Where to stay on our way down to Disney

[thecplusplusguy]

In November we went Ma pike (90) to 84 to 81 to 17 to 95. 17 puts on 95 just north of Richmond. You avoid all the traffic (except Richmond) and tunnels and tolls. For October this ride is fine. The other way you may want to try is 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 as someone else said. It is a beautiful ride, but you are going to hit some Hills. My class C e450 chassis has no problems though. 60 mph up the hills.

I stay at Cracker Barrel or Walmart. If a last resort I'll stay at a truck stop, but I try to find one that caters to RV's as well (like Flying J).

Best thing to do is get the Next Exit book. You can find what ever you need and no what exit to get off of to get there.

I usually leave 6 pm two days before I am to arrive at the Fort, drive until about midnight (puts me in Wilkes-barre, PA), then next day I leave at 9 and can get to South of the border in SC around 9 or go a little further and the drive into the Fort on arrival day a little shorter. We usually get into the Fort at around 3:30 to 4:30.

Dan

 

[mnsprk]

The fairground has a campground??? Cool, didn't know that!!!

How come only some of the KOAs show up online??

Agrirama link:

http://www.abac.edu/museum/rvparking/

 

[3gr8kids]

Our route from the MA/NH line was Mass Pike to 84 to 95 over the Tappanzee, Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, 695 over Scott Key, then back onto 95.
We left home on a Thursday at 6:00 pm, made it to Walterboro, SC by 4:00 pm Friday. Stayed overnight at ?Comfort Inn? in Walterboro (clean and just off the highway, plenty of camper parking).
We left Walterboro on Saturday at 8:00 am, checked into the Fort at 3:00 pm.
Total driving time (including short stops, and some time spent at "South Of The Border") = 29 hours.
On the way home, we checked out of the Fort on a Monday at noon-thirty and we were home on Tuesday at 1:00 pm!

 

[wdwbound]

We've driven from Maine quite a few times and have gone a few different ways and I would agree with Dan about the Route he suggested.
Don't know if your husband is a "white knuckle" driver when it comes to lots of traffic, I know mine is when we go through the DC area or Garden State Parkway. We found that we added a bit of driving to our schedule but enjoyed driving much more through PA to Virginia which was very colorful and less stressful. BTW...my husband hates the Francis Scott Key bridge, thought it was too narrow and swore he would NEVER drive it again.

Nancy

 

[BradyBz12]

BTW...my husband hates the Francis Scott Key bridge, thought it was too narrow and swore he would NEVER drive it again.

DH does too. So I only go that way if he's asleep.

 

[dblr]

You could also try this route take 84 across to rt 87(NY State Thruway) till it runs into rt 287 then follow it south to the NJ Turnpike, this will take you to 95 crossing the De. Memorial Bridge then take rt 301 south till it meets 95 again in Va. @ exit 104.
We stayed @ Carollina Rv Resort just inside NC and also stayed @ Green Acres in Walterboro both a short ride off 95 and plenty of room.

 

[Whipperwhirl]

"white knuckle" driver when it comes to lots of traffic

This is definately my Dad . . .Thanks yall for helping my parents out!

Now - back to my masterpiece - lets see if I can get disqualified again - muhahahaha.

 

[dfg02790]

We take 95 to 287 to the Tappan Zee Bridge and then pick up the Garden State Parkway to the Nj Turnpike.We take 295 to 95 to 695E which take us to the Francis Scott Key Bridge.From there we take 97S to Annapolis and then pick up 50w/301s to the junction of 495s/95s.We take 295 around Richmond and then pick up 95.In Florida we pick up Rte 4 to Disney.
Along the way we have stayed at Super Wal-Marts in Ronaoke Rapids,NC and Walterboro SC.South of the Border,SC has a nice campgound at 22.00 per night(AARP rate).If you need a stop over in Georgia at the Florida/Gerogia border their is Blythe Island campground.It is a county campground near the Florida border.
We have not had any problems going through Washington between 1:30 and 3Pm during the week.
Hope this helps

 

[Kagoguen]

We take I95 to Mass then I495 to I90 to Conn I84 to I81 down to Tennessee to visit friends then we take I26 back to I95, but you could take I believe I75 in Virginia that will take you back to I96 and you will miss Geo Washington and Tappanzee Bridge, bi-pass Baltimore, Washington DC and and come in around Richmond VA, so you should hopefully bi-pass most of the conjestion, but check google maps, mapquest, yahoo maps, etc

 

[starbuc71]

Being originally from upstate NY, I have tried many different routes. I would agree if you could find a route to get to I-81 then take 77 through Charlotte then 26 through SC over to I-95 then south, I believe would be your best route. There are no major cities besides charlotte (which is not bad at all) on that route. We uses to hate going through DC and still do. I'm sure NYC is 20 times as bad. As for places to stay along the way, most of the time you can't go wrong with a KOA for an overnight stop. KOA's used to be the thing when I was growing up, but nowadays I would would check on KOA.com to see what info you can find out before you show up there just to find out it's in a bad area or the place is kinda scary. Someone also mantioned staying at Flying J. I know truckers like them I wouldn't know how a camper would fit in.

 

[Kagoguen]

Being originally from upstate NY, I have tried many different routes. I would agree if you could find a route to get to I-81 then take 77 through Charlotte then 26 through SC over to I-95 then south, I believe would be your best route. There are no major cities besides charlotte (which is not bad at all) on that route. We uses to hate going through DC and still do. I'm sure NYC is 20 times as bad. As for places to stay along the way, most of the time you can't go wrong with a KOA for an overnight stop. KOA's used to be the thing when I was growing up, but nowadays I would would check on KOA.com to see what info you can find out before you show up there just to find out it's in a bad area or the place is kinda scary. Someone also mantioned staying at Flying J. I know truckers like them I wouldn't know how a camper would fit in.

We have stayed at a few KOA's on our way down, little pricey, but they are usually very accomadating, the only 1 thing I really hate is that the pools close at 8..what's up with that!

 

[starbuc71]

We have stayed at a few KOA's on our way down, little pricey, but they are usually very accomadating, the only 1 thing I really hate is that the pools close at 8..what's up with that!

I think it depends on the owners. I have stayed at ones where they left them open til 10. Again I think since they are franchise they are all run a bit different

 

[Kagoguen]

This Halloween we'll be headin' back to the Fort and plan on taking 4 days, will most likely stay in Carlisle PA at the Western Village RV Park our 1st night, then KOA in Blountville, TN our 2nd night and visit friends, 3rd night we'll stay at KOA in Kingsland GA , then travel 3/12 hours to our final stop the Fort

 

[Kagoguen]

I think it depends on the owners. I have stayed at ones where they left them open til 10. Again I think since they are franchise they are all run a bit different

I wish the ones that we stay at were ones that stayed open till 10, usually we don't pull in till around 7-7:30 for the night, doesn't leave much time for swimming

 

[91oldkeywest]

We drive down in a MH to the Fort a couple times a year from NJ.Have found that taking 301 south from Del.into Maryland then Rt50.to 295south in DC.saves about 1hr.over 95 and saves money by not having tolls.Other then a few lights in the beginning of 301,it is a smooth ride and no traffic.You can make exit 173 in NC no problem where there is a Walmart that lets you spend the night,lots of gas/diesel,and food.From there its 10hrs. to the Fort.Have a safe trip,we well also be Driving down 9/29 thru 10/8.

 

[Avatab]

We just got back and have stayed at several of the year-round campgrounds off of Rt 95.

On the way down we used the Clara Barton Rest Area on the NJ turnpike, and New Green Acres Campground in Walterboro SC.

Back we used the KOA at the FLA/GA border, then the RVacation campground in Selma NC. (home of "Camper the Dog"

We have also used South of the Border (surprisingly nice and clean campground, and cheap!) and Americamps in VA, and Kings Dominion Park campground.

All of them are open year-round, easy on-off of I-95, have late check-in sites and are clean and safe (well, except maybe for the rest area ;-)

Steve

 

[IslandHtsCampers]

having lived in NJ my whole life, I have found getting around NY city during the day best between 10am and 2pm. The GW Briddge has always been the best route to/from New England. NY City has nothing compared to the gauntlet of Baltimore/DC. I travel down Delaware 1 to 199 and head south down US 301. You will see a different view of delaware and come to 95 close to richmond.

 

[LuvOrlando]

You all make this sound so easy, I am hoping to try a RV trip from PA down to a Miami wedding and a WDW visit sometime this year so I'm glad I found this thread. You are all so nice to share your experiences.

 

[echolake]

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!

Thanks! That info is very helpful!

 

[echolake]

I met so many people that trip! All very nice of course! I am really looking forward to our trip this year. We are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary and this makes it very special. Thank you so much for your kind words about our Daughter. We think she is a very special person! I can't wait to see what she dreams up for this year's trip!