minnie mum
Unapologetic Disney Fan(atic)
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2011
We just got back from our latest drive to and from The World. From our little town in Ontario it was 3,027 miles (4,870 km) return. Not being masochists, we took it easy, doing each leg in 3 days. Here are a few of our observations:
Day 1: Ontario to Hagerstown via I 81: The only interesting occurance was at the border. The US Border guard looked at us like we were nuts to either be going to WDW at our age, or to be driving there, or both. We just laughed as he dubiously wished us a nice trip. Lots of rain, fog ,construction and heavy traffic around Wilkes-Barre and south, so were forced to keep to the speed limit.
Gas prices casually observed: Upstate NY: $3.55
Pennsylvania: $3.55
Day 2: Hagerstown to Orangeburg SC: Blasting beside the interstate caused a complete closure, with a detour at exit 132 around to exit 128. Traffic was backed up (for us) for 4 miles as 3 lanes merged into one. Lost a fair amount of time before we were on our way again. Traffic remained heavy with considerable truck traffic until we turned onto the I 77.
Gas prices: W. Va: $3.39
Va: $3.35
Rock Hill, SC: $3.15!!
Day 3: Orangeburg to Orlando: A truly ugly day. Intermittant periods of torrential rain with lightning and thunder all day. It felt like we were driving through a car wash. Fortunately everyone on the 95 either slowed way down (I think we averaged 45 mph during the rainy periods) or just pulled off the road. I've never been so scared in my life. Just as we reached the northern outskirts of Orlando (just a bit south of the St. John bridge) there was the inevitable accident in the left hand lane (not us!). At rush hour. On Friday. The worst possible combination. It took us 2 hours from this point to reach the WDW exit to our resort.
Gas Prices: Brunswick Ga: $3.29
Daytona Fl: $3.45
The ride home was a breeze by comparison.
Orlando to Florence SC: Didn't leave WDW til 11:00 and were at our hotel by 5:00pm. Traffic was light to moderate.
Gas Prices: WDW Hess: $3.28
Fl (I 95): $3.35
Ga: $3.22
SC: $3.23
Florence: $3.17!!
Day 2: Florence to McLean Va: Traffic was great until we hit the junction of the 292 and the 95 at the north end of the city. Then BAM: backed up and slow all the way to just south of Fredricksburg. But this was 6:30 pm on a Sunday night. (PS: managed to resist stopping at South of the Border, but DH just had to stop at JRs)
Gas Prices: NC: $3.32
Va $3.45
Day 3: McLean Va to home: a long 11 hour drive, but had perfect weather and light to moderate traffic all day. We took the beltway north, then cut over to the 81 for the remainder of the way to the border. Considerable truck traffic all the way, but not too many elephant races (this is how my daughter describes a group of big rigs trying to pass a couple of slower rigs). The only difficulty was driving for about 30 miles or so due west just as the sun was setting. Painful!!
All in all we enjoyed our trip, and will undoubtedly do it again in a year or so. SO much cheaper than flying. Especially since all our hotels were paid for using points that DH had accumulated this year. I really want to thank all the DISers on the 2,000+ thread for all of the great bits of info that they so generously pass along. Hope I can return the favour some day.
Day 1: Ontario to Hagerstown via I 81: The only interesting occurance was at the border. The US Border guard looked at us like we were nuts to either be going to WDW at our age, or to be driving there, or both. We just laughed as he dubiously wished us a nice trip. Lots of rain, fog ,construction and heavy traffic around Wilkes-Barre and south, so were forced to keep to the speed limit.
Gas prices casually observed: Upstate NY: $3.55
Pennsylvania: $3.55
Day 2: Hagerstown to Orangeburg SC: Blasting beside the interstate caused a complete closure, with a detour at exit 132 around to exit 128. Traffic was backed up (for us) for 4 miles as 3 lanes merged into one. Lost a fair amount of time before we were on our way again. Traffic remained heavy with considerable truck traffic until we turned onto the I 77.
Gas prices: W. Va: $3.39
Va: $3.35
Rock Hill, SC: $3.15!!
Day 3: Orangeburg to Orlando: A truly ugly day. Intermittant periods of torrential rain with lightning and thunder all day. It felt like we were driving through a car wash. Fortunately everyone on the 95 either slowed way down (I think we averaged 45 mph during the rainy periods) or just pulled off the road. I've never been so scared in my life. Just as we reached the northern outskirts of Orlando (just a bit south of the St. John bridge) there was the inevitable accident in the left hand lane (not us!). At rush hour. On Friday. The worst possible combination. It took us 2 hours from this point to reach the WDW exit to our resort.
Gas Prices: Brunswick Ga: $3.29
Daytona Fl: $3.45
The ride home was a breeze by comparison.
Orlando to Florence SC: Didn't leave WDW til 11:00 and were at our hotel by 5:00pm. Traffic was light to moderate.
Gas Prices: WDW Hess: $3.28
Fl (I 95): $3.35
Ga: $3.22
SC: $3.23
Florence: $3.17!!
Day 2: Florence to McLean Va: Traffic was great until we hit the junction of the 292 and the 95 at the north end of the city. Then BAM: backed up and slow all the way to just south of Fredricksburg. But this was 6:30 pm on a Sunday night. (PS: managed to resist stopping at South of the Border, but DH just had to stop at JRs)
Gas Prices: NC: $3.32
Va $3.45
Day 3: McLean Va to home: a long 11 hour drive, but had perfect weather and light to moderate traffic all day. We took the beltway north, then cut over to the 81 for the remainder of the way to the border. Considerable truck traffic all the way, but not too many elephant races (this is how my daughter describes a group of big rigs trying to pass a couple of slower rigs). The only difficulty was driving for about 30 miles or so due west just as the sun was setting. Painful!!
All in all we enjoyed our trip, and will undoubtedly do it again in a year or so. SO much cheaper than flying. Especially since all our hotels were paid for using points that DH had accumulated this year. I really want to thank all the DISers on the 2,000+ thread for all of the great bits of info that they so generously pass along. Hope I can return the favour some day.
)
Plus it looks like Sunday on 95 in Florida is going to be an absolute nightmare due to heavy rains and winds. I wish there was some other route we could take that is further inland!
). The kids love watching the temps rise as we get closer to FLA.
in my ds's world...
