WDW trip in August

[Bill K]

We will be driving down to WDW for the first time in August from South Jersey. My party contains 2 adults and 3 children (ages 10, 6, and 6). Does anybody know of a website or any info in regards to maps, places to stay along the way and how long it should take us. We are not looking for a marathon drive. Should I expect 2 days? Any help would be appreciated..
Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[mep319]

I drive a lot for work--into unknown territory as well and one of the best maps I've used is www.mapblast.com. You have to register but it works well & is free. From the steets of Philly to country roads it has never gotten me lost. AAA is also a good one(especially great if you want them to mark off diversions), as well as www.mapquest.com and Yahoo. I usually do a couple maps, you would be surprised of the variations. But from S. Jersey most of your trip will be down 95 which I am sure you are aware of & it will take about 2 days driving(depending on speed, traffic thru Wilmington and DC I'd say 16-20 hrs driving--I haven't driven it in about 8yrs, I've been flying). I grew up in South Central Fla and my extended family all lived in the Delaware Valley so I made the trip too many times. There are many hotels & resturants that line 95 so I wouldn't be too worried about that. Enjoy the trip and I congratulate you on not rushing. I would still drive it if I could convince my husband to make stops but he is all GO GO GO! (My father was that way too--that is why I now fly!)

 

[LtlTee]

I found a really cool book in Wal-Mart last year for our August trip. It is an oversized paperback called "The Next Exit". It is broken down by state and lists the major interstates that run thru that state. Then numerically they list each exit number and what you can expect to find at that exit. For instance, I can see that for I95 in Georgia, at exit 87 there is a Amoco, Chevron, BP, Dairy Queen, Denney's, Econolodge, Holiday Inn, and a Ramada Inn. This book was invaluable in planning gas stops (i.e. knowing how much further it was to the next Shell station) or where we wanted to stop for lunch -- no guessing about what restaurants are at what exits.

 

[pixiechick]

We haven't driven it ourselves--but most people in our area average about 16 hours. Pretty much over the Del Memorial Br. and head south on 95. Try Freeride.com for hotels and restaurants on the way.

 

[barreloflaughs]

pixiechick wrote:

Try Freeride.com for hotels and restaurants on the way.

I think you actually meant to type:
http://www.freetrip.com/

Freeride.com is a whole other animal.

Freetrip.com is a great mapping site which allows you to plan alternate routes and avoid interstates (like, say...I95). I'm not sure that mapquest allows you to do that but I could be wrong.

A good I-95 website is 'The I-95 Exit Information Guide' found here:
http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm
This site provides comprehensive exit services info (lodging, food, fuel) as well as construction updates, gas price updates, mileage calculators and a forum. I'm not sure how up to date its kept re:construction, etc...but it is a useful site.

I'm not a big I-95 fan. For us here in North Jersey an alternate is to head west on i-78 to I-81 south. We then scoot over to I-95 in South Carolina thus eliminating the headaches of the Baltimore/DC/Virginia traffic and construction. My brother lives just off of 95 in Springfield, VA....ughhh...what a mess..

hey is this the transportation board?!

good luck,

barrel of laughs