OT: Driving from NJ to Orlando and back

[yesrutgers01]

I cant remember the town but I want to say we would push just past South of the Boarder on the way down and always stayed at a Hampton inn. But anywhere down that way off of 95- you will see a Hampton Inn pretty much every 20 miles or so.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Too bad we don't still have the Cannonball Run thread from the Citrus Bowl game in 2012. I have an old note that says it took us 14 hours and about 10 minutes and we finished 2nd in the road rally by a few minutes to RU4Real and their crew, Since then, I've driven several times to Vero Beach and back to visit my dad, but I almost always do it in one shot (usually including a stop off to play a round of disc golf), so not much to say about towns to stop in.

As others have said, the one thing that's critical on the way down is leaving from NJ by 3-4 am to get through DC by 6-7 am - you just don't want to hit DC rush hour traffic (same thing on the way back, which is why you might want to stay somewhere closer to Richmond so that you can leave around 4 am and get through DC by 6 am). Enjoy.

traffic in the Atlanta area sucks too.

 

[yesrutgers01]

I think I have made the drive at least 5 times plus the trip to the Alabama Bowl. Didn't mind the drive when I had my big ole Toyota Sequoia. I even had an aftermarket drop down 15 inch screen for the rear seats to watch movies and since it was after market- movies would even play on the front console while driving so the passenger can watch it too.
Usually, we drove if were were going to have 4+ people going. I would try to get 14 hours in on day one and an easy finish the 2nd day so I wouldn't be exhausted when I got there.
One time on the way back- we hit traffic pretty much from DC until we hit NJ- that was a 16 hour jam and sucked like crazy. And I only had my two younger sons with me so I was behind the wheel the entire trip

 

[JMORC2003]

Without flaming, what are the reasons you guys drive down? 3 hour drives are my max - hell, we fly up to Boston and Syracuse, sometimes even Albany.

I've never done it, always flown. Assume it's price related, but when going down in the summer, flights are super cheap, so do you really save that much money? Or is it something else (prefer driving, etc.)?

Fair question... it's not so much the cost, between gas, probably have to fill up 3 times each way, meals, and a hotel each way, probably still looking at about a grand or close to it to drive.
I actually enjoy long car trips and my kids have fun passing through the states. We've only ever driven on vacation so we're used to packing the car with all the comforts of home, compared to just what fits in a suitcase.

 

[jaydogsmooth1]

Fair question... it's not so much that cost, between gas, probably have to fill up 3 times each way, meals, and a hotel each way, probably still looking at about a grand or close to it to drive.
I actually enjoy long car trips and my kids have fun passing through the states. We've only ever driven on vacation so we're used to packing the car with all the comforts of home, compared to just what fits in a suitcase.

gotcha
It's definitely cool when you pass through states and show the kids new surroundings !

 

[S_Janowski]

Driving down from NJ to Universal Orlando this summer so booking hotels for the way down and back. Splitting the drive 60/40 ish on the way to hopefully get settled in a early as possible so stopping in Florence, SC (9.5-10 hrs from NJ leaving approx 5-6 to go on day 2).

The way back I'm good to go more 50/50. Any recommendations on towns? Not looking for site seeing, just need a safe place, preferably not far off of Rt 95 so we can rest up and get right back on the road in the morning.

I just drove to Charleston from South Jersey (exit 4) last week and we left at 3:00am avoid Baltimore/DC traffic.

The timing was perfect as traffic approaching DC was just starting to
build around 5:00am but wasn’t that bad. Another 30/60 mins later I bet we would have been crawling in traffic.

Once we passed through DC towards Richmond the traffic heading towards DC (around 5:45/6:00) was awful.

I wouldn’t mess around with driving through the Baltimore/DC/Richmond area unless it’s late night/early morning.

 

[czxqa]

We've done the road trip to either Charleston or St. Pete area at least a dozen times or more in the last 20+ years to visit family. Can't do it in a single shot when you have young kids, so we got into the habit of making it a 2 day trip. We overnight in Lumberton NC every time.
Making it a two day trip lets us leave home late enough to miss the rush hour traffic in B'more/DC area and the whole trip is a lot more relaxed.

 

[Rhuarc]

We drove down last year for my daughter's dance comp so we had to lug all the $hit down. Every other time we have flown.

 

[RU848789]

traffic in the Atlanta area sucks too.

True but nobody driving to Orlando from NJ would ever go thru Atl...

 

[RU848789]

Without flaming, what are the reasons you guys drive down? 3 hour drives are my max - hell, we fly up to Boston and Syracuse, sometimes even Albany.

I've never done it, always flown. Assume it's price related, but when going down in the summer, flights are super cheap, so do you really save that much money? Or is it something else (prefer driving, etc.)?

When we go as a family to FL we fly and when I was working we flew due to time constraints. Since I retired and started playing a lot more disc golf, if I go alone I like driving as I get to play cool courses in states I might not visit otherwise plus I do really enjoy driving (my wife doesn't though). Has zero to do with cost.

 

[jaydogsmooth1]

When we go as a family to FL we fly and when I was working we flew due to time constraints. Since I retired and started playing a lot more disc golf, if I go alone I like driving as I get to play cool courses in states I might not visit otherwise plus I do really enjoy driving (my wife doesn't though). Has zero to do with cost.

Gotcha
Seeing different things is always a cool part about driving
It's just the actual driving aspect I don't like lol

 

[rutgersal]

Fayetville NC seems like a logical choice

Usually stop here

 

[Scarlet Haze]

Depending on where you live in NJ, I would take I-81 south instead of I-95. You connect with I-95 down near Charleston SC on the way to Orlando.. On google maps right now it is 15 minutes longer for me (I live in Warren, NJ) but the drive is so much more pleasant through the Blue Ridge mountains and you avoid a lot of traffic. If you go on a weekday, it is likely quicker since you don't go through all of the cities on 95

 

[mildone]

I hate driving

I *love* driving. It's my third favorite thing to do these days. First even, when there's no sheep or hookers and blow around.

 

[e5fdny]

I *love* driving.

I'm with @jaydogsmooth1

Have a regular chauffeur at work and usually one at home (Wife) too.

Both are great cooks btw. LOL