the dreaded I-4

[LeslieM]

We are driving down from Baltimore in August and we've only driven on one of our previous trips. HELP !! The main thing I remember is I-4 being a nightmare delay, especially as we drove through downtown Orlando. I'm waiting for my Trip-tik and maps, and it's driving me crazy... can you come down I-95 to I-4 and then magically get off on 417 or the Bee Line and avoid the worst of the I-4 nightmare or is that just not feasible ? I did a search and all the threads just talk about coming from the airport; on all our previous trips we took Tiffany from the airport, so with my lousy area road sense, I just don't have a feel for this. I know, I know... wait for the maps... but I wanna know NOW ! (please ?)

Leslie

 

[tci1212]

We will also be driving down to Disney from NJ in August. I usually try to go thru Orlando during off peak hours. I have read that you do need to go past I-4 further south on 95 to avoid that Orlando mess. Maybe some locals know an alternative route off of I-4.

 

[ducklite]

You can get on 417 quite a bit north of downtown, but it takes you out of your way by quite a bit.

As long as you avoid rush hours, I-4 isn't bad at all. And even during rush hour, DC/Baltimore rush hour puts it to shame.

Your best route would be BW Parkway (295) to 495 South to 95 South. Pick up I-4 around Daytona and follow to 536, which will take you right into WDW. If you leave at 6:00am on a Saturday morning, you'll be there in time for a late dinner that night.

Anne

 

[madhouserobey]

come on being from maryland nothing in orlando could ever compare to balt/washington traffic rush hour or not

 

[LeslieM]

Originally posted by madhouserobey
come on being from maryland nothing in orlando could ever compare to balt/washington traffic rush hour or not

But, at home, I know what to avoid and how to avoid it ! I actually have very few problems with traffic in MD. Our I-4 time was midday and appeared to me to just be a part of everyday life. Maybe I'm wrong (gasp!) and we just hit it at an bad time and/or something was going on which I had no clue about. I just thought that if this was a well known phenomenom, then someone would have a good hint on how to avoid it.

So close and yet so far, at that point in the Magical journey !!

Leslie

 

[sweet maxine]

I was there in June and spent a lot of time traveling around on I-4. I let it take me everywhere I needed to go. It will almost drop you off most places, as long as you keep up with your exit signs. I used to be a bit afraid of it, but no longer. I live in a very small town in Mississippi, and I thought it was comparable to Memphis traffic. I used I-4 to 528 and back for airport runs, which I had to do three times. It was very easy, though there is a toll.

 

[SRUAlmn]

We'll be driving down from Baltimore in September, never drove before. We are thinking about stopping in Kingsland, GA and then driving the additional 3-4 hours the next morning so that if we do hit a lot of traffic it's not after a 14 hour car drive when we are totally exhausted. What times have people found are best to avoid? On a Saturday, what is considered rush hour? Let me know how it goes for your trip in August? Are you stopping on the way? We originally weren't going to, now we're not sure.

 

[ducklite]

Karen, we just made the drive from NJ--right through Baltimore (took the Harbor Tunnel to avoid the construction mess).

We stopped in Richmond Hill, GA for the night. Stayed at the Hampton Inn, AAA rate of $80/night, which got us a king bed/sleeper sofa combo room. The breakfast is pretty nice. It's about a 4 1/2 hour drive from that point to WDW.

On the way home we went to Florence, SC. Again stayed at a Hampton--the one by the Civic Center. Very nice, a little more expensive, but it was spotless and we felt very secure there. Also they had some hot items on their breakfast buffet.

Anne

 

[LeslieM]

SRUAlmn : We've made one driving trip -- a very smooth first day's drive and stopped in Savannah North (Hampton Inn - acceptable). The next day we hit construction, traffic, and a parking lot on I-4. Granted, we were ready to *be there* so I'm sure that's affected my attitude, but it did take upwards of 6 hours.

This trip we're starting early again and driving through to Kingsland, GA to stay at the Country Inn and Suites. This was recommended on the DIS, and we have some bed *issues*; I think that's a good stopping point for exactly the reasoning you pointed out. I would advocate stopping -- don't start a WDW trip exhausted ! but your mileage will vary. Speaking of mileage (though a different kind ; )don't forget to gas up prior to leaving Georgia. We will be coming into Lake Buena Vista on a Saturday this time, so, I'm hoping for the best - and leaving Kingsland EARLY ! We're bringing lunches for the first day since something didn't sit well with somebody from the road food the first time.

Many advocate driving through the night...we did find that the nighttime driving went so much more smoothly, with little or no traffic (and I was really going fast !). We just can't work that out this trip, with the last day's home schedule and all the last minute stuff. DO leave Balto. early to avoid DC traffic - that's the one constant that all complain about. Have a magical trip and I'll let you know how it goes -- thanks all for the help.
Leslie

 

[madhouserobey]

drove down in nov2003 left balt on halloween at 2pm drove until 11pm stop at waterford sc .left the next morning at 7:30am no traffic until accident on I-4 about one mile from disney exit and that was around 12:30 to one pm. so saturday was not that badexcept the accident

 

[SRUAlmn]

This trip we're starting early again and driving through to Kingsland, GA to stay at the Country Inn and Suites.

Us too!! Let me know how that is too please My DBF's parents are insisting we should fly because it would be less hassle, I said, do they want to pay for it then? (Plus, I hate flying) On the way back we are staying in my DBF's aunt's cabin slightly north of Richmond, VA so that will be free and we can splurge a little more on where we stay on the way down if we need to. Let me know how the Country Inn and Suites are. We will also leave EARLY the next day, just in case there is traffic on I-4. We really did think about driving through the night, but how did you do that? I was thinking if we left Friday around 8:00 or 9:00pm then we would get to WDW around noon the next day, but weren't you exhausted when you got there? I don't want to spend the whole first day sleeping and waste our UPHs. Have a great time!!

 

[NCRedding]

We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites on 6/3/04 in Kingsland. It was a very convenient stopping point, and we found the hotel to be well cared for and very convenient to get to from I-95. There is a breakfast in the morning, with cereal, breads, make your-own waffles, and a crock-pot of sausage gravy with biscuits. I would recommend this hotel. We left Kingsland at about 10 and arrived at WDW in time for lunch.

 

[LeslieM]

Thanks, NCREdding !
It is so nice to hear something specific to your intended road hotel. Kinda puts your mind at rest, if ya know what I mean.

Karen - On our only driving trip, we left on New Year's Day and NOT at the crack of dawn, figuring there would be no traffic. We drove until about 10:00 or 11:00 PM, stopping several times along the way. Those last couple of hours driving were what I was referring to -- no one on the road. I figure, from what others have said, that if you drive into the night, it's goes relatively smoothly. But, as you say -- you have to be real careful not to exhaust yourself before the *vacation* starts, so we decided to start real early and drive until Kingsland. We'll hang out, walk, and maybe swim, and then get another early start. It was tempting to drive through the night, but our last day's home schedule won't allow it. Plus, I just chickened out, worrying about being too tired.

Leslie

 

[SRUAlmn]

Thanks from here too! I told my DBF about the biscuits and gravy and he said SOLD! This is a complimentary breakfast, correct? Nice to see that it's not just stale donuts left on a table and old coffee. I also read on their website that they have cookies and candy out in their lobby for customers 24 hours a day- maybe a little snack when we get there

 

[NCRedding]

Yes, this was on the complimentary breakfast bar. I was expecting some pastry and stale donuts, too, so I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[thevolcanogod]

Lots of discussion about traveling I4 from the north - I have a few questions about traveling it in general:

We are traveling down to Tampa on Sunday around noon - I don't expect traffic volumes to be heavy, being a weekend and in the middle of the day.

We will have to travel I4 from just outside of Busch Gardens to Sea World on a Tuesday morning though. I am planning on us leaving at 6:30AM to beat the morning rush. I would like to get there as close to 9AM as possible, but must be there by 11:30AM. Is this a realistic possibility? Any alternate routes to suggest?

Thanks

 

[crzy4dsny]

On our last trip we stopped in Kingsland. I thought it was a great place to stop. Lots of food real close and a Super Walmart right down the road. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and it was nice. It seemed new.

We left there on a Sunday morning at 7:16 and arrived in Disney at 9:41. When you get back on 95 you are in Florida in like 8 minutes.

 

[safetymom]

They work on I-4 on the weekend. The traffic volume is heavy on the weekend so I would allow extra time.