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

[ThreeKMom]

We are leaving our home Saturday night around 5:00 and driving straight through. We did the same thing in August of 2011 and arrived at the world around 10:30 am the next day, it really wasn't a bad drive at all.

Is there any construction that we should be aware of or try to avoid?

Thanks for any tips or advice!

[amcnj]

Cruise control can have its advantages, aside from helping gas mileage. I know sometimes after driving many hours I get a pain in my leg and using the cruise control gives me some time to move my leg position to alleviate it.

[nono]

Originally Posted by ThreeKMom

We are leaving our home Saturday night around 5:00 and driving straight through. We did the same thing in August of 2011 and arrived at the world around 10:30 am the next day, it really wasn't a bad drive at all.

Is there any construction that we should be aware of or try to avoid?

Thanks for any tips or advice!

Looks like Jacksonville has some overnight construction.

[cruisingkat]

If you have a smart phone, you can find out about traffic incidents from
http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic/
We got stuck in a traffic tie-up which wasn't showing up on our GPS traffic alert. I started searching on my browser to see if I could find out what the problem was and found this website - it is updated every 5 minutes and gives when the problem was reported and the status (lanes closed, road clear, etc). There is also a link for FDOT construction info.
You do have to know what county or area you are in(several counties form a troop area), but you can get a good guess from the map (just click on the map where you approximately are). Thanks to this website, we have been able to detour to avoid the problems 2 different times since I found it. One time we weren't able to avoid the problem as it occured at the next exit on I75 but at least we knew what the problem was.

[DSLRuser]

Originally Posted by Indy Denise

Three years ago on our way to Orlando we hit a heavy downpour just as we entered Florida.

.... An accident..a bad one...one mini van was upside down, sitting on it's roof. The other vehicle was down in a ditch. ....and thrown all over the highway were a child's stuffed animals along with other belongings.

.

that stretch of the highway, just after I-10 merges is the worst, most dangerous highway i have ever been on.

People are in their last few hours of a very long drive, they are tired and want to get the drive over with. Everyone drives 95+. If you dont, you get run over.

Ad to that the rain downpoors, fog, smoke from fires, it is crazy. 2 years ago there was a 100+ car pile up because of fire smoke. people just kept driving at ludicrous speeds into the smoke.

you were smart to pull over.

And georgia is the one state I only do 5+ over the limit. cops are everywhere and very strict.

[Indy Denise]

Here is hoping that any Disers traveling today through Georgia (and the South ) are safe and sound. :


Some scarey stuff out there...

[your friend]

I know this has probably been asked before but I having no luck with searches but is there an alternate route to Orlando coming down 95?

[sharadoc]

Originally Posted by your friend

I know this has probably been asked before but I having no luck with searches but is there an alternate route to Orlando coming down 95?

Can you explain what you mean? Alternate from where? What do you want to avoid?

When traveling down 95, you exit onto I-4 to go to Disney. There is an alternate of 417 at Sanford to Disney.

If you tell us what you need I'm sure someone here can help you.

[your friend]

I want to avoid Jacksonville.

[justakrazymom]

Joining back in! Making our 3rd round trip ( about 2600 miles) in September!! Been debating between driving and flying but driving is going to win out!

[your friend]

Originally Posted by sharadoc

Can you explain what you mean? Alternate from where? What do you want to avoid?

When traveling down 95, you exit onto I-4 to go to Disney. There is an alternate of 417 at Sanford to Disney.

If you tell us what you need I'm sure someone here can help you.

I want to aviod Jacksonville

[sharadoc]

Originally Posted by your friend

I want to aviod Jacksonville

You can use 295 around Jacksonville. It's a pretty new road and very nice. It takes a little longer but completely avoids all of the main freeway.

[sharadoc]

Originally Posted by justakrazymom

Joining back in! Making our 3rd round trip ( about 2600 miles) in September!! Been debating between driving and flying but driving is going to win out!

Wow, seems like you just came back from your last trip.

[gotdbltrbl]

Originally Posted by stevil73

Looking for some tips from all the experienced drivers from Southern NH or MA. Family of 5 (3 preschoolers) planning to drive on Easter weekend. The plan is to leave southern NH on Saturday, March 30 around 6:30pm, hoping to get alot of the drive in while the kids sleep. Since we are driving at night, I was planning on this route: 495/MA Pike/84/684/Tappan Zee/GS Pkwy/NJ Tpke/95. Plan on stopping somewhere in the Carolinas, maybe GA if everything is going ok, then onto WDW the next morning. Since its a holiday weekend, any chance of hitting any holiday traffic? Does this route seem reasonable? Thanks

I was wondering the same thing. We are coming from Maine and taking the same route. Leaving on a Thursday night, trying to get through past Maryland by morning. Staying overnight in GA, getting into Orlando on Saturday. Is there a better route? Or is this the one to take when driving through the night? Thanks!

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by gotdbltrbl

I was wondering the same thing. We are coming from Maine and taking the same route. Leaving on a Thursday night, trying to get through past Maryland by morning. Staying overnight in GA, getting into Orlando on Saturday. Is there a better route? Or is this the one to take when driving through the night? Thanks!

If possible, try and get through the southern MD/DC/northern VA area by 6 a.m., if indeed you are traveling during the work week.

All the best.