What will traffic be like July 4th?

[Bea]

I'm hoping this is the right board to post this, and that someone can help. We will be driving from Ontario to WDW (2 day drive) the weekend before July 4th and then returning the next weekend. Are these weekends strattling the holiday generally busy on the roads ? Would either one of them be deamed "the busiest weekend for driving of the year?" Lots of traffic? Just slightly busy? No big deal?

We are on the fence with this next trip and just want to get as much information as possible before deciding.

 

[snowbunny]

I don't know about your drive specifically. But here, I wouldn't get on the Maine Turnpike before, during, or right after July 4 weekend if I could possibly help it.

 

[CarolA]

I am not sure how you go, but the weekend AFTER July 4th is the Pepsi 500 at the Daytona Motor Speedway This creates big traffic issues. (I was working in Sanford years ago and traffic between Orlando and Sanford got WORSE daily as the race got closer!)


Both of these weekends will have lots of Americans on the road.

 

[Edd]

CarolA is correct on that. Traffic is really bad on Interstate 4 between Orlando and Daytona Beach at that time. You might consider a route that would take you down the turnpike and in the backdoor at Disney. It is the 429. I am still not sure on the route number, but have driven it frequently in the past months.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Traffic will be horrendous. Plus, summer is when they are always doing work on the freeways, which makes it even worse.

 

[Bea]

Thanks for the posts. I am thinking we may postpone our trip. The I-95 is crazy any time of the year, but if July 4th is going to be that much crazier, we may have to reconsider. . If we do end up going, we will definately consider alternate routes.

Thanks so much.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I actually drove from Florida to Nova Scotia a few years ago on July 3rd/4th/5th and returning about a week later. I don't recall if those days were on a weekend or mid-week but traffic flowed pretty good. The heaviest sector was between Richmond and Washington DC. Even passing through NYC right on the 4th was no issue. But yes, a lot of people will be traveling to Florida the weekend prior to the 4th and returning the weekend after the 4th. And a lot of Floridians will be traveling out of the state the same weekends.

BobK/Orlando

 

[kydisneyfans]

We drove to NYC and Boston from KY during that time frame last year. There was NO TRAFFIC except for I95. I would not cancel, just consider alternate routes.

 

[Piecey]

I drove from Gainesville, FL- to the world on July 3rd last year and it was fine.

I think that was Interstate 75? Until I hit 4.. Which I didn't think was bad at all (and I'm from WV!)

We drove back that night, too. After allll day in the park and other than the parks being more crowded than I'd ever seen them, we had no problems!