Toronto to Orlando driving questions

[twitterpated31]

Hello all,

I have already found some threads on this to answer some of my questions but I am hoping those who have done the trip will be able to help me with a last few things.

We are driving down the first weekend of February. I'm already nervous about potential weather issues but crossing my fingers for good weather!!

1) We are planning to do the 177S/I95S route (south by Pittsburgh and Charlotte NC) with a side trip to Lexington NC for BBQ (bribery for my hubby who is doing all the driving!). It is shorter and seems less traffic than the 170E through DC and Richmond Virginia. For those who have done the drive, would you agree? Is there anything that makes the eastern route better for driving?

2) Tolls perplex me. We are renting a van for the trip. Are there a lot of tolls the whole way down to deal with? I seem to hear more about it once we hit Florida (and people picking up something (Sunpass I think?) when they cross into Florida). Is that all we would need to do or should we have something for the full route down to make the trip smoother?

3) Any other advise would be helpful!! It's about 14 hours to Lexington so I expect we will aim to leave at 4/5am to get there and then try and get another couple of hours of driving in day one so we have a shorter drive the second day (we play it by ear based on what my husband feels able to do at the time).

Thanks for the help!!

 

[cmmc]

Tolls perplex me too. I'm not driving - but my B-I-L drives from Ottawa with my nephew every 3 years or so.

I have started researching but it is frustrating because there are so many different toll companies. I found this article helpful - it explains what the different car rental companies charge - https://thepointsguy.com/guide/avoid-rental-car-toll-charges/

 

[FigmentSpark]

If you're renting a van, check the prices on the rentals from the airport. I find they're much cheaper, even though they're the same company, than the local rentals.

Also, make sure your rental isn't 'contaminated'. We rented last time and happened to be "chosen randomly" for a border search. They had the dogs in there, too, even though we are a family of 4, including children. Nothing to worry about, but make sure you know what you're taking across the border. Also, make sure the rental company knows you're driving across the border. In our case, they gave us a newer vehicle because of that, so we wouldn't have any break-down troubles.

 

[starvenger]

Your route was basically the same as mine (see the link in my signature). It might help you.

If you have some singles and change, you should be able to do most tolls on the way. Yes, it’s more annoying to stop and pay, but you won’t lose that much time - or money - if we’re being honest.

Once in Florida, a SunPass might be a good idea. Some of the toll roads have unmanned exits so it’s either exact change or get charged an extra fee.

 

[KCMA]

Just did the drive in September from Bowmanville (just east of Toronto)and have taken that route numerous times.. I could never get the more eastern route make sense.. we also never worry about tolls or getting the sun pass.. we always have singles and $5 bills.. we just wait in the cash line and pay the toll and be done.. I don’t lose sleep over waiting 3-4 minutes in the cash line as opposed to the sun pass/EZ pay toll lines

 

[DavidL]

For the tolls, keep a bunch of $1 bills as well as a whole bunch of quarters. We came upon an unmanned toll booth one time and had to mail in a cheque. The $10 foreign currency fee charged by my bank for the $1.25 toll on top of the exchange was crazy.

When using a GPS, do not choose the option to avoid toll roads - just pay the tolls and you will more than save the money in gas and time. We've learned that one the hard way..

 

[bankr63]

We have a handful of route options from Eastern Ontario as well. I've driven them all, and have a favorite, but don't pick my actual route until the day before we leave. Watch the winter weather closely and choose the route with least probability of weather. The Appalachians make a pretty good weather divide, so picking which side of the divide you travel down can make a difference in your experience. In general, we usually pass through the chain further south as if there is some weather it is less likely to be snow at altitude on the more southerly route.

That said, we have hit 'some' weather every year along the way. If you have snow tires, keep them on for the trip, they won't suffer for it and you may need them. Don't be afraid to pull over early if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Two years ago we pulled over early in PA as the snow was heavier than anticipated. Made an earlier start with clear crisp skies the next morning and passed two different transports lying on their sides in the ditch. Glad we didn't press on.