SYR to FW -- Any driving recommendations?

[Bichon Barb]

Woo hoo! We are taking our camper down for April break. We've never driven it before. Does anyone have any suggestions whether it be what route we should take or ideas to keep sane for two days with our 9 and 11 year old sons bickering in the backseat?

ROUTE: When we drove to Williamsburg VA, we drove down through DC and back home over on 64 and then I believe to 17 and back to 81. This was much less stressful than driving through DC. (We'll be leaving on a Thursday arriving on Friday.) I'm wondering if we should bite the bullet and drive through DC or if there is a way to avoid it without adding time onto the trip.

KIDS: I think we'll buy a portable DVD player for the car. Any other ideas on how to keep the kids occupied?

Lastly, anyone else going to be there the week of 4/16 to 4/22?

TIA!

 

[hobogary]

Best route I've found, I 81 to US 17 in Winchester VA, to I 95 in Fredricksburg VA, 295 around Richmond and Jacksonville (but depends on time of day)and probably the Central Fl Greenway(toll) around Orlando.Let me know how long you plan to drive and I might be able to help with Campgrounds also.You can also take I81 to I 77 to I 26 but a lot more hills. There are about 10 different routes all about the same milage, so its mostly preference in how much traffic you can tolerate.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Thanks Hobogary. The 81 to 17 to 95 is actually the route I was thinking of, but I was confused because the map I have has 81 to 64 highlighted. We must have went that way once also. Anyway, I think 17 is such a pretty area. We liked that route, but we did get stuck in traffic in Fredericksburg once. We should just be ready for that (a full tank of gas LOL) if we do go that way.

Yes, I'd like to avoid mountains if possible. Setting the cruise control at 65 is the way I like to drive.

Here is the plan. Leave on a Thursday--aim for 7:00 a.m. Drive for 10 to 12 hours and stop at a cheap motel where they will let us park the camper. I think this would be easiest and quickest for us so that we don't have to set up. Just go in, let the kids go for swim if there is a pool, and then hop back in the truck the next morning, and off we go.

So I assume this would be somewhere in NC?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[hobogary]

Sounds like a plan. You can go down to I 66 but its longer and really no better, there is about 7 mile of 2 lane US 17 but i've never found it crowded.10 hours gets you to the VA/NC line, 12 is halfway thru NC. I have heard lots of complaints of dirty motel rooms in NC so beware.South of the Boarder has a nice little campground but its about 14 hours on the way down (10 hrs coming back).Also, any more a lot of the truck stops have camper areas, and water and dump stations, but your motel idea is good too. We have stayed at the Best Western at exit 11 in Va and the Comfort Inn at exit 8, neither have indoor pools. Have a great trip.

 

[hobogary]

By the way, you mentioned gas. I like to fill up in PA (cheaper then NY in general, Exit 219 has a good station). Then you could fill up on US 17, there are some stations right along the road, or get to exit 104 in Va, then 164 in Sc and always exit 3 in GA.These are generally the cheapest fuel stops( although near them is usually ok too.)

 

[Bichon Barb]

Thanks Gary. You've been a great help! I'll have to print this thread out.

Okay, I see on the map where you can pick up 17 from 81 in Winchester. And it even shows that 7 mile stretch you were talking about.

But let's talk about serious business. Are you saying that it's going to be a 24 hours drive?!?!?!? AAA and Mapquest tell me 21 hours. Well, at least we don't have to worry about snow.

 

[johnniecuse]

Hey Barb -
We are considering a trip 4/15-4/22 and we are from Syracuse!!! How wild is that?!?! We have never camped at Disney but have been about 15 times. We love the parks.

John

 

[Bichon Barb]

Small world Johnniecuse! We've never driven down there with our camper, but we have stayed in my in laws motorhome at Fort Wilderness. It was great. We've also been to WDW many times, but we have always flown. The last time we were down there we stayed in a 3 bedroom townhome a few minutes off site. I don't think we could ever stay in a hotel room again. LOL.

So between flights being so hard to find, and the cost of the home away from home resorts, we decided to bite the bullet and tow the camper down this year. We have a 25 ft. Outback with a rear slide. We are leaving Thursday 4/14, arriving 4/15. If you are serious about going down, I would suggest making reservations NOW. The reason we are leaving on Thursday (and taking the kids out of school for two days) is that we couldn't get a site if we arrived on 4/16, 4/17 or 4/18. A friend of mine on the DIS, iluvtink, is a Disney travel agent. She may be able to help you out. You could send her a PM. If you'd like her email, let me know.

Oh, and don't forget--SU is playing Boston at 6:00 p.m.!

 

[hobogary]

I use the 24 hr figure, 1 hr NY 4 hrs Pa, 1 1/2 to Winchester 1 1/2 to 95, 2 to NC 4 hrs NC 4 hrs SC 2 GA and 4 FL. That gives me rest stops, food stops and an allowance for trafic jams.I'M 1240 miles my door to Disney so if you set your cruise on 65 and NEVER stopped, it would be 19 hours, so use your judgement "your milage may vary".

 

[LMC]

If the kids have a video game system it will probably work on your dvd player.

Also, when we go we always take two days down and two days back (what wimps, we are only 12-14 hours away!!) and we stay at KOA's and only hook up our water and electric. We use our holding tanks for the toilet and kitchen sink. I use the campground's shower facilities so we don't have to spend alot of time setting up and taking apart.

 

[jdsmom86]

I am still trying to convince my husband to drive down with our Coleman pop up for spring break. DH, B8, B7 all hate the drive!(We did it 2 yrs ago and stayed at WLV on rented points). I have a lot of convincing to do!! They prefer to fly, but with the kitchen remodel, camping and driving is the only way to swing it right now!! HAVE FUN. Hopefully I will get my way and see you there!

 

[Bichon Barb]

jdsmom, we had a Coleman for 5 years before we bought the hardside. It think it was called the Sunridge--or something liked that. Loved it. Very sturdy camper.

Good luck with the drive if you decide to go.