I95? or I 81 and I95?

[amcnj]

When I was driving to FL the inland route wasn’t feasible for where I was starting from. As a result I used to take 95, leaving really early and passing DC by 5:30 am.

But there are discussions on some really long threads here (2000+ mile drive?) that concern driving to WDW, and some swore by the inland route.

 

[dvczerfs]

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)..

I’ve made the drive a few times. lol. It all depends where you live. I use to live in the Lehigh Valley, a few miles north of I78, just across the Nj, Pa boarder.
I used 78/81/26/95 all the time, it was faster for me. If the weather was bad in the mountains of Virginia, I used 78/81/66/17/95. The inland route, I would leave at 3am and by 6am, I’m in the mountains of Virginia. If I had to take 95 the way google takes me, I would drive into Philadelphia, down 95 through the busiest traffic corridor, through three major cities and after that I get to fight my way through Richmond. If you look at a map, draw a straight line north from Orlando, your in Ohio somewhere. There is nothing direct about 95.
95 follows the coast, a big south west bend down the east coast. Sure, I’ve sat in traffic on 81 but I’ve sat in a lot more traffic on 95.
BUT, it all depends where you live. Driving is hard to give advice, there is no simple easy way to drive to Orlando, I live just outside Orlando and it’s not easy. lol. We all drive differently. I drove Pa to Fl and back again in three days by myself. If I could get in flight refueling, I wouldn’t have to stop at all. Others can’t do that. Some drive 55 holding on to the wheel likes it’s going fall off, not comfortable on the road at all.
Drive the way your most comfortable driving. A wreck can happen anytime, any place. Run an App while your driving, WAZ, which ever you prefer, they will give you a heads up to go around the traffic congestion. Just remember, everyone else is driving around the wreck or jam so that route is going to get backed up also. I was in sales most of my adult life, I’ve driven almost 3 million miles in my life. I’m very comfortable driving. Now, I retired four years ago, moved to the Orlando area and I get tired driving to the airport and back. lol.

 

[Pluto777]

I’ve made the drive a few times. lol. It all depends where you live. I use to live in the Lehigh Valley, a few miles north of I78, just across the Nj, Pa boarder.
I used 78/81/26/95 all the time, it was faster for me. If the weather was bad in the mountains of Virginia, I used 78/81/66/17/95. The inland route, I would leave at 3am and by 6am, I’m in the mountains of Virginia. If I had to take 95 the way google takes me, I would drive into Philadelphia, down 95 through the busiest traffic corridor, through three major cities and after that I get to fight my way through Richmond. If you look at a map, draw a straight line north from Orlando, your in Ohio somewhere. There is nothing direct about 95.
95 follows the coast, a big south west bend down the east coast. Sure, I’ve sat in traffic on 81 but I’ve sat in a lot more traffic on 95.
BUT, it all depends where you live. Driving is hard to give advice, there is no simple easy way to drive to Orlando, I live just outside Orlando and it’s not easy. lol. We all drive differently. I drove Pa to Fl and back again in three days by myself. If I could get in flight refueling, I wouldn’t have to stop at all. Others can’t do that. Some drive 55 holding on to the wheel likes it’s going fall off, not comfortable on the road at all.
Drive the way your most comfortable driving. A wreck can happen anytime, any place. Run an App while your driving, WAZ, which ever you prefer, they will give you a heads up to go around the traffic congestion. Just remember, everyone else is driving around the wreck or jam so that route is going to get backed up also. I was in sales most of my adult life, I’ve driven almost 3 million miles in my life. I’m very comfortable driving. Now, I retired four years ago, moved to the Orlando area and I get tired driving to the airport and back. lol.

We'll be coming from NYC and leaving on a weekday around 11 AM..

 

[dvczerfs]

We'll be coming from NYC and leaving on a weekday around 11 AM..

I saved this, for some reason. lol My wife works for a company in Manhattan. If you take 78 west across New Jersey, it will take you about an hour or so to get where this chart starts. This chart times includes stops for gas and welcome centers to use the restroom. It also includes some drive through stops. For the most part, we always drove straight through with no sit down meals. I usually could out drive this chart but it will give you an idea how long and how many miles from point to point.
I would suggest when you are on I4, heading to Orlando, take exit 101a which is rt417. You stand a better chance making it to WDW then staying on I4 unless you’re hitting I4 before 4am. Take 417 all the way to the end, don’t get off the marked WDW exits. At the end of 417, drive through the toll both, keep going and the exit ramp is going to split, two lanes to I4 west toward Tampa and two lanes to the right to WDW. Take the two lanes to the right, it will drop you off on World Drive. It’s easier and faster than taking the two exits off 417, those exits take you through town full of stoplight’s, traffic and lunatics. lol.
When you get on to World Drive, stay to the right, don’t stop or slow down at the welcome to WDW sign, we’re not all on vacation, some people have to get to work. lol.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[Pluto777]

View attachment 895362

I saved this, for some reason. lol My wife works for a company in Manhattan. If you take 78 west across New Jersey, it will take you about an hour or so to get where this chart starts. This chart times includes stops for gas and welcome centers to use the restroom. It also includes some drive through stops. For the most part, we always drove straight through with no sit down meals. I usually could out drive this chart but it will give you an idea how long and how many miles from point to point.
I would suggest when you are on I4, heading to Orlando, take exit 101a which is rt417. You stand a better chance making it to WDW then staying on I4 unless you’re hitting I4 before 4am. Take 417 all the way to the end, don’t get off the marked WDW exits. At the end of 417, drive through the toll both, keep going and the exit ramp is going to split, two lanes to I4 west toward Tampa and two lanes to the right to WDW. Take the two lanes to the right, it will drop you off on World Drive. It’s easier and faster than taking the two exits off 417, those exits take you through town full of stoplight’s, traffic and lunatics. lol.
When you get on to World Drive, stay to the right, don’t stop or slow down at the welcome to WDW sign, we’re not all on vacation, some people have to get to work. lol.
Enjoy your trip!

Thanks SO MUCH! : ) The weird thing is that it looks so much longer than a straight line down i95..

 

[Stratman50th]

I would suggest when you are on I4, heading to Orlando, take exit 101a which is rt417. You stand a better chance making it to WDW then staying on I4 unless you’re hitting I4 before 4am. Take 417 all the way to the end, don’t get off the marked WDW exits. At the end of 417, drive through the toll both, keep going and the exit ramp is going to split, two lanes to I4 west toward Tampa and two lanes to the right to WDW. Take the two lanes to the right, it will drop you off on World Drive. It’s easier and faster than taking the two exits off 417, those exits take you through town full of stoplight’s, traffic and lunatics. lol.
When you get on to World Drive, stay to the right, don’t stop or slow down at the welcome to WDW sign, we’re not all on vacation, some people have to get to work. lol.
Enjoy your trip!

Ha! I always suggest 417 as well. If you folks want to break your brain we've been having a long discussion (probably way too long given the subject) on "To I-4, or not to I-4. That is the question".
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-4-or-i-95-407-528-417.3953571/

 

[dvczerfs]

Thanks SO MUCH! : ) The weird thing is that it looks so much longer than a straight line down i95..

It’s not weird at all. 95 is anything but a straight line and that straight line takes you through some of the most congested areas in the country. I’ve driven just about every way possible. Maybe it’s just my luck. I have friends that live down towards Philadelphia, I95 makes sense for them. They also leave early evening and do most of the driving at night.
The fastest way to get from point A to point B is a straight line don’t apply to driving. I’ve spent most my life behind a steering wheel.
Like I said before, go what way your comfortable with, your driving. I can give you one tip, if you tend to bend the speed limit laws, on occasion, not saying I do or anything, be careful in Virginia. It’s a trap. lol.

 

[dvczerfs]

Ha! I always suggest 417 as well. If you folks want to break your brain we've been having a long discussion (probably way too long given the subject) on "To I-4, or not to I-4. That is the question".
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-4-or-i-95-407-528-417.3953571/

Hahahahaha. I say that just about every day. Going to work, I usually take I4. Coming home, Westernway on the weekends. I4 during the week because it’s after 11 pm, unless it didn’t rain, if it didn’t rain they have I4 coned down to one lane. Nobody working, just coned down to one lane. So Westernway it is.
Unless it’s a full moon, then it’s Weaternway to Avalon. If it’s a full moon, raining and the third Tuesday of the month, I4 it is. ( people who don’t live here are reading this, thinking I’m kidding lol ) Everyday is an adventure. lol. You will also see things everyday you just never seen before. lol.
We always have that discussion when in comes to driving to Sanford airport, my daughter takes 417, it don’t matter what gps says. Me, I’ll take 4 into Orlando, through the city and onto 417 if it’s early in the morning on a weekend. It’s always a coin toss and once you commit to going one way, you say to yourself, crap, should have went the other way. lol.

 

[Stratman50th]

Hahahahaha. I say that just about every day. Going to work, I usually take I4. Coming home, Westernway on the weekends. I4 during the week because it’s after 11 pm, unless it didn’t rain, if it didn’t rain they have I4 coned down to one lane. Nobody working, just coned down to one lane. So Westernway it is.
Unless it’s a full moon, then it’s Weaternway to Avalon. If it’s a full moon, raining and the third Tuesday of the month, I4 it is. ( people who don’t live here are reading this, thinking I’m kidding lol ) Everyday is an adventure. lol. You will also see things everyday you just never seen before. lol.
We always have that discussion when in comes to driving to Sanford airport, my daughter takes 417, it don’t matter what gps says. Me, I’ll take 4 into Orlando, through the city and onto 417 if it’s early in the morning on a weekend. It’s always a coin toss and once you commit to going one way, you say to yourself, crap, should have went the other way. lol.

I forgot about the full moon part. Definitely plays into the situation!