I95? or I 81 and I95?

[Pluto777]

Anyone ever drive and have thoughts driving NYC for Orlando? I know I95 is the most direct, but as far as sightseeing, traffic, tolls, etc is it better to use I 81? Also, what time of day should we leave NYC? (I don't think we can leave before 10:30 AM)..

 

[Stratman50th]

We used to live in MD and 95 was really the only option to Florida for us. We were really too far east for 81.
That being said, 81 is a beautiful drive. We have used it going west for trips. 81 isn't magic though and does have its own issues. It's in the mountains (hills to you folks in the Rockies) and can get scary during weather, rain, snow and fog. Plus, there's lots and lots of truck traffic. So for the scenery, do 81. 95 is pretty boring.

 

[Ross Kratter]

95 is so much more direct, and you do pass through DC, and a few other nice towns. I wouldn’t go hundreds of miles out of the way just for better scenery. I have done the Long Island to and from Orlando drive more times than I care to admit (and will be doing it again next month); I have always taken 95.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We do the Baltimore to Orlando drive every year and always go 95. If you pick that route try not to be anywhere near DC during rush hour. It’s like a parking lot. We usually leave around 4am and get to Orlando around 8 or 9 pm after traffic and rest stops. I guess you’d add about 3 hours to that.

 

[Stratman50th]

We do the Baltimore to Orlando drive every year and always go 95. If you pick that route try not to be anywhere near DC during rush hour. It’s like a parking lot. We usually leave around 4am and get to Orlando around 8 or 9 pm after traffic and rest stops. I guess you’d add about 3 hours to that.

You should consider trying 301 south. We would take that to bypass all that traffic near DC and northern VA.
Admittedly there's backups due to lights where 301 and 5 split all the way through Waldorf depending on time of day. Then it can get slow in LaPlata but after that, clear sailing. Cross the Harry Nice bridge over the Potomac, then beautiful drive down 301/207 to Ruther Glenn. Best fuel prices in the area. That's where you get off on 95 and it's one exit north of Kings Dominion for reference.
So just to provide some perspective on how much we hate 95, I drive a 45' motorhome towing a vehicle, 5 axles. Cost $36 one way for the bridge toll. A price I'm willing to pay to bypass all the crap on 95 there.

 

[Leigh L]

We do the Baltimore to Orlando drive every year and always go 95. If you pick that route try not to be anywhere near DC during rush hour. It’s like a parking lot. We usually leave around 4am and get to Orlando around 8 or 9 pm after traffic and rest stops. I guess you’d add about 3 hours to that.

I'll second this. I live just west of DC and use these roads all the time.

I'd avoid 6-9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. if possible (you'll still encounter some traffic on I-495 if you're close to those hours but not nearly as bad).

For us, I-81 is theoretically an option since we live off I-66 going west (but it would be longer) and when we drive to FL, we use 95.

Yes, 81 way prettier, but if there is one accident, it can shut down the road for hours. I don't think it's worth going out of the way for it unless you had other stops and things you wanted to specifically see.

 

[hertamaniac]

Decades ago, we would make the trips from the Lehigh Valley to Orlando. I-95 was the preferred choice for our family but wouldn't intercept it until the outskirts of Maryland IIRC (I-78 to I-83). This little extra drive distance did save quite a bit of time bypassing northern Baltimore/D.C.

Plus, we got to see South of the Border on I-95.

 

[Stratman50th]

@disneydreamer1980
I should have said I lived in Sykesville/Eldersburg, MD which isn't too far from Baltimore. You didn't say if you lived in the city or the suburbs. In other words, I was heading south about the same area as you.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

@disneydreamer1980
I should have said I lived in Sykesville/Eldersburg, MD which isn't too far from Baltimore. You didn't say if you lived in the city or the suburbs. In other words, I was heading south about the same area as you.

Fellow Marylander! We are in the Suburbs, Baltimore county.

 

[Pluto777]

So based on the above, if we leave midtown Manhattan and reach the tunnel to NJ by 11 AM, will we get stuck in the DC traffic? If so, how do we get to 301 (NY-Fla)? do we take 197 near Montpelier? Thnx!

 

[Leigh L]

So based on the above, if we leave midtown Manhattan and reach the tunnel to NJ by 11 AM, will we get stuck in the DC traffic? If so, how do we get to 301 (NY-Fla)? do we take 197 near Montpelier? Thnx!

What day of the week are you leaving? If you're leaving on a weekday and taking the I-495 Beltway/I-95 that sounds like it'll put you smack in the middle of rush hour in DC.

The MD route sounds like a great option! I might check that one out on our regular NY trips. We usually route north through PA if leaving on a Friday afternoon because 495 literally is a parking lot. Thanks @Stratman50th

Another way I used to go coming from Westchester to Lorton VA every month was 295 to Route 1. Where I stayed was near an exit for 95 (I think I caught 295 in MD somewhere, but I couldn't speak as to current traffic conditions or the experience anymore since it's been 15+ years.

 

[Mikey15]

I’m kind of surprised to see the jog over to 81->77->26->95 only adds about the same hour (or less based on right-now traffic) for NYC that it adds for us from Canada (via NNY). Even though it’s the longer drive, I get being willing to do that for a nicer route.

As for things to see, 81 does take you near or past Gettysburg, Virginia caverns / Skyline Drive, a really pretty mountain pass with nice vistas, then Charlotte and back to the coastal plain.

 

[Stratman50th]

Fellow Marylander! We are in the Suburbs, Baltimore county.

Actually, I'm a Floridian now. Have been for almost 8 years but still run the north south on occasion. I haven't been up since they built the new bridge over the Potomac. Heard it was nice. Anything would be better than the old one. Just two lanes. I was always worried about clacking mirrors with a semi!

So for those asking, we lived just off of 70 west of Baltimore. If you're coming down 95-295 get off on 70 westbound. Take 97 towards Annapolis. here's where you check your traffic/road app. as you'll need to make a call related to traffic. Check 95/495 to Route 5 south. If it's relatively clear take that. Exit on 5 south. Take that to the 301/5 merge and that starts where I provided instructions above.
If 495/95 is bad continue towards Annapolis and get off on 50 west. Take that to 301 south. South to the merge and directions same as above.
If you want more detailed info, feel free to pm me and ask whatever.
Don

 

[AaronB]

Take this with a grain of salt because we did this back in the 90's, so digging into the memory banks on this one. We drove down to WDW a couple times, we didn't live in NYC though, we were up in Orange County, NY. We did 81 down into Virginia, and then I think it was taking 64 to link back up again with 95 near Richmond. The idea being we skipped around Philly, Baltimore, and DC on 95. I don't remember specifically when we left, but it was in early evening and we had 3 people who rotated driving, so we did it in one go (somewhere between 20-24 hours total driving I think). As others have said, scenery is nicer on 81, but depending on when you are planning this trip 81 is risky in the winter months because of being in the hills through PA and Virginia.

 

[Pluto777]

..

 

[jimmymc]

I-81 could be useful to just get around DC, but if you leave NYC early enough, it won't be an issue. That's the only place on 95 where I think it's worth detouring just for traffic.

 

[Belle1962]

I just drove 81 to 75 from MD to GA. There were 2 construction zones on 81 southbound around Roanoke ish if I remember. Then going thru Knoxville (40) two accidents.

 

[Shannon G]

I haven’t done the drive to wdw, but did drive from CT to Charleston about 7 - 8 years ago, and took I84 to Scranton, PA to 81, to 74 (I think) through Charlotte, NC, to 26, which intersects with 95 in SC. We took a couple of days to do some sightseeing on the way, but our total hours actually driving were about an hour less than a friend who drove (starting overnight to avoid traffic) from the same general area in CT to Myrtle Beach via 95 the same weekend. So we spent less time driving, even though we went further south. And it was a much prettier drive.

That said, I wouldn’t take that route in the winter, since it involves driving through a lot of mountainous areas in PA, VA, & NC.

 

[Pluto777]

I haven’t done the drive to wdw, but did drive from CT to Charleston about 7 - 8 years ago, and took I84 to Scranton, PA to 81, to 74 (I think) through Charlotte, NC, to 26, which intersects with 95 in SC. We took a couple of days to do some sightseeing on the way, but our total hours actually driving were about an hour less than a friend who drove (starting overnight to avoid traffic) from the same general area in CT to Myrtle Beach via 95 the same weekend. So we spent less time driving, even though we went further south. And it was a much prettier drive.

That said, I wouldn’t take that route in the winter, since it involves driving through a lot of mountainous areas in PA, VA, & NC.

When would you all say the "rush hour" is going around DC so we can try to avoid? 4PM -7PM? Thanks!

 

[eandt]

Anyone ever drive and have thoughts driving NYC for Orlando? I know I95 is the most direct, but as far as sightseeing, traffic, tolls, etc is it better to use I 81? Also, what time of day should we leave NYC? (I don't think we can leave before 10:30 AM)..

We have driven from west central PA multiple times a year for 30 years … rule of thumb for us is nice weather = 81, bad weather = 95. We are able to avoid DC traffic both routes I will say that 81 over the past few years has seen an increase in traffic as I believe more folks have discovered this way to get away from the I95 craziness. Our drive either way is between 15-16 hours but only includes fuel and restroom stops (3-4) plus a quick to go meal. As we have gotten older we break the drive down into 2 days getting to just south of Savannah on day one and finishing up refreshed the next day.