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

[archdandy]

Hi guys! I'm thinking about making our first drive to WDW in either August or September. I used gas buddy and it told me my approx. price of gas should be around $280 for 2746 miles roundtrip. Whew! I'm actually pretty nervous about trying to plan this drive. We live in Ontario, Canada so google maps says the drive should take 21 hours. We plan to drive straight through and only stop if we really need to for sleep. Otherwise we will just nap in the car while the other drives. It's just DH and I. Do you guys ever feel like its hurting your car in the long run making such a long drive? It might sound silly but we just got a new car in September so I'm hesitant to put that many miles onto it.

 

[joedplumber]

For those that travel through Richmond VA do you take I-95 through it or I-295 around it? Just wondering what traffic is like in that area.

Thanks

 

[jwboucher]

For those that travel through Richmond VA do you take I-95 through it or I-295 around it? Just wondering what traffic is like in that area. Thanks

We always drive straight through and never had a problem. The northern part of VA is another story, there hasn't been a time we haven't gotten stuck in traffic.

 

[dvczerfs]

For those that travel through Richmond VA do you take I-95 through it or I-295 around it? Just wondering what traffic is like in that area. Thanks

Straight thru.

 

[ParrotBill]

Hi guys! I'm thinking about making our first drive to WDW in either August or September. I used gas buddy and it told me my approx. price of gas should be around $280 for 2746 miles roundtrip. Whew! I'm actually pretty nervous about trying to plan this drive. We live in Ontario, Canada so google maps says the drive should take 21 hours. We plan to drive straight through and only stop if we really need to for sleep. Otherwise we will just nap in the car while the other drives. It's just DH and I. Do you guys ever feel like its hurting your car in the long run making such a long drive? It might sound silly but we just got a new car in September so I'm hesitant to put that many miles onto it.

Not silly at all. Long distance driving is pretty easy on the wear and tear of the car, but it eats up tires, and it reduces the value of your car to put mileage on that is higher than average per year old that it is. Really depends on if you are concerned about trade-in/resale value and how much mileage you put on without the long trip.

 

[mjmyers10]

For those that travel through Richmond VA do you take I-95 through it or I-295 around it? Just wondering what traffic is like in that area. Thanks

I usually drive around because I feel there are more WaWa's to stop at. Might try to go straight through next time.

 

[wed100105]

We're leaving tomorrow morning around 9:15 (DD has eye doctor appointment) from Peoria, IL. I'm hoping we make it south of Atlanta. I'm a planner, and it's making me nervous to not have a hotel booked for tomorrow night. Any suggestions you have on where a good place to stop is, would be appreciated!

We picked up our rental car (GMC Yukon) last night, and packed it. We're just waiting to finish work, Girl Scouts, and the eye doctor appointment. It seems like time is standing still today!

 

[cruisingkat]

We're leaving tomorrow morning around 9:15 (DD has eye doctor appointment) from Peoria, IL. I'm hoping we make it south of Atlanta. I'm a planner, and it's making me nervous to not have a hotel booked for tomorrow night. Any suggestions you have on where a good place to stop is, would be appreciated!

We picked up our rental car (GMC Yukon) last night, and packed it. We're just waiting to finish work, Girl Scouts, and the eye doctor appointment. It seems like time is standing still today!

You should be able to make it past Atlanta. We live in the Chicago area and usually leave around 9:30 to 10am. We always make it past Atlanta. We have stopped in McDonough, GA and Forsyth, GA in the past. Both are about less than two hours past Atlanta. I do like getting past Atlanta as we go through Atlanta at night when traffic is lighter. We stop at Holiday Inn Express - hubby is a Priority Club member and their buffet breakfast is great.
Now we make it to Byron, GA (around Macon). But we only stop for gas and bathroom break.

 

[chepic]

Hi guys! I'm thinking about making our first drive to WDW in either August or September. I used gas buddy and it told me my approx. price of gas should be around $280 for 2746 miles roundtrip. Whew! I'm actually pretty nervous about trying to plan this drive. We live in Ontario, Canada so google maps says the drive should take 21 hours. We plan to drive straight through and only stop if we really need to for sleep. Otherwise we will just nap in the car while the other drives. It's just DH and I. Do you guys ever feel like its hurting your car in the long run making such a long drive? It might sound silly but we just got a new car in September so I'm hesitant to put that many miles onto it.

We have driven many times. We keep our cars until they literally rot under us so we don't worry about the drive. Just make certain to give the a car a good once over before we leave each time to avoid any issues for the drive.

Che

 

[dvczerfs]

I have driven many times between 1997 and 2012 and always drove from Frederick,MD via i95. We then started flying. However, this year we are going back to driving. I have never had an issue drivinv and normally drive more than DH on the trips.

On June 12 I am driving from Chambersburg to AKL with my niece 16 and nephew 15. We are leaving right after school at 3pm. I am thinking that it would be easier to go 81-77-26-95-4 then going to I95 in DC as we would hit Rockville around 4:30 and be in rush hour traffic.

Is this a more relaxing route, I drove it once in winter and didn't like it very much as it seems more isolated then 95.

What would you do? Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions.

im assuming chambersburg pa? I use 81/77 a lot during the non winter months. if you are in chamber. pa, 81/77 would be a better bet. a few post back, I posted the times and miles I do going this way.

 

[taychase1015]

Thank you DVCZERFS. I am in Pennsylvania and thought that was the better way to go.

 

[wed100105]

You should be able to make it past Atlanta. We live in the Chicago area and usually leave around 9:30 to 10am. We always make it past Atlanta. We have stopped in McDonough, GA and Forsyth, GA in the past. Both are about less than two hours past Atlanta. I do like getting past Atlanta as we go through Atlanta at night when traffic is lighter. We stop at Holiday Inn Express - hubby is a Priority Club member and their buffet breakfast is great.
Now we make it to Byron, GA (around Macon). But we only stop for gas and bathroom break.

Thank you! We're getting ready to load up the last minute items now.

 

[dvczerfs]

Thank you DVCZERFS. I am in Pennsylvania and thought that was the better way to go.

during the snowy times of year, ill use 81/66/17 to 95. you hit 95 just north of Richmond. it takes me just as long going that way as it does 81/77. the only problem which lucky, knock on wood,i have never sat in it but 17 can become a parking lot on the weekends. I stay away from the coast as long as I can in the summer and stay out of the mountains in the winter. both ways take me the same amount of time. just less chance of hitting traffic using 81/77. just don't hit charlotte nc at rush hour. it is a lot like Richmond at rush hour.
for me to go down 95, I have to hit the northeast ext. of the turnpike which is a parking lot, then onto the surekill expressway, another parking lot just to hit 95 in south philly. which if I were to go that way, I would be in Virginia going 81 before I even get near 95.

 

[mjmyers10]

during the snowy times of year, ill use 81/66/17 to 95. you hit 95 just north of Richmond. it takes me just as long going that way as it does 81/77. the only problem which lucky, knock on wood,i have never sat in it but 17 can become a parking lot on the weekends. I stay away from the coast as long as I can in the summer and stay out of the mountains in the winter. both ways take me the same amount of time. just less chance of hitting traffic using 81/77. just don't hit charlotte nc at rush hour. it is a lot like Richmond at rush hour. for me to go down 95, I have to hit the northeast ext. of the turnpike which is a parking lot, then onto the surekill expressway, another parking lot just to hit 95 in south philly. which if I were to go that way, I would be in Virginia going 81 before I even get near 95.

If you take the Blue Route from the NE extension, you pick up 95 just south of Philly.

 

[dvczerfs]

If you take the Blue Route from the NE extension, you pick up 95 just south of Philly.

Wanna race? Lol.
I can go that way too. Still have the turn pike and south of Philly isn't any better.
When dd dance she had a comp. in sc. Another dad asked me how was I going? I went 81/66/17/95. He went 95. He left an hour before me. I passed him just before the split at Richmond. I even stopped at the va welcoming center.
For you and the Philly burbs it is faster. The problem for us is getting to the Philly burbs. First they had landsdale ripped up along with the blue. Now they have miles ripped up on the n e just north of mid county.

 

[DSLRuser]

Just finished a 2,300 mile road trip in the Explorer Sport. Stl to Orlando and back.

Generally had the cruise set between 70 and 85 the entire way. All I have to say is, DONT SPEED IN GEORGIA on I75. Biggest trooper presence in all the states we drove through.

The drive home yesterday, I did all 1,025 miles myself in 15 hours and 15 minutes. Stopped only twice for gas. My wife and kids basically slept the entire way. So I just powered on. We left at 1pm central and got to our home at 4:15am central. I slept till noonish.

 

[dvczerfs]

Just finished a 2,300 mile road trip in the Explorer Sport. Stl to Orlando and back. Generally had the cruise set between 70 and 85 the entire way. All I have to say is, DONT SPEED IN GEORGIA on I75. Biggest trooper presence in all the states we drove through. The drive home yesterday, I did all 1,025 miles myself in 15 hours and 15 minutes. Stopped only twice for gas. My wife and kids basically slept the entire way. So I just powered on. We left at 1pm central and got to our home at 4:15am central. I slept till noonish.

Welcome back. Glad you had a great trip. I have gone almost 90 days with out driving to wdw. Lol. I'm starting to itch. Lol. After last years ordeal I was driving every 80 days.

 

[dvczerfs]

Here comes the snow!!!! Again !!!!!

 

[joedplumber]

Leaving Southwestern CT at 4:00am and plan on traveling to Mid-Georgia I-95 in 14 hours and 15 minutes (2 Drivers).

Is it doable or is it a pipe dream?

Hmmmmm...

 

[sharadoc]

Leaving Southwestern CT at 4:00am and plan on traveling to Mid-Georgia I-95 in 14 hours and 15 minutes (2 Drivers).

Is it doable or is it a pipe dream?

Hmmmmm...

On our first day to Florida from PA, we like to drive 12-14 hours. If we leave at 6 am, we will stop at 9. As long as you're well rested from the day before, it is very doable.