Driving halfway points

[Robert Lee]

Hello - In June we are driving from Pennsylvania to Disney 2 adults and 2 kids.

What’s a good stay over city between South Carolina or Georgia? We would simply get a hotel and hit the road next day.

On return, we would be leaving Disney to come home and was wondering if anyone stopped anywhere special for a short day trip before home. We were thinking Myrtle Beach if we are not too burned out. Thanks all!

 

[3BratsToDisney]

Hello - In June we are driving from Pennsylvania to Disney 2 adults and 2 kids.

What’s a good stay over city between South Carolina or Georgia? We would simply get a hotel and hit the road next day.

On return, we would be leaving Disney to come home and was wondering if anyone stopped anywhere special for a short day trip before home. We were thinking Myrtle Beach if we are not too burned out. Thanks all!

we have done this drive for the last 6 years, we live on the border of NJ/PA and usually we stop in Walterboro, SC. One year we stopped in Sanatee SC, another year I think it was Pooler Ga? Our go to stop though seems to favor Walterboro. In Walterboro we have stayed at the Microtel, holiday inn, Hampton inn and once at the Days Inn - all these hotels were clean, and no issues except for the Days Inn, it was horrid. I don't recommend that one haha.

 

[Herdman]

It would leave you a longer 2nd day coming home, but we once stopped for a day in Savannah, GA on our way back. Lots of historic sights as well as a pretty cool restaurant/shops area down by the river.

 

[yensid67]

I have driven from PA to WDW MANY TIMES while working for the Mouse...assuming you will be driving I-95 to I-4...IF you could handle it and it may be a way for the kids(depending) on their ages, to sleep most of the way down is to leave 8pm and travel ALL NIGHT, stopping for breakfast in the AM. Once the kids were awake you should only have to drive a few hours, thus having them get restless ANYTIME THROUGH THE NIGHT! If you can't drive through the night, and want to get to WDW ASAP, I drive for 4 hours and stop gas up, grab a snack and stretch for no more than 30 minutes. For me that was enough to rejuvenate me and drive further. Every 4 hours would most likely wake the kids every few hours causing them to be groggy in the morning and maybe not to happy, even arriving at WDW. Depending on your car's mileage for a tank of gas, find out how far you can get on a tank of gas, figure out where that would put you and find a hotel there...that should put you about halfway at least. South Carolina/Georgia. On the way back, a kid friendly place I would stop at Myrtle Beach like you suggested. But someone else might know of what there is on the way back...the only thing I know of is South of the Border. The kids might like going to the top of the large hat tower and looking out...thinking about it that could be your halfway point down and back to stop and stay the night!? Have a great trip!

 

[Elfinko]

We'll be making this same trip in April from the Lehigh Valley. We plan on taking 81 down and avoiding 95 traffic nightmares and tolls. Half the time I run the route through google maps, 78 > 81 > 77> 95 is actually faster than all 95 time wise. Even when it's not faster, it's only about 30 minutes longer, which I can live with if it's not sitting in traffic jams through Philly/DC/Baltimore. The current plan is to drive 12 hours (stops, bathroom breaks built in) and stay in Savanah. Drive the rest of the way to Orlando the next day (4-5 hours).

Coming home...not even sure yet! Might have to split the trip more 50/50 because I doubt we'll get the early start going home vs the start going down.

 

[Kingtut]

We have driven down from Pittsburgh many times - on the way down we tend to stop at Columbia SC - It is a longer first day by about an hour . Going back we stop in Charlotte NC again about an hour longer. Our route is I-79 - US-19 - I-77 - I-26- I-95- I-4

 

[mapleleaf1389]

We have driven from Saratoga Springs NY many times. Our normal stop on the first day was in Savannah Ga right off I-95. It is about 4-5 hours from this point to Orlando and is a decent stop off. We also have been to Myrtle Beach as part of the trip many times as we have family that lives there. It's an ok stop, the trouble is that it takes a LOT off time off the highway to get there. Charleston might be the better stop as far as logistics go. Good luck and have a great trip

 

[LeighM]

We've driven from Virginia and we typically stop in Savannah or Brunswick, GA. I prefer Brunswick. If traffic goes in our favor, then we only have a 3 hour drive to WDW. We've also had to stop in Florence, SC on our return trip.

 

[John park hopper]

On your trip back Savanaha GA is not that far off I-95. If you hve never been to Savanha it is a beautiful southern city and has many fine resturants. If you are into antique furniture there is Jerrys down by the waterfront it is a huge place the wife and I can spend hours in there. I don't live far from Myrtle Beach, the beaches are nice but geared for tourists. The city of Charleston SC is really nice (been there many times) again alot of fine resturants and beautiful old southern homes you can tour or take a carriage ride alot of history, Charleston is aways off of I-95.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

DH's family loves to stop at Jekyll Island in Georgia. It would make for a long trip back to PA, but it may be worth a stop!

 

[graphite1326]

I drove over night from Pa once and crashed the first day in Orlando. So I would plan a stop halfway and make a reservation. The reason I am saying that is on our way back we could not find a place to stay and ended up sleeping at a rest stop.

What ever you do, do not stop at South of the Boarder. Just a warning. Those signs are hard to resist. (if they are still there. I haven't been that way in a while)