Where to stay on our way down to Disney

[echolake]

My husband and I have recently purchased a class a motorhome and our Daughter (whipperwhirl - the woman who made the duct tape pirate ship and dragged it down from Connecticut) has talked us into camping with them in October at Fort Wilderness. My question is, does anyone know of a good route from the New England area (not going thru NYC) that will get us there in approximately 3 days. We are looking for suggestions on where to stay along the way. This will be our longest trip so far and my husband is a little nervous without a planned trip in hand. Can anyone help us out with suggestions?

 

[fugarwe]

Because vacation time for me is limited, I'm a "straight through" kind of guy. If it were ME, I'd plot a course with googlemaps.com that avoided NYC. Then just start driving. Drive until he can't drive any more and pull into a truck stop and take a nap. Get up, have breakfast, drive some more. The sooner you get to warm weather, the better!

From Boston it's about 1400 miles. That's two 700 mile days. Even at only 50 MPH average, that's only 14 hours on the road each day.

 

[Whipperwhirl]

I believe - you did the talking - MOM!!!

 

[motherwild]

We travel from Long Island. Getting around NYC is tough. We will Take GWashington bridge and get on NJ turnpike and then 95 south. When we get to Baltimore we head for the Francis Scottt Key bridge. (no Propane allowed through the tunnel) Going around DC can be a little tricky too.
We leave very early to avoid traffic. We stop over night at Flying J.

 

[kathybrj]

We're coming from just north of Albany, NY so we shoot off into NJ at Suffern and go around NYC that way. Our issue has been DC- that Baltimore tunnel that you aren't supposed to go through with propane.

 

[acenorm]

I have heard some people(RV's) go South on I-81, and shoot over to 95 in Virginia. If this is a possibility you might want to try that. I know it may be a little longer, but the traffic is supposedly non existent and you don't have any major hubs to go through. You might want to go to the Good Sam Club message boards to get better details.

Best Regards,
Norm

 

[~Kristina~]

Anyone have any spots along I75 in GA to stay in December?

 

[kathybrj]

I have heard some people(RV's) go South on I-81, and shoot over to 95 in Virginia. If this is a possibility you might want to try that. I know it may be a little longer, but the traffic is supposedly non existent and you don't have any major hubs to go through. You might want to go to the Good Sam Club message boards to get better details.

Best Regards,
Norm

That way is great when the weather is good. We have local friends that have traveled that way in January/February and we've always been cautioned not to take it during the winter months. I guess the weather can be unpredictable in those mountains. I would prefer to take that route but don't want to get stuck with the RV.

Coming from the Mass area I would hop on the NYS Thruway and then exit to NJ before the Tappan Zee. That should get travelers around most of the NYC dense traffic. Husband hates NJ driving but he'll live with it for this trip down. We did it to S.Carolina last year and it wasn't terrible.

 

[Judy in Texas]

We travel from Long Island. Getting around NYC is tough. We will Take GWashington bridge and get on NJ turnpike and then 95 south. When we get to Baltimore we head for the Francis Scottt Key bridge. (no Propane allowed through the tunnel) Going around DC can be a little tricky too.
We leave very early to avoid traffic. We stop over night at Flying J.

Question... The tunnel in Mobile Alabama says No Propane; but, I was told on here that the small propane tanks campers have are exempt from that rule. What makes the Baltimore tunnel different? How does one know when the small camper propane tanks are exempt?

Thanks!

 

[BradyBz12]

We're in southern NH and when we avoid the city the route we take is...

MA Pike to
84 to
87 to
Garden State Parkway to
95

IMPORTANT - If you're driving a MH or towing a large TT you will likely need to avoid the Garden State due to height restrictions. I know friends that have driven their MH on the parkway and they had to staying in the left lanes going under the arched bridges (scary).

As noted, if you're carrying propane you must take the 695 loop around Baltimore. DC loop is easier going east now that a lot of the construction is done. It's also pretty at night to see the Capitol area lit up and the Wash. monument.

It's about 1400-ish miles for us one-way and we've done this drive in just under 2 days with 1 nap stop (about 6 hours) and one stop for the night (8pm-8am) towing at about 65-70 mph.

What makes the Baltimore tunnel different? How does one know when the small camper propane tanks are exempt?

IIRC Baltimore signs actually state no propane tanks. Not really sure about "exemptions" it doesn't say anything about that. Back when all the toll booths were manned (before EZ Pass) they would actually stop you and turn you around, not letting you through.

 

[kathybrj]

Question... The tunnel in Mobile Alabama says No Propane; but, I was told on here that the small propane tanks campers have are exempt from that rule. What makes the Baltimore tunnel different? How does one know when the small camper propane tanks are exempt?

Thanks!

From Maryland transportation authority-

"Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) govern the transport of hazardous materials across our toll facilities. Under these regulations, vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695, the Baltimore Beltway) is a convenient alternative route for crossing Baltimore's Harbor."

Do they enforce it? Maybe hit or miss. We got stopped going to Charleston SC about 3 years ago and were told to take the Key Bridge. Had to turn around before the tunnel and get to I-695. A law enforcement officer saw us heading toward the tunnel. We were actually looking for a place to turn around and the officer got us to a safe turn around area. I've seen posts on camping forums where people go through the tunnel anyway and never think twice about it.

 

[clkelley]

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[JCJRSmith]

You can avoid a lot of the Philly/Baltimore/DC unpleasantness by detouring to I78 to I81 thru PA. Then, either head south on 15 to 270 to 495 around the west side of DC, or 81 to 77 to 26 to 95

 

[ebert]

If you're going in October you should definitely try and take the Blue Ridge Parkway on your way down. There are plenty of RV, tent, and cabin camping spots along the way and the drive is STUNNING.

 

[Old Snipe]

Don't go through the Baltimore tunnel, they have no sense of humor and you can count on a big ticket. Rt 695 over the Key Bridge is an easy, no hassle ride.

If you're going to travel 495-95 in the DC area, count on doing it outside of rush hours, or you'll spend some time in serious traffic.

As for rest stops, there are Flying J's (free overnight parking) along the way on I-95:

MD - Exit 100
VA - Exit 104
NC - Exit 106
SC - Exit 181 (double check me on that, there are plenty of signs)
GA - Exit 29
FL - St Augistine area, can't remember the exit number but again, plenty of signs.

Best Regards!

 

[echolake]

Darn! That means that if I go to Maryland I will have to leave the MrFission at home or avoid toll roads. I told Bruce that wasn't a wise investment...

To echolake - I have never travelled that route, so I can't help you out with your planning, but I just wanted to say and tell you what a wonderful daughter you have!

Thanks! I think she is pretty special too! I am sure she is planning something spectacular for our trip this fall! Can't wait to see it!

 

[echolake]

If you're going in October you should definitely try and take the Blue Ridge Parkway on your way down. There are plenty of RV, tent, and cabin camping spots along the way and the drive is STUNNING.

Thanks! We have talked about making that a special trip. I wonder how much time it would add to the trip?

 

[mnsprk]

There are several. Depends on where in Georgia.

I've stayed at the KOA in Forsyth.

I've stayed at Amy's South Georgia RV Park at Exit 60

I've stayed at Eagle's Roost at Exit 5. (There is also a KOA right across the highway at exit 5)

All are fine for a quick overnight, although I like Amy's the least. Easy on off the highway and all have pullthroughs.

You can add the KOA's in Cartersville and Cordelle. Then there is the Agrirama in Tifton ($20.00 full hookups) all asphalt but a great overnight stop and Twin Oaks in Elko.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Hello echolake, and welcome!

I think I met you at your daughter's site on the 1500 loop back in October, 2009.

I can't help you with driving tips from the north, but I did want to say hello, and welcome.

I'm glad to hear that y'all are heading back, and I hope that there will be another Whipperwhirl masterpiece for us all to admire!

TCD

 

[clkelley]

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