where to stop on the way?

[kimber23ks]

We are coming from southern New Jersey for Halloween and first week of November.

Plan to leave Wed, 10/27 late afternoon/early evening.

Our arrival date is Friday, 10/29 and just wondering how long we should pace out our driving/towing?

We drove down (WITHOUT TOWING the TT) back in 2007 and had no problem driving straight thru with the usual bathroom and food breaks. That time we left around 7 p.m. and pulled into our rental house probably around noon or something like that.

Just not sure since we are leaving around 6 pm how far to go, where to stop if it is around 2 a.m or so? Was thinknig of pulling in a Wal-Mart to get some zzzzzzz's, but not sure we are comfortable safety-wise. Can you park at rest stops? The same thing with safety applies here I guess, but at that time it would be impossible to pull into a CG.

So, looking for some suggestions on how to break the drive down there up into reasonable stretches. We come home on Friday, 11/2, but would like to spend the day and kind of do the same trip home.

Thanks for any tips!

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Where you stop depends on your route, Are you taking the ferry over to lewes and down US 13 across the bridge tunnel or are taking I-95 ?

 

[kimber23ks]

think we are going to opt for I95 to save the Ferry costs, etc. Plus,that is route we took last time ...

 

[Disneylitch]

We drive from Maryland and sometimes stop and sometimes drive straight through. All depends on my husband, he's the driver. When we stop, it's at a rest area in South Carolina. I have the info if you want it. We've always felt very safe. We have an older MH and don't go above 65, with 60 being the norm. So, it takes us a little longer. We go straight down 95, go around Jacksonville, I think it's 295, pick up 95 again to Rt 4. Pretty straightforward. We found going around Jacksonville saves a lot of time and is much easier driving.

 

[parrothead365]

Just made that run the middle of last month. If your going 95 you will have to go around Baltimore Via the Francis Scott Key Bridge if you are carrying propane tanks (prohibited in the tunnel ). We stayed at a KOA in Rocky Mount NC. You can always arrange a late arrival. Walmarts are fine too. We stayed in one once for 3 days while we where having a broke truck fixed and had no problem. I would say do whats most comfortable for you so you can get some rest and stay safe. If you make it as far as the Fl border and you need to stop my Drive way is always available for a fellow Diser.

 

[clkelley]

KOAs right on the interstate are great about late arrivals. You just pull up to the office, look at their map to see what's available. Fill out the little form, mark that you've taken a site and pull in. Or if you have a reservation, they have your name and your site number in an envelope.

When I just overnight, I just pull in, plug in my electric, and go to bed. No noisy hookup or stabilizers, etc. I don't even unhitch.

While many folks DO overnight at Wal-Marts, Flying Js, and Cracker Barrels quite successfully, I never have. You need to do some research ahead of time to see which places near where you might stop allow overnight parking.

 

[Barney Fife]

We like to stop in south Georgia on our way down. If you make it to the southern part of Georgia, leaving around 8:00am the next morning will get you to the Fort around noon to 1:00pm. That leaves plenty of time for setting up, cruising the Fort and hitting Downtown Disney.

Works perfect for us since we start our park tickets the next day.

 

[grumpythis]

we drive till we need more fuel then pull into a rest stop refuel (i have 50gallon tank in bed of truck)rest for little while let cats out to roam around trailer for a while then dirve for a while and do it all over again till we get to the fort takes about 24 to 26 hours depending on weather
we go in dec so you could get rain or snow or sun

 

[kimber23ks]

Think it's going to be hit or miss regarding how far we get, depending on how DH feels since he will be the 'main' driver. We are planning on getting myself 'trained', lol, lol, the next few weeks, so who knows if I'll be ready to assume part of the Disney trek!

Like I said, he drove straight through last time with me taking a few hours here and there. Trying to guesstimate, if we leave around 6 p.m. on Wednesday night, just how far we will be by around 2 a.m. ? Just about to N Carolina, if that? Then the decision about "where" to get a few hours sleep. Would like to get back on the road early, by 7-8 a.m. at the latest, so we could get to the Fort, hopefully before dark, if all goes well.


Thanks to you all for the tips, and yes, Disneylitch, I will take the info on the S. Carolina rest area, though not sure we will get that far? Lots of things to look up!!

 

[Disneylitch]

We usually leave about 2am or 3am if we are going to stop along the way. We also travel with our 2 dogs, so they do need potty breaks. We left about 6pm one year and hit alot of traffic. However, I am alot closer to DC then you are. Just monitor your rush hour traffic and you'll be fine.

 

[grumpythis]

try this web site should help out finding a spot to stop

http://i95exitguide.com/

 

[dblr]

If you can make it to NC try The RV Resort @ Carolina Crossroads not far off 95 and quiet no road noise, they have sites set up just to the right just after the entrance all pullthru and can stay hooked up perfect for a quick stop.

 

[CDNCruiser]

We go straight down 95, go around Jacksonville, I think it's 295, pick up 95 again to Rt 4. Pretty straightforward. We found going around Jacksonville saves a lot of time and is much easier driving.

Next time try 9A which is an eastern bypass around Jacksonville. The road is just as good as I-295 and the route is shorter and much prettier. You leave I-95 and reconnect with it at the same interchanges as I-295 does. It's a real timesaver and you get a good look at Jax harbour.

 

[IslandHtsCampers]

Flying J's are nice and I always feel safe while parked. Walmart in Fayettevill, NC is always accomodating. We make the same trip from Central, NJ

 

[lledman]

We like to stop in south Georgia on our way down. If you make it to the southern part of Georgia, leaving around 8:00am the next morning will get you to the Fort around noon to 1:00pm. That leaves plenty of time for setting up, cruising the Fort and hitting Downtown Disney.

This is what we like to do as well. If you are comfortable with staying in rest stops or Wal-marts I wouldn't make a goal - just drive until you are tired and find a spot to stop them. No sense in pushing yourself to make it somewhere if you are ready to call it a night.

 

[RocklandRVers]

Flying J's are nice and I always feel safe while parked...

Totally agree with Flying J's. We have an RV Loyalty card that gives us a small discount on fuel and food. We found that each Flying J is just about a tank of gas apart down I-95. We leave with a full tank from upstate NY and stop at the last service area on the NJ Turnpike. Our next stop is the Flying J in VA (near Fredricksburg) then in NC and so on. We then stop for the night at the Flying J in GA.

 

[kimber23ks]

hmmm, reading some of your trip schedules has me thinking it might just be worth it to leave Thursday morning, rather than Wednesday night ??

I know once DH gets on the road he will want to take advantage of the less traffic and is bound to go all night....then we will be stuck "trying" to get some rest once morning comes and that will be tough with the kids, who would have SLEPT all night !

Whaddya think ??