as a guide.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

As jel0511 pointed out, since you are about 1.5 to 2 hours north of central NJ, you might just be getting to I-495 around DC at just the wrong time (i.e. RUSH hour). Assuming that you take the west loop around DC, you will hit the "mixing bowl" at Springfield at the wrong time as well, if the traffic coming into I-495 from I-66 is moving smoothly.

But, if you can get enough sleep to start at 1am, then you may hit the DC traffic before it gets really jammed.

You might want to consider stopping at Exit 109 in north Savannah. The gas prices at the Pilot and Enmark are good at that exit. And, there are plenty of motels there, including a Sleep Inn that is well-maintained. By the time you get to Savannah, you will probably be ready to stop and get a good night's sleep.
There are also four other exits off I-95 in Savannah that have good accomodations.

Just a thought that you might want to consider.

 

[funhouse8]

We are planning on staying in Santee over the christmas break. We will be driving from Long Island. Mapquest said there is another 6hrs and 17 minuts to orlando. Ofcause they don't have to stop to use the restroom LOL, but even with breaks we thought this was a good place to stop. (Getting to Santee 11 hours and 47mins.) We are staying at the Days Inn and I got a rate of 34.95. Hey you can't beat that. We were just wondering where we should stay on our way back. Any suggestions? Gina

Oh, What time does DC get busy? Before 8am? Till when?

 

[jel0511]

Rush hour in DC is very similiar to rush hourin NYC, it can last all day!!! Pretty much plan to avoid the DC area from 7AM - 10AM and 4PM - 7PM, that's when traffic is heaviest. On our drive home, we stopped in Fayetteville, NC. It's approx 8 hours drive (again not including stops) from WDW. We didn't want to get up too early leaving WDW, and still wanted to stop around dinner. We left Fayetteville at 7AM, and made it home to Central Jersey by 3PM.

 

[JudithM]

We frequently have stopped in Santee forthe night & have stayed at Clarke's. They usually havea coupon in one of the brochure you can pick up at the SC Welcome Center. Plus the ladies at the Welcome Center will call Clarke's for you. Clarke's is a clean, two story motel with a restaurant in front of the motel separate from the motel). Also, at this exit is a fairly new (opened in May) Maurcie's bbq - a SC bbq that I highly recommend if you like bbq.

For us Santee to WDW is about 7 - 7.5 hours including gas & rest room stops. Many times we snack in the car. Have fun!

 

[crzy4dsny]

"Does anyone think I will make it further than Santee driving 3 am - 5 pm from New York?"

I live on Long Island about 80 miles east of New Jersey. I left my house at 2:00am on a Saturday morning. At 5:52pm I was at the Florida border. I would suggest you leave at 2:00am. That hour could make a big difference.

 

[diskids2]

I think we will be able to leave at 1 am. The kids can sleep in the van (they are 13 and 9). My DH and I can get some sleep the day before, probably in bed by 6 pm with the van packed up and everything pretty much ready to go. MY DH can sleep anywhere so he can even sleep when we leave and then take over driving after a few hours.

If I leave at 1 am, should I still stop in Santee or do you think I will make it to Savannah? I think I would still only drive (be on the road) for 14 hours. 1am - 3pm.

I really want to have only 6-7 hours left with short stops on the second day.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

if you leave before 2 am. As crzydsny said, they were at the Florida border at 5:52 pm leaving from Long Island at 2 am on a Saturday morning.

There are lots of motel possibilities at the various exits in Savannah. It would be about 300 miles and less than 5 hours to WDW from there. If everything went smoothly from NY through the DC area, then you might want to drive on to Brunswick, about an hour from Savannah.

As mentioned by others, that extra hour or two starting earlier should certainly pay off in the reduced possibility of traffic tie ups through DC. And, stopping earlier in GA and getting a really good night's sleep certainly would put you in good shape for starting the WDW vacation rested and ready to go.

Whatever you decide, just have a safe trip and an enjoyable time at WDW.

 

[tarabl]

Country Inn and Suites in Santee is very nice and VERY clean.

 

[joeokw]

We live in Rockland county just across the Hudson from you. We left at 6 am and we got into Santee at 8:45 pm . We hit construction in Rocky Mount NC. for a 20 min. wait. We totally missed the congestion at the I 395 &95 the Springfield mixing bowl. So it took us 14 hours and 45 min. This included the 20 minute wait plus a extended dinner stop. The next day we left at 9:39 am and got into WDW at 4pm. for 20 miles out side of Jacksonville the speed limit was 55MPH related to construction and it was heavily patrooled by state troopers. I set the cruise control for 10 MPH over the speed limit. We stayed at nice Hmpton Inn in Santee. A really nice free breakfest buffet.

 

[diskids2]

Thanks everyone you have been very helpful!