Stopping 4-5 hours north of Orlando

[Dayzy]

We're doing the drive from NY on i-95 in August and staying for one night just outside of Disney Springs before going on our cruise. Our plan is to drive on day and get to about 5 hours north of Orlando so the next day we can have a short drive and enjoy the pool and Disney Springs before we board the ship. So the question is- where can we stop overnight that's about 5 hours north of WDW? Bonus points if you could also suggest a clean but affordable hotel. Thanks so much!

 

[JimMIA]

I don't have any specific hotel suggestions, but why are you driving all the way to Disney if you are cruising from Port Canaveral? It's an hour out of your way.

I would either get a hotel near the cruise port or some place like Cocoa Beach or Daytona Beach. Then I'd spend the morning on the beach before driving to the port.

 

[Dayzy]

I don't have any specific hotel suggestions, but why are you driving all the way to Disney if you are cruising from Port Canaveral? It's an hour out of your way.

I would either get a hotel near the cruise port or some place like Cocoa Beach or Daytona Beach. Then I'd spend the morning on the beach before driving to the port.

Two reasons- 1. We're meeting up with a dear friend of ours who we haven't seen for a long time who is a castmember and she has that evening available for dinner. 2. We got an awesome rate at the Sheraton Vistana and it was worth it to us to be there. We don't mind the hour drive in the morning to the port.

 

[JimMIA]

Again, no specific suggestions, but Savannah, GA is about 4 1/2 hours from Disney and Charleston, SC is a little over 6 hours. Both cities have the normal chain hotels, and both have good restaurants and things to see and do. I personally would stop in Charleston, but that may be more of a drive than you want the next day.

 

[Christine]

My parents always stop at Kingsland, GA on their way down but I think that might be TOO far for you. It's only about 2 hours 45 minutes from the Orlando area. But I think they feel the area off the exit is safe, clean and they find the hotels to be okay there. I know they HATED Lumberton and said never again.

 

[rg35]

We have driven from NYC 3x in 2015, 16 and 17. Drive #4 is coming up in August.

We have stopped in both Santee, SC ('15, '16) and Savannah, GA.

We have stayed at Hampton Inns all three times. They're my favorite moderately priced chain. Clean, good sized rooms (we have 3 kids so we need a suite), free breakfast.

Santee will put you about 6 hours north of the WDW area, Savannah about 4.5 hours. We're stopping at Savannah again this year because we prefer to do more driving on day 1.

There's absolutely nothing to see in Santee - it's basically a chain hotel and restaurant stop near Lake Marion. Savannah is a beautiful city and a better place to occupy some time if you're not super spent after the drive.

 

[Dayzy]

We have driven from NYC 3x in 2015, 16 and 17. Drive #4 is coming up in August.

We have stopped in both Santee, SC ('15, '16) and Savannah, GA.

We have stayed at Hampton Inns all three times. They're my favorite moderately priced chain. Clean, good sized rooms (we have 3 kids so we need a suite), free breakfast.

Santee will put you about 6 hours north of the WDW area, Savannah about 4.5 hours. We're stopping at Savannah again this year because we prefer to do more driving on day 1.

There's absolutely nothing to see in Santee - it's basically a chain hotel and restaurant stop near Lake Marion. Savannah is a beautiful city and a better place to occupy some time if you're not super spent after the drive.

Thank you! We're headed down in August also, we live about 40 minutes north of NYC.

 

[jerseygal]

We have driven from NYC 3x in 2015, 16 and 17. Drive #4 is coming up in August.

We have stopped in both Santee, SC ('15, '16) and Savannah, GA.

We have stayed at Hampton Inns all three times. They're my favorite moderately priced chain. Clean, good sized rooms (we have 3 kids so we need a suite), free breakfast.

Santee will put you about 6 hours north of the WDW area, Savannah about 4.5 hours. We're stopping at Savannah again this year because we prefer to do more driving on day 1.

There's absolutely nothing to see in Santee - it's basically a chain hotel and restaurant stop near Lake Marion. Savannah is a beautiful city and a better place to occupy some time if you're not super spent after the drive.

Agree with Hampton Inn as a good moderate chain with decent quick breakfast usually. Have always found them to be clean.

 

[jscunningham699]

I would drive the extra hour and stop in the Brunswick, GA area. It's then only about a 3.5hr drive to Orlando area. I prefer a short drive on the 2nd day of a long drive like that. Just seems to make the most sense to me, but that's just my opinion!

 

[Christine]

I would drive the extra hour and stop in the Brunswick, GA area. It's then only about a 3.5hr drive to Orlando area. I prefer a short drive on the 2nd day of a long drive like that. Just seems to make the most sense to me, but that's just my opinion!

We feel the same way. We just try to push through on the first day, but definitely don't want to face much the 2nd day so it's always good to know that it's a short trip the next day. Ideally, we like to drive straight through, but we are in Virginia, so it's doable but we are just on the edge of "doable" at 13 hours.

 

[jscunningham699]

We feel the same way. We just try to push through on the first day, but definitely don't want to face much the 2nd day so it's always good to know that it's a short trip the next day. Ideally, we like to drive straight through, but we are in Virginia, so it's doable but we are just on the edge of "doable" at 13 hours.

We used to live in northern VA and now live in Texas. We are making the drive to Disney the first week of September from the Dallas area. If we didn't have an almost 1yr old, I'd want to just push through and do it all at one time.

 

[rg35]

I would drive the extra hour and stop in the Brunswick, GA area. It's then only about a 3.5hr drive to Orlando area. I prefer a short drive on the 2nd day of a long drive like that. Just seems to make the most sense to me, but that's just my opinion!

We used to live in northern VA and now live in Texas. We are making the drive to Disney the first week of September from the Dallas area. If we didn't have an almost 1yr old, I'd want to just push through and do it all at one time.

We always do the return drive from NYC in one shot. It's pretty miserable but my wife likes to get home the same day and have a full day of being home before we go back to work. We split the driving, so it's not too bad all things considered. We only stop for a quick lunch and "dinner" is gas station snacks somewhere in VA when we stop to fill up for the last time.

 

[The Mayor]

I would drive the extra hour and stop in the Brunswick, GA area. It's then only about a 3.5hr drive to Orlando area. I prefer a short drive on the 2nd day of a long drive like that. Just seems to make the most sense to me, but that's just my opinion!

We also made it to Brunswick, GA driving from MA.

 

[jjjones325]

Another vote for the Hampton Inn in Brunswick, GA. Did that on a Dec 2017 trip and it was great.

 

[crzy4dsny]

Stayed in Kingsland GA on three or four trips form Long Island. It’s right in the GA/Fl border there are two Hampton inns that we have stayed at, and several other hotels all right off of I-95. A bunch of restaurants and a super Walmart a short distance away. From central Long Island I would make it there in about 14 hours.

 

[RK13]

We drive from NY also, the last few trips we stayed in Pooler, GA, exit 104 off I95. Alot of hotel chains and restaurants in the area. Its about 4 1/2 hours to WDW.

 

[Christine]

Stayed in Kingsland GA on three or four trips form Long Island. It’s right in the GA/Fl border there are two Hampton inns that we have stayed at, and several other hotels all right off of I-95. A bunch of restaurants and a super Walmart a short distance away. From central Long Island I would make it there in about 14 hours.

This is where my parents always stay and they really like the area as opposed to some others.