For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (III)

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by Bearadise

Greetings all,

This will be my first drive-though, and my first time driving to Walt Disney World. I've made the trip to Florida once before ~many~ years ago. Only that was to drive a moving truck to Melbourne for a friend and even then, we stopped half-way for an overnight in a hotel before finishing the trip.

But this time, except for food/fuel/potty breaks, it's all the way from start to finish. We're heading out of Western Massachusetts on Friday nightand with any luck, 20 1/2 hours later, we'll be pulling into our WDW resort Saturday night. We've got three drivers in the van, so one drives, one navigates and one "sleeps".

I'm taking the first driving shift. I'm a "dog watch" night worker so it'll work out fine. My wife works second shift and my daughter is a day worker. 11:00pm - 7:00am I'll drive,my wife will navigate and my daughter will sleep. My daughter will take over driving at 7:00am and I'll navigate while my wife sleeps. Once were out of the North East and it's "just" I-95 south, my wife will take over driving, my daughter will navigate and I'll sleep. The kids, we'll they'll do what kids do. Eat snacks, play electronic games, read, play road-trip games and sleep.

As for the route; Other than picking up I-95 and it's straight-shot south once one is below Petersburg, Virginia, friends, relatives and AAA all seem to have their own best route to get us through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and of course Washington D.C.

So for now, we're just trying to map out the best route for us Would anyone care to share their best route(s)? I'm certainly open for suggestions!

In any case, this should make for quite the first adventure and we're looking forward to it.

-

We are I-95 users (once we cross the DE Memorial Bridge) all the way, all the time. But it's based on our departure location.

All the best.

[BC1836]

Crusingkat completed five 2,000+ mile round-trip drives in 2012, a record. As such, this thread's all time records roster has been updated. See page one.

All the best.

[lsg1]

We drove from Staten island, ny yesterday. Followed Google navigation for the most part. Took new jersey turnpike down I95, and when we got to Maryland, it took us through the harbour tunnel (895) rather than our usual ft mchenry tunnel. It seemed like that was a better choice since there was no traffic and we were through there very quickly. We then just stayed on the capital beltway until out if Washington, 295 around Richmond, then 95 all the way to Savannah. We stayed over night at the springhill suites Savannah airport exit (104). Nice hotel and decent price. Gas prices were any where from 3.09-3.34. One stop we made was Ashland, va, and there were 2 shell stations right rear each other and gas buddy said 3.17- and there were 2 one was 3.17 and the other was 3.34....so you have to pay attention. So far Florence sc was the cheapest for gas. We left at 7am, made 2 gas/bathroom stops, one dinner stop at walterboro, sc cracker barrel and arrived at the hotel at 8pm. Watched downton Abbey at 9 and went to bed. On the road this morning at 7:40am. Beautiful morning but cold (38°) in Savannah.

[robin09]

Ok, needing some help here, but please dont laugh
W we make this drive twice a year, and somehow I mess up all the time... We are in Upstate NY, catskill mountains.... We are SUPPOSED to do -the 81-77-26-95-4 drive (at least I think thats how it goes)

BUT we manage to screw it up each time, and this past August, somehow we missed our turnoff and ended up in TENNESSEE.... rofl, dont ask, I have no idea but this is our usual....

SO, my question is... I know the numbers.. BUT Where do I get them? the 81 is easy enough... it's the 77 and 26 that screw me up... hopefully someone can guide us, if not drive along with us next month!

[NJRRK]

Originally Posted by robin09

Ok, needing some help here, but please dont laugh
W we make this drive twice a year, and somehow I mess up all the time... We are in Upstate NY, catskill mountains.... We are SUPPOSED to do -the 81-77-26-95-4 drive (at least I think thats how it goes)

BUT we manage to screw it up each time, and this past August, somehow we missed our turnoff and ended up in TENNESSEE.... rofl, dont ask, I have no idea but this is our usual....

SO, my question is... I know the numbers.. BUT Where do I get them? the 81 is easy enough... it's the 77 and 26 that screw me up... hopefully someone can guide us, if not drive along with us next month!

I don't know about the route, but you can pick me up in Scranton, where I78 & I81 meet or Harrisburg. I'm a great navigator LOL!

[goofyfigment]

Originally Posted by NJRRK

I don't know about the route, but you can pick me up in Scranton, where I78 & I81 meet or Harrisburg. I'm a great navigator LOL!

I live in Scranton and 78 is no where around here.

[dvczerfs]

Originally Posted by robin09

Ok, needing some help here, but please dont laugh
W we make this drive twice a year, and somehow I mess up all the time... We are in Upstate NY, catskill mountains.... We are SUPPOSED to do -the 81-77-26-95-4 drive (at least I think thats how it goes)

BUT we manage to screw it up each time, and this past August, somehow we missed our turnoff and ended up in TENNESSEE.... rofl, dont ask, I have no idea but this is our usual....

SO, my question is... I know the numbers.. BUT Where do I get them? the 81 is easy enough... it's the 77 and 26 that screw me up... hopefully someone can guide us, if not drive along with us next month!

you got the numbers correct. dont feel bad, you get talking or day dreaming and its not hard to drive past your exit. i77 is easy, they warn you about 2 miles before and the exchange is in the middle of the mountains, nothing around you. i26 is real easy, follow i77 south till you cant go no more and you will see the signage for i26. if you watch the mile markers coming down i77, when you hit 0, you are at i26.

[erbeaman]

We have driven twice before, but this is our first time towing a camper. Does anyone know of a good campground to stop at near southern TN, northern GA along I-75? Or hotels that are travel trailer friendly?

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Originally Posted by lsg1

We drove from Staten island, ny yesterday. Followed Google navigation for the most part. Took new jersey turnpike down I95, and when we got to Maryland, it took us through the harbour tunnel (895) rather than our usual ft mchenry tunnel. It seemed like that was a better choice since there was no traffic and we were through there very quickly. We then just stayed on the capital beltway until out if Washington, 295 around Richmond, then 95 all the way to Savannah. We stayed over night at the springhill suites Savannah airport exit (104). Nice hotel and decent price. Gas prices were any where from 3.09-3.34. One stop we made was Ashland, va, and there were 2 shell stations right rear each other and gas buddy said 3.17- and there were 2 one was 3.17 and the other was 3.34....so you have to pay attention. So far Florence sc was the cheapest for gas. We left at 7am, made 2 gas/bathroom stops, one dinner stop at walterboro, sc cracker barrel and arrived at the hotel at 8pm. Watched downton Abbey at 9 and went to bed. On the road this morning at 7:40am. Beautiful morning but cold (38°) in Savannah.

Great report! Question about the beltway... last April, we hit bumper to bumper traffic for about 15 miles on the beltway on Saturday AM about 9:00. It was totally unexpected and was aweful. Seemed to be related to construction. What was the beltway like for you?

We'll be hitting it about the same time (Saturday around 9AM) at the end of February and I'm wondering if we should plan an alt. route.

[NJRRK]

Originally Posted by goofyfigment

I live in Scranton and 78 is no where around here.

It was supposed to be three choices. I know Scranton has I380, I84 & I81 and no I78.

So either Scranton, or where I78 & I81 meet or Harrisburg.

[NJRRK]

Originally Posted by Calle&Jakesmom

Great report! Question about the beltway... last April, we hit bumper to bumper traffic for about 15 miles on the beltway on Saturday AM about 9:00. It was totally unexpected and was aweful. Seemed to be related to construction. What was the beltway like for you?

We'll be hitting it about the same time (Saturday around 9AM) at the end of February and I'm wondering if we should plan an alt. route.

On a Saturday I would just take 295 from Baltimore, through DC to I95 at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

[Salrx95]

I'd like to leave Connecticut around 1am on Friday early early morning, when we head down on 2/8. I was thinking DC is 5 hours from us and leaving at 1am would get us to DC at 6 and we should miss most of the DC traffic. I imagine it can't start that early, can it. We can then make into Virginia and stop for gas, breakfast, potty. Thoughts on this???

Leaving this early would also enable us to get to Jacksonville and not Savannah, which is what I was originally shooting for. My godfather lives in Jacksonville and we planned to meet up on the way home but now, I'm thinking we can get there Friday night.

I don't work Thursdays so the car will be loaded at a leisurely pace and I will go to sleep nice and early, enabling the early start.

Thanks.

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by Salrx95

I'd like to leave Connecticut around 1am on Friday early early morning, when we head down on 2/8. I was thinking DC is 5 hours from us and leaving at 1am would get us to DC at 6 and we should miss most of the DC traffic. I imagine it can't start that early, can it. We can then make into Virginia and stop for gas, breakfast, potty. Thoughts on this???

Thanks.

Your five-hour drive from home to DC (technically only a few hundred feet of it on the Wilson bridge) will include at least one gas stop/one bathroom stop. Considering that the traffic builds in southern MD, leave at least a half hour earlier...earlier still, if there's a weather issue. The traffic gets most severe at rush hour once you get into VA.

All the best.

[Salrx95]

Originally Posted by BC1836

Your five-hour drive from home to DC (technically only a few hundred feet of it on the Wilson bridge) will include at least one gas stop/one bathroom stop. Considering that the traffic builds in southern MD, leave at least a half hour earlier...earlier still, if there's a weather issue. The traffic gets most severe at rush hour once you get into VA.

All the best.

Another good reason I'm off Thursday is if there is a weather issue, we have plans to leave earlier, even if it means a second stay over. If that happens, we would be able to spend the extra time in Jacksonville with my godfather and his family, hardly an unfortunate detour.

So you think the traffic will be building 530-6am then. Interesting. Mapquest, though hardly exactly accurate, says it is 302 miles to Washington, DC from our front door so maybe we could do it in less time and I'm thinking close to one tank, though you are right, we will likely do a quick stop but if we stop, we may just do breakfast/snack in the car, assuming the kids are awake.

Thanks for the info.

[lsg1]

Originally Posted by Calle&Jakesmom

Great report! Question about the beltway... last April, we hit bumper to bumper traffic for about 15 miles on the beltway on Saturday AM about 9:00. It was totally unexpected and was aweful. Seemed to be related to construction. What was the beltway like for you?

We'll be hitting it about the same time (Saturday around 9AM) at the end of February and I'm wondering if we should plan an alt. route.

We did not hit any traffic at all...this was the first time driving down that we did not have at least one traffic tye-up... not even in Orlando in I4 leading to the world....it could be because we have always left on a Thursday and thus time we left on a Sunday and Monday was MLK day.