[goofyguy1958]

We will be driving to WDW in June for the first time - driving that is. Usually we fly, but this trip is going to be long (17 days) and we decided it would be much more cost effective to drive. My question is, has anyone driven from the Philadelphia, PA area and how long dooes it take? Also, any suggestions on hotels in the Savannah, GA area for a one night stay? We plan on driving to Savannah and stopping for the night then continuing on to WDW the next day. Thanks in advance for any help.

[maelstrom]

Hey there!! We have driven from New York on several occasions (not Philly, but close!) and it takes about 20 hours to get to WDW from here. That's making minimal stops and not having sit-down meals on the road. We like to stay in Santee, South Carolina overnight. I think it's a bit nicer than Savannah. The hotel we stay at is called Country Inn & Suites (not sure what exit, but you'll see it on the road sign for one of the Santee exits). I can't recommend a hotel in Savannah as it has been a long time since we've stopped there. Hope this helped somewhat.

[Dana]

My DBF and his DS are driving from Philadelphia to meet me and my DD on the 21st. He is leaving after dinner and going straight through letting his son sleep most of the drive. It takes 16 1/2 hours according to map quest from south philly where he lives. No advice on hotels however. Your best bet is to just stick to a chain you know.

[slist]

Originally Posted by maelstrom

Hey there!! We have driven from New York on several occasions (not Philly, but close!) and it takes about 20 hours to get to WDW from here. That's making minimal stops and not having sit-down meals on the road. We like to stay in Santee, South Carolina overnight. I think it's a bit nicer than Savannah. The hotel we stay at is called Country Inn & Suites (not sure what exit, but you'll see it on the road sign for one of the Santee exits). I can't recommend a hotel in Savannah as it has been a long time since we've stopped there. Hope this helped somewhat.

I agree we have driven several time from Delaware. Santee is a better exit it takes about 15-17 hours depending on what time of the day you are driving. Just watch out in Virginia many speed traps. We have started out around 3:30 in the morning and have driven straight through got to Disney around 8:00 in the evening. That was before we had our son. Now we usually fly.

[Soundgod]

Santee/Dillon area on 95. It's a little past half way. Major chains. Comfort/Ramada/Hampton. Hey, it's a clean safe bed. Even I don't waste money on deluxe when it isn't worth it.

[EmpressJenny]

Santee is the ONLY place to stop on the way down to FL as far as we are concerned. We have done the drive several times. Santee, SC is around mile marker 98. It's about halfway through the state. We like to stay at the Hampton Inn. Very safe and clean (and remarkably affordable). We're in the Poconos, but from Philly if you make good time it's about 9 hours.

[mwalter]

We always stay at the Best Western Bradbury Suites at Pooler, GA which is like a suburb of Savannah. It is very clean and comfortable with an indoor pool. Almost all the rooms have two double beds plus a pull out sofa bed, two TVs, mini fridge and microwave. Plus it is only 4-5 more hours until you get to Disney. That way you are not too tired to enjoy your first day there!

[Storm59]

Originally Posted by mwalter

Plus it is only 4-5 more hours until you get to Disney. That way you are not too tired to enjoy your first day there!

That's my big concern with driving down (from CT) Getting in at after the second day's 12 hour haul and being so exhausted it would end the day. Also, it would add 4 days travel time to our vacation, and I'd rather use those four days at Disney.

[hiner]

Originally Posted by Storm59

That's my big concern with driving down (from CT) Getting in at after the second day's 12 hour haul and being so exhausted it would end the day. Also, it would add 4 days travel time to our vacation, and I'd rather use those four days at Disney.

I agree with you totally. My DH wanted to drive down (also from Philly suburbs) and being it only took him and a group of friends 16 hours to get to Daytona, he figured we could both drive. No way I said, we would be totally exhausted with an 8 yo on his first WDW trip. Needless to say, we flew and will again. We only get so much time off from work, so driving is out of the question for now.

[CaribBeachNut]

We always drive from CT to WDW. That takes about 24 hours or so. 16 the first day to Santee, SC and then 8 the next day. Santee is the best place to stay.
Here is a great URL for I-95
http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm
It has gasoline, hotel, restaurant and construction info for the entire I-95 highway.
Explore it a little. I usually print out what I need and take it with me when I drive.

[DVC-JP]

In a few weeks I'm driving there for the first time since I was a kid. We live in Philly and I thought Savannah would be a good stopping point also. We are staying at a Days Inn for $58 and there is a Cracker Barrel resturant next door. I'll let you know how it is. We were also thinking of staying somewhere in VA for the return drive. Any suggestions from veteran drivers?

[EmpressJenny]

On the return drive it is safe to stay in Roanoke Rapids, NC. DONT STAY AT THE DAYS INN there though!!!!! Roanoke Rapids is about 10 miles south of the VA border. You couldn't pay me to stay in a hotel along 95 in VA.

[maelstrom]

DVC-JP and EmpressJenny: There is actually one decent hotel in Virginia along 95. It's called the Wingate Inn and it's on the exit after the downtown Fredericksburg exit. It's a very nice hotel catering mostly to business people, so the rooms are a bit bigger and come with a small fridge and a microwave. This is the only place we will stay in Virginia.

DO NOT stay in the Howard Johnson on the downtown Fredericksburg exit. Very, very strange hotel. Looks nice on the outside, but inside.. yikes!

[tigger]

This is a great bunch of info. I too will be a user of the info in this thread...

Thanks everyone!

[cinderbella]

Being that I am from South Carolina I'll put my two cents in where it is appropriate...

As for Savannah--dont stop there...it's not "safe" unless your going into the historic district downtown (which i assume your not)..i grew up about ten miles outside of SAV on the SC boarder so i know...
Hardeeville or the Hilton Head/Bluffton Exits 5 and 6 in SC are good.
Santee, SC is excellent..very safe community..Exits 98..all the hotels there are nice..and may i recommend Clark's Reaturant and HOtel (my best friend from colleges dad owns it)

Florence, SC mile markers 157-170 are all fine..this a just passed the SC boarder and you can probaly hike it a little farther (this is where i live)

as for savannah and all suburbs of savannah--enter at your own risk..yes it is just a hotel..but still...