What's the best time to start drive down from northern NJ?

[spaceranger1217]

Hi! This will be our first time driving down to WDW and I am starting to get a bit worried. I was excited at first but after reading several posts I am starting to rethink it. We will be leaving the third week of August probably on Sunday and will be taking 95 down. There will be two of us driving so its not the drive that has me worried but all the traffic I have read about (DC area). I was hoping that somoeone who has done the drive could suggest a time to head out. I have been told to leave either at like 6pm or 3am....please help
For those have done the drive from NJ what has worked best for you?

 

[Uncleromulus]

Sunday will be a good day--all things considered. No legendary rush hour traffic. But plenty of cars anyway, what with tourists, etc
On a Sunday I think leaving in the early AM would be just fine. Don't see a need for driving all night on a Sunday.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

We drive down from Boston. The worst part of our drive is from Boston to theTappanzee and Garden state parkway, after that the rest of the drive is a straight shot to WDW Florida, no problem.
If you leave at 6pm Sunday night and drive straight through (highly recommended), you'll be walking around Downtown Disney Monday at noon.
Good luck all,
Joe




My wife hates to fly.
The first time we went to Walt Disney World, April 2004 with my 3 year old daughter We decided to go to WDW a couple of months before we went with little planning. We rented some points off the DIS forum, checked the airfares a couple of times and picked up a trip tick from AAA.

We drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW Old Key West stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad; more like a series of short trips.

Our Trip to WDW started Friday, 3/26/04 at 1 pm: Miles, Stopped, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 3/26/04, 1:00pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 212 212 6:00pm
2, N J to Aberdeen MD 183 395 9:07 pm
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 266 661 1:36 AM
4, NC to Florence SC 209 870 4:40 am
5, SC to S Newport GA 210 1,080 7:58 am
Arrived, GA to WDW 251 1,331 12:00 PM

Started, Friday, 3/26 0 1:00pm
Finished, Saturday, 3/27 1331 12:00pm
A 23 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
76 gallons of gas, $131 for the gas, 17.78 mpg 58mph
Driving around WDW 21

The Trip Home started Friday, April 2nd 11 AM: Miles Stopped Time

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston:Friday, April 2nd 11:00 am
1, WDW to St Augustine FL 116 116 12:44 PM
2, FL to Savanah GA 178 294 3:55 PM
3, GA to Florence SC 174 468 6:22 pm
4, SC to Battleboro NC 181 649 9:30 pm
5, NC to Aberdeen MD 295 944 2:17 am
6, MD to Bloomfield NJ 181 1,125 5:30 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 237 1,362 9:30 am

Started, Friday, 4/02 11:00 am 0
Finished, Sat, 4/03 9:30 am 1362
A 22 1/2 hr trip with 6 stops on the way home
81 gallons of gas $126 for the gas 17.58 mpg 60.5mph
Driving around WDW 62

157 gallons, $257 for the gas, $44 tolls, 17.68 mpg, 59.2mph 2776


The traffic was a mess from Hartford through Delaware on the way down.
It rained from North Carolina to Boston, Mass. on the way home

Me and my wife alternated turns driving our Nissan Xterra when we stopped for gas. My 3 year old held out a lot better than I thought she would on the way down and on the way back to Boston, WITHOUT, tapes, DVDs, video games, just a lot of singing and sleeping.

It's not that Bad!!!

April 2005 we caught a break in fares and flew down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with American Airlines , $504 round trip total for the 3 of us.

April 2006 we caught a break in fares so we flew down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with Song/Delta , $496 round trip total for the 3 of us.

The 2007 story and stops are pretty much the same as 2004.

We drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW, Orange Lake Country Club, stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad; more like a series of short trips.

Our Trip to WDW started Friday the 13th of April 2007, at 3:45 pm:

Destination, Miles, Total Miles from Boston, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 4/13/07, 3:45pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 208 208 7:49 PM
2, N J to Laurel MD 219 427 11:44 PM
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 250 677 3:36 AM
4, NC to Manning SC 219 896 7:00 AM
5, SC to Kingsland GA 226 1,122 10:30 AM
Arrived, GA to WDW 203 1,325 2:00 PM

Started, Friday, 4/13/07 3:45 PM
Finished, Saturday, 4/14/07 2:00 pm
A 22 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
63 gallons of gas, $175 for the gas, 21 mpg


The Trip Home started at 9:45 AM, Saturday, April 21,2007
Destination, Miles, Total Miles from WDW, Time

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston: Saturday, April 21st 9:45 AM
1, WDW to Kingsland Ga 194 194 12:44 PM
2, GA to Manning SC 226 420 4:16 PM
3, SC to Rocky Mt. NC 218 638 7:42 PM
4, NC to Aberdeen MD 292 930 12:26 AM
5, MD to Newark NJ 170 1,100 3:27 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 246 1,346 7:30 AM

Started, Saturday, 4/21 9:45 AM 0 Miles
Finished, Sunday, 4/22 7:30 AM 1346 miles
A 22 hr trip with 5 stops on the way home
62 gallons of gas $175 for the gas 21 mpg

Total miles 2,671, about 21 mpg, about 70 mph
Total gas 125gallons $350
Total Tolls $50

April 2008 we caught a break in fares so we flew down and back out of Logan to Tampa, 4/19-4/26, on a non-stop with AirTran , $753 round trip total for the 3 of us.

April 2009 we caught a break in fares so we flew down and back out of Logan to MCO, 4/18-4/25, on a non-stop with Delta , $627 round trip total for the 3 of us.

April 2010 we caught a break in fares so we're flying down and back out of Logan to Tampa, 4/17-4/24, on a non-stop with Delta , $717 round trip total for the 3 of us.

April 2011...for our 4/16/11 - 4/23/11 trip we booked a 2 bedroom at the Silver Lake Resort. We caught an airfare break with the Direct Air/friends and family promotion out of Worchester Ma; Round trip non stop for the 3 of us $449 total.


Lord be willing,
If all goes well,
The creek don't rise,
and there ain't no melt down,
We'll do it all again next year.

Good Luck all,
Joe


As the story goes;
I always compare the cost and time of flying with the cost of driving.
If flying cost more than twice the cost of driving and it's not a non-stop round trip flight then we drive.
This year, back in May, when the April 2010 spring break fares and schedules came out we caught a break with a Delta non-stop, round trip Boston to Tampa flight, $717 total for the 3 of us.
Driving for us, gas and tolls cost about $400 round trip.
Along for the ride we take a couple bags of snacks, a big cooler and a small cooler filled with sandwiches and drinks.
We stop for gas, breaks and to switch drivers every 200 miles, 3-4 hours, that takes about 10-15 minutes. That's all we need unless we decide to grab something to eat at one of the mall/trip centers where we stop for gas, that usually takes an extra half hour.
We don't take our time and we don't try to hurry it up, we just do what we have to or want to do.
It's really not that big a deal, it's Just bunch of short 3-4 hour trips, not a long 22 hour drive.
Good luck all,
Joe

 

[NJRRK]

If you plan on spending the night along the way, leave about 5-6 a.m., you'll be driving rested and be able to get well into SC. When we drove down in 2002, we got to Hardeeville SC. From there it was about 5 hours to WDW. We did that when my DS was 7 and DD was 11.

Now if you're all adults you leave at 5 and you can share the driving and you can sleep in the car if you go straight through you should be able to get to WDW by midnight.

 

[antree]

We just drove form South Jersey in April. We were on the road at 4:30 am on Saturday morning. We followed the GPS this time and did what was said, we drove up to our hotel The BW at exactly 8pm Saturday night. If was the easiest drive we ever had going there, no traffic at all, great timing. We had lunch packed and ate that in the car while driving. Stopped at McDonald's in FL. to hold the kids over until we got at the hotel. They wanted dinner in Disney. I would diffidently leave that time again.

Coming home was another story. We left at 3:30 in the afternoon on Monday and got home 7am Tuesday morning. Will never do that again the drive was horrible, it was long and tiring.

Have fun in Disney!

 

[dfr1966]

We've done the drive from Central New Jersey several times and are doing so again in 2 weeks. We're planning to leave at 5:00am on a Saturday and hope to get to Pooler, GA to stay the first night (just a few exits into Georgia). In prior years when the kids were younger, we've stayed in Florence SC and also Santee, SC.

 

[spaceranger1217]

Thank you all so much!!! I feel much better about the drive now

 

[KathyK]

We have done the drive straight through thing, but I think we're getting too old for that now.

Leaving NJ in the morning on a weekday isusually the worst for us WRT DC traffic. We seem to hit traffic on the turnpike in the morning, and traffic on 95 starting around 3 pm near DC. We usually take several breaks for bathroom, meals, and running around.

Usually my husband drives. This time, he's meeting us down there, so I'll be in the driver's seat for the trip south. I have a feeling that I'll be stopping more frequently for breaks because I usually don't drive long distances. Our plan is to leave on Saturday morning and get as far a Wilson, NC the first day. The second day, we'll get to Orlando, and stay off-site (then move to BWV on Monday). I already told my kids that if we make very few stops the second day, and get to the Orlando area at a decent hour, we can go to a park on Sunday. So hopefully that will motivate them to request fewer stops.

 

[bookwormde]

As said traffic on Sunday is not that big of an issue, if you are going straight through, I would leave by 4AM so you will arrive without to much night driving at the end of the trip.

bookwormde

 

[spaceranger1217]

I think that we have decided to start driving at 4 am on Sunday ...as much as I thought driving at night would be faster it doesnt seem to be such a great idea. Hopefully we will be walking around DTD Monday afternoon

Thank you all so much for taking the time to help me out. Is it safe to assume that driving back early morning would also be the best way to go...or at night...I will be heading back on a Thursday...

 

[916chipndale]

we always drive down from central nj (edison) and we always leave the day before our vacation at 3 am, so we pass DC around 6 am where theres no traffic (one year we saw a really bad accident there where a guy flipped over sparks were flying and when it stopped cars kept hitting him were glad we were ahead of him or we wouldve been stuck)then we usualy stop at jacksonville for the night at 6 pm then start driving the next morning around 7-8. we usualy arrive at disney at 1-130

 

[Johnnyecks]

We have driven down to Fl from northern NJ many, many times (started when I was 12, did it each year till I was 29). We typically leave at around 4AM and take the Rt. 78W - 81S to 64E and stay in Williamsburg, Va over night the first night. Then from Va, we take 95S into Savannah, stay the night there, and then continue on 95, to Rt 4, to 192 into Kissimmee where our timeshare is.

This year is going to be different. We are driving straight through to Savannah. So I am not sure what is best. We plan on leaving at midnight and driving either A) 95S right into Savannah. Or B) taking that 78W, 81S, 64E, 95S route to avoid 95 until Richmond (avoids DC/Philly area). The "A" route is the most direct, but not used to driving through DC and Philly... we would be there around 5am... not sure what the traffic is like at that time in that area. The "B" route avoids 95, and is, imo, a nicer drive...but adds unnecessary time.


What do you all think? Leaving at 12AM should we go the "A" or "B" route?


Thanks, can't wait to go. Been 8 years since I've been to Disney!

 

[sticker231]

We are leaving tonight. It works with the kids sleep schedule, so they are not out of whack when we get there. Plus you miss all the metro area commuter traffic.

 

[Johnnyecks]

We have driven down to Fl from northern NJ many, many times (started when I was 12, did it each year till I was 29). We typically leave at around 4AM and take the Rt. 78W - 81S to 64E and stay in Williamsburg, Va over night the first night. Then from Va, we take 95S into Savannah, stay the night there, and then continue on 95, to Rt 4, to 192 into Kissimmee where our timeshare is.

This year is going to be different. We are driving straight through to Savannah. So I am not sure what is best. We plan on leaving at midnight and driving either A) 95S right into Savannah. Or B) taking that 78W, 81S, 64E, 95S route to avoid 95 until Richmond (avoids DC/Philly area). The "A" route is the most direct, but not used to driving through DC and Philly... we would be there around 5am... not sure what the traffic is like at that time in that area. The "B" route avoids 95, and is, imo, a nicer drive...but adds unnecessary time.


What do you all think? Leaving at 12AM should we go the "A" or "B" route?


Thanks, can't wait to go. Been 8 years since I've been to Disney!

No one?

 

[LuckyGirl777]

We have driven down to Fl from northern NJ many, many times (started when I was 12, did it each year till I was 29). We typically leave at around 4AM and take the Rt. 78W - 81S to 64E and stay in Williamsburg, Va over night the first night. Then from Va, we take 95S into Savannah, stay the night there, and then continue on 95, to Rt 4, to 192 into Kissimmee where our timeshare is.

This year is going to be different. We are driving straight through to Savannah. So I am not sure what is best. We plan on leaving at midnight and driving either A) 95S right into Savannah. Or B) taking that 78W, 81S, 64E, 95S route to avoid 95 until Richmond (avoids DC/Philly area). The "A" route is the most direct, but not used to driving through DC and Philly... we would be there around 5am... not sure what the traffic is like at that time in that area. The "B" route avoids 95, and is, imo, a nicer drive...but adds unnecessary time.


What do you all think? Leaving at 12AM should we go the "A" or "B" route?


Thanks, can't wait to go. Been 8 years since I've been to Disney!

I just posted a thread on here called "Driving from NJ" with the same question. Didn't seem to come out with a clear answer one way or the other, but might be worth reading it to see the opinions anyway!

We've decided to take the inland route 78-81 then down through Charlotte route then going back over to 95. But we are leaving in the morning, hopefully by 7 am. We are going to stay over one night somewhere around Charlotte.

If I was leaving at midnight like you, I would just do 95 straight. You'll have at least six hours before rush hour starts to get past DC which you should be able to do at that time of night.

 

[Missytara]

Sunday will be a good day--all things considered. No legendary rush hour traffic. But plenty of cars anyway, what with tourists, etc
On a Sunday I think leaving in the early AM would be just fine. Don't see a need for driving all night on a Sunday.

Think again. Sundays people are returning from the beaches to home from NJ, DE, DC, PA, and MD.

And since many of the children in those states return to school that week, many, many, many people will leave early that particular Sunday morning.

I have a lot of experience on that particular weekend.

 

[amcnj]

Hi. If you are planning to be through DC at 5 am you should be OK. I am in southeastern NJ and leave around 2:30 AM. Taking 95 I hit VA around 5:30 am, reaching GA between 2:30 AND 3:30 PM, depending on stops, traffic, weather, etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[Johnnyecks]

I just posted a thread on here called "Driving from NJ" with the same question. Didn't seem to come out with a clear answer one way or the other, but might be worth reading it to see the opinions anyway!

We've decided to take the inland route 78-81 then down through Charlotte route then going back over to 95. But we are leaving in the morning, hopefully by 7 am. We are going to stay over one night somewhere around Charlotte.

If I was leaving at midnight like you, I would just do 95 straight. You'll have at least six hours before rush hour starts to get past DC which you should be able to do at that time of night.

Oh thank you! I didn't see your post. I think we will stick with 95 because we will be traveling this Sat, so rush hour won't be an issue. I was thinking we were leaving Friday morning, but I was wrong. I do like the inland route, there just seems to be more to see. 95 is boring. "390 more miles till South of the Border".... and hour later "340 miles till South of the Border!".... shoot me.

When are you leaving? We're going straight to Savannah.

 

[Johnnyecks]

Hi. If you are planning to be through DC at 5 am you should be OK. I am in southeastern NJ and leave around 2:30 AM. Taking 95 I hit VA around 5:30 am, reaching GA between 2:30 AND 3:30 PM, depending on stops, traffic, weather, etc.

Hope this helps.

Perfect! Thats when we were planning on getting into Savannah!! Thank you so much!

 

[miztressuz]

personally I think it depends on the type of person you are. we're night people and prefer to do the overnight with no traffic. we've driven 3 times now, twice to disney and once to Fort Lauderdale. did the two Disney trips as overnighters straight through on sat-sun and the FtL as a split drive, 10 hours one day, spend the night, 10 hours the next day, again sat/sun, down and back.

for the FtL drive we wanted to kill ourselves. the extra "traffic" on the road (not backups, just people. although on the way back we did hit a traffic jam after DC I think. that was Sunday, North bound, probably 4pm-ish? getting hard to remember) and for some reason just being during the day made 10 hours on the road seem like an eternity. and then we had to repeat the next day! and then we had to do in reverse for the way back! even my husband, who has always claimed to not mind long drives, has forbidden another day trip like that. [i for years forbade driving to FL when flights are only 2 hours in the air and you'd spend 9 times that on the road which i thought would drive me crazy. he understands my reluctance after doing that trip]

for the Disney trips, Orlando is a shorter drive so we've been leaving around 6 - 7 pm (generally by accident), drive straight through with just gas/potty stops, one dinner stop, and one breakfast/gas combo stop in the morning. we've been at the hotel by noon at least both times. being a night person i had no trouble being up all night and i'd normally be sleeping so I wasn't "wasting time" being on the road. both times were saturday night i believe and we pick up I95 right at Philly. so that's our preference, sometime late afternoon into the evening to arrive late morning. (plus if you're up for it, you could hit a park that afternoon/night rather than it being a wasted park day. but we're still 'young and stupid' and can do stuff like that )

so it depends on the dynamic of you and the family. SIL did the same thing as she had small kids and it was much nicer if they slept through the majority of the trip overnight BIL, however, the small kids kept quiet with the DVD player and love staying in hotels, so they did the split trip the last time they drove and everyone was happy. on the weekends I don't think traffic is as bad anywhere as rush hour during the week so you should be fine with what works for you.