Driving from CT to FL.

[htfdwlfpack]

If and this is a BIG IF.
If i go to florida in September i will be going with my sister. She is retired and dont think she will be working then either. lets assume she wont be for this :0

So i just mapquested from where i live in CT to Orlando Florida and is 19 hours and 38 mins . I know i have NO probelm driving almost 8 hours straight just myself. So with us getting 7 hours in each for driving (total 14) where that might put us? Or is there a program online that can help with this.? Im assuming mapquest has you driving 60 MPH too.(as the times they have given for trips in ct have been much shorter.)

Or we can go another way lol. Wheres a good safe place to stop? What id ultimately like to do is get into orlando around 9AM but thats just me dreaming LOL, so we might end up there at night

 

[AJScooch]

We drove down this past August from NY. We stopped in Florence, SC at a Holiday Inn Express. Right off of 95. Really nice place. Got to Disney around 3 the next day.

 

[htfdwlfpack]

Might i ask what time you left NY.

And ty for the response so quickly

 

[Mikester71]

Drive down from Canada (an hour north of Detroit, MI) and it takes us anywhere from 20-22 hours total. My wife and I both take turns driving and we usually try to make it to Adel or Valdosta, GA for the night (about 16 hours of driving the first day). I realize we are coming down the I-75 and you won't be, but just getting an hour or so from the Florida border leaves us just over a 3-4 hour drive the next morning. We usually hit the road around 8-9am and usually pull into Pop Century around 1pm, and that is stopping for gas and to get our FREE Florida orange juice at the first Florida Welcome Center! :slurp:

 

[htfdwlfpack]

Free OJ? Ill remember that

 

[Mikester71]

Too bad it is just a little dixie cup's worth! :ROFLOL:Oh yeah...you can get grapefruit juice instead of OJ too!

 

[Disney Dawg88]

If and this is a BIG IF.
If i go to florida in September i will be going with my sister. She is retired and dont think she will be working then either. lets assume she wont be for this :0

So i just mapquested from where i live in CT to Orlando Florida and is 19 hours and 38 mins . I know i have NO probelm driving almost 8 hours straight just myself. So with us getting 7 hours in each for driving (total 14) where that might put us? Or is there a program online that can help with this.? Im assuming mapquest has you driving 60 MPH too.(as the times they have given for trips in ct have been much shorter.)

Or we can go another way lol. Wheres a good safe place to stop? What id ultimately like to do is get into orlando around 9AM but thats just me dreaming LOL, so we might end up there at night

I'm assuming that you guys are driving down 95 and are going to drive 14-15 hours, I believe that should put you towards southern South Carolina. The only area that I'm familiar with on that part of the state is exit #8 which is Highway 278 which leads to Hilton Head. I haven't been there in a couple of years but I know that there's a hospital on that exit and when I was there last they were building several hotels and restaurants there and on exit # 5 (which would be the one after exit 8 for you as you're heading south). This is the exit/main road that leads to Hilton Head which is a beach/resort island. If you can I really would try to make it to this exit because there's not much between Florence (1st big town/city in SC on 95) until you hit this area. The next morning you can drive into Savannah (on the way to Orlando) for breakfast. If you have any other questions just send me a PM. Hope this helps, have a safe drive!

 

[htfdwlfpack]

Thanks guys keep em coming. Its not even set in stone but i bet you i should be able to convince my sister to fly from CA to here and drive with me after she visits family for a day or two

And even a dixie cup of OJ will do. I dont buy it but once every 6 months or so but when i do that half gallon is gone in a day lol

 

[Disney05]

My wife has been trying to get me to drive to WDW for a long time. I just can't get myself to do it. It's so much easier to fly from MacArthur. It's a 2hr flight. I'm sure it would cost less to drive. Maybe I'll give in one day.

 

[Mr Wizard]

I am only familliar with the drive from MD south but I know it well because I have done it about 50 times in the last 30 years. And one place you could have trouble is on 95 aproaching 695 ( The Baltimore Beltway ) at either morning or evening rush hour. And your GPS or maps could be a little off because of the changes that are being made to help traffic ( that haven't worked yet ). If you find things are slowing as you approach 695 you have several options. Stay straight on 95, take the beltway west or take the beltway east. The beltway east will brobably be your best bet taking you over the Key Bridge. Then stay on 695 to 295 south and take that. Because 95 thru the lower part of MD really dissapears and 495 ( The Washington DC Beltway ) takes its place. This is a less direct route since it goes around DC. 295 goes straight thru DC and brings you out at the base of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into VA. From there on there are only two more beltways in the route. If it's rush hour use the beltways, if not stay on that bee line run to The Sunshine State and head for that free OJ. And it is manditory ( well, at least it is in our car ) that you get a copy of the song Tourist Trap by Rev Billy C Wirtz and play it as you cross the FL state line. Enjoy the ride.
And as far as a place to stay for the night pick up a flyer for motel deals at a rest stop. There are some great coupons with some good prices. I look for the ones listed as newley renovated and haven't been let down yet.

 

[The Mom]

Just a word of advice - do NOT take I-295 or 9A around Jacksonville. Even in rush hour, with heavy traffic, it's still faster to stay on I-95! The only exception would be if either the Fuller Warren bridge is blocked, or there is a problem at the I-10/I-95 interchange.

 

[splashmtnfan]

We drove from CT to Disney in 2008. We left at 5:30am and drove to Fayetteville, NC for the night. It took us about 13 hrs or so. We have 2 young children and stopped for potty breaks but not an excessive amount. We made it through NYC fairly easily as it was a Sunday morning (and it was the day the Pope was at Yankee Stadium). We made it thought Baltimore ( and it was a game day between the Yankees and Baltimore) without any issues. Around DC was fine too. We ran into very heavy rain in VA. There were tornado warnings being issued and one actually touched down in the area we had already driven through. The rain slowed us. But that being said we thought we did pretty good. We stayed in Fayetteville and it was a nice area, nice hotel. A little too far off the highway so next time we drive that is out. From there we went to Savannah, GA. We made great time from NC and arrived just before lunch. We spent the day sight seeing. From there the next day we made great time to Downtown Disney. We did exactly as the other poster mentioned....we drove right through on 95, the traffic was heavy but moved just fine. We were there eating lunch at Earl of Sandwich around 1pm if I remember correctly. If you leave during the week you will have to think about rush hour traffic in all the big cities you will be driving through....from NYC, Baltimore, DC...even into VA. We drove home on a Friday that trip and when we hit NJ it was a nightmare. We will never do that again. We were actually going to drive this past trip in Dec 2010 but we got a good deal on flights and decided to fly instead. With all the new security in place and the hassle of trying to get the 4 of us...remember 2 young children...through security, we will drive next time!! Have a good trip!!!

 

[Zummi Gummi]

You can probably make it as far as Savannah that first day. That'll put you 4-5 hours from WDW.

Savannah is a lovely city, and a nice place to spend the night.

 

[buseegal]

having driven from Pa, allow extra time around Baltimore and DC. took us over an hour around DC both ways this summer, not rush hour either way. if AAA member, get a trip tec,strip map, gives you an idea of how many miles and where to stop. at mine, you have to preorder but is free with membership.

 

[disneyfan56]

We have driven from southern NJ to Disney many, many times.

Word of advice is that getting around in Jersey any time except sunday morning and late evenings can be rough.

Depending on the day of the week and the time you plan to be going through the Jersey/Baltimore/Washington area, traffic can be brutal.

We have taken Rt 301 for the past 5 years and love that calm drive. We get of 301 right after the Delaware bridge(actually Rt 13 to 301) then we pick up 95 again just below Richmond. Just an idea.

We used to leave about 3am and drive to Brunswick GA. From there it's a 3 hour trip to Disney the next morning.

 

[WDW_Emily]

We drive from Springfield, MA every time we go(About a half hour from Hartford). We leave normally around 4:00am and stop between 6-7pm, so roughly 15 hours on the road with stops for food/bathroom. This normally gets us right past South of the Boarder in SC. The farthest we have ever gotten on the first day was right after GA and thats if we hit no traffic and don't stop often..

 

[htfdwlfpack]

This is all GREAT advice, and gives me a good idea of what to look forward too.

I have not flown since 2003 and am trying not to, the older i get the more the thought of flying scares me a bit lol.

Keep the advice coming, Ill know where and when to find it if the time is right.

Thanks for being so helpful

 

[WDW_Emily]

This is all GREAT advice, and gives me a good idea of what to look forward too.

I have not flown since 2003 and am trying not to, the older i get the more the thought of flying scares me a bit lol.

Keep the advice coming, Ill know where and when to find it if the time is right.

Thanks for being so helpful

your very welcome!

We used to fly back in the 90s but my mom hated it! Then September 11th happened and me and my mom weren't getting on a plane unless we had to. So we have tons of driving experience now

My next trip though is with 3 of my college friends and we'll be taking a plane:lookaroun

 

[htfdwlfpack]

Well if i dont find a job here in CT ill be moving to CA to be with family. So i maybe flying anyways come September.

Im trying to make my way to live in Florida but its taking some twists and turns to get there lol

 

[brisem]

We drive down every year. You can figure it'll take you about 6 hrs to get to DC If you go 14 hrs you'll end up in Florence SC area. Which would give you about 7 hrs the next day.