NFT: Driving from Gw Bridge to Miami Florida Tips/Advice

Just thought this would be a great place to ask this question since sooo many of you live in Florida/Born up here.


:)

Leave early in the morning, like 6 or 6:30.
Do not drive on a Monday or a Friday.
If you're up to driving about 820 miles the first day you can make it to Savannah exit #94. As you come down the ramp make a left at the light. In several hundred yards there are a bunch of hotels on your left that are all pretty decent.
That'll leave you about 450 miles to drive the second day.

My advice would be to avoid being anywhere near Washington DC between 10am and 3pm --the traffic could be nightmarish.

Also, that's a lot of driving the first day, probably 11 hours if all goes well. And all it takes is one tire-changer on the side of I-95 to monkey-wrench your whole schedule.

These days, Airfares are pretty cheap too. Did you check out Spirit Air from Atlantic City to the FLA airports ??

I'm trying to make it as far as possible without any stops!! Goal is to make it to Miami or even Daytona Beach the 1st shot

But my realistic backup is to stay somewhere around the area you mentioned. Thanks for that Info.

Anyone drive down In one shot?

Il be leaving on a Tuesday or weds

And I haven't looked into flights out of AC actually good advice.


I hear cab fare is high down there too.

The halfway point between NJ and So Fl is Florence, SC. There are lots of hotels as soon as you exit 95. Savannah is a nice city and worth spending a few hours there but it's a few hours past halfway. By the way, I just drove from No. NJ to Fort Lauderdale and it's about 1300 miles give or take. In terms of leaving, this time of year, weekend would be better - less trucks. I don't like driving at night, so I plan on 2 days of driving during the winter.

The big problem area is around Washington DC with traffic. If you can manage to avoid rush hour, you'll save time and again, try a weekend

in Boca which was right off the Fla Turnpike. Decent hotel at a decent price.

Spirit Air -- Atlantic City to Ft Lauderdale $73 Round trip.

You're going to pay that much for the motel in Savannah. You could rent a car at FLL Airport for a day or two and still be ahead of the game.

It's 2 people going myself included

they charges extra fees, so pack light ;)

about 5 years ago. Left at 11PM at night and got there about 6:30PM the next day. My god it was miserable, but extremely efficient time wise. We left that late so by the time it was rush hour the next morning we were already in south virginia past anywhere where there would be traffic. Didn't hit traffic anywhere.

GW Bridge before you attempt that horrible experience. Or better yet, take a flight and rent a car for $18/day in florida.

Newark to Orlando.

We started at 12pm and stopped in Myrtle Beach for the night after 13 hours. Got to Disney after 5 more hours.

The way back we stopped at Richmond VA for a night, but the area wasn't as nice as South Carolina!

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South of the Border. Don't worry you will see the signs from 50 miles out. its in South Carolina. about the half way point.

24 hours straight. Jersey to DC is the worst, try to avoid peak times. Driving at night when you can run with the semi's is best. They will know to slow down when there are cops around. Don't speed much in GA or FLA, no leniency for northeners. If you need to stop there are cheap hotels all through the south.

If you need a quick bite look for Cafe Risque. I think it's a French place but good, cheap grub. Enjoy the ride! A good wide mouth pee jug is never a bad idea too.

on Collins ave/Ocean Drive in Miami, where the action is!

Plenty of hotels to choose from.

A French Place? You're killing me...

DO NOT STOP IN FLORENCE, SC. Robberies galore! I have done this drive many times. Get into Georgia, then stop. I used to drive from northern CT to Florida, and we would leave at 12 midnight or 1 am to avoid traffic in DC. In NJ, you could probably leave at 3 am and get around DC before the major traffic flow.

during rush hour traffic. Between DC and Richmond it can get ugly. When I head down I usually stop in SC as the overnight rest stop. But if your looking to try to make it to Florida in one shot. See if you can get to St. Augustine, it's a nice town to spend the day in and walk around.

In comment 12803577 Nomad Crow on the Madison said:

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DO NOT STOP IN FLORENCE, SC. Robberies galore! I have done this drive many times. Get into Georgia, then stop. I used to drive from northern CT to Florida, and we would leave at 12 midnight or 1 am to avoid traffic in DC. In NJ, you could probably leave at 3 am and get around DC before the major traffic flow.

I've overnighted in Florence a couple times and never had an issue and havent heard of a robbery problem there before. But thanks for that tip I'll keep that in mind from now on.

In comment 12803408 BradInAlpineNJ said:

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I'm trying to make it as far as possible without any stops!! Goal is to make it to Miami or even Daytona Beach the 1st shot But my realistic backup is to stay somewhere around the area you mentioned. Thanks for that Info. Anyone drive down In one shot? Il be leaving on a Tuesday or weds

My brothers left Orlando in the morning and drive straight to New Jersey. Got in around 3am.

In comment 12803452 spike said:

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Newark to Orlando. We started at 12pm and stopped in Myrtle Beach for the night after 13 hours. Got to Disney after 5 more hours. The way back we stopped at Richmond VA for a night, but the area wasn't as nice as South Carolina!

Why would they so in Myrtle Beach? That's not even remotely on the way.

Granted, we live in between Baltimore and DC.

The first time we left after work on a Friday. Drove down to Rocky Mount, NC, then to Palm Coast, FL. The next time, we left at 7am and drove straight down to Myrtle Beach and spent a few days there. Then we drove to Daytona Beach, FL.

South Jersey to Cape Coral 5 or 6 times, never stopped overnight.

at least once a year. I do almost all the driving my wife helps a bit, but not enough to make it in one day.

Heading south isn't as bad as going north.

Usually leave early before 7. Take the turnpike then 95 the rest of the way. Traffic is generally heavy but moving. MD is the worst at that time but doable. Don't speed they have camera traps in MD.I know cause I got a summons in the mail. All of a sudden the speed limit drops 5 MPH and you're toast! By time you get to the beltway it's not bad and moving.
Usually stay over night in the middle of South Carolina. Manning or Santee. From there I still have about 8 hours to get home. So no sense pushing it.

My sister has a place in Hilton Head SC. We can make it there in one day. It's a great place to stay a day or two. Mostly families, lots of Golf Courses and Restaurants and a great beach. Not a lot of night life if that's what your thinking. For me all 100% better than Miami!

Heading North. I'm already in Central Florida (30 minutes west of Orlando. If I leave by 6AM I beat Orlando but hit Jacksonville traffic. So I leave by 5:30 and make our first stop exit 3 in Georgia. There's a Publix a mile East so we pit stop and pick up a sub for lunch. You won't have that problem if you leave normal AM time (7 - 8?)

You need to watch your timing from North of Richmond the rest of the way. 95 becomes a parking lot in Va. If you're good enough without staying someplace overnight. Hit DC after 7PM otherwise you have to get on 95 before 5AM. I usually stay in Fredericksburg (Hi Eric and Rob!) get up real early and beat the DC commuters (under an hour to DC). This year we left about 5:30. 70 MPH bumper to bumper don't go 65 'cause the guy behind you will be on your tail pushing all the way!

Gas...South Carolina is the cheapest state. Going North I can make it to SC. on my first tank. Then fill up just over the state line, Hardyville. Then again before I leave SC Exit 5 in Dillon. Murphy's abut a half mile east. That will get me to Va. and exit 104. Love's. NC is usually pretty expensive. (all relative to your needs).

Same stops only reverse going south. Gas in Miami is more than I pay here in Central Florida and a lot more than Jersey. I do know that around State Road 60 the gas prices aren't too bad, so make a stop there. Anything further south gets pricy especially coming from Jersey.

I'm in ST. Pete. Drive up to N.Y.C. every couple of years. How fast were you going over the speed limit in Maryland and how much was the ticket?

In comment 12803784 idinkido said:

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I'm in ST. Pete. Drive up to N.Y.C. every couple of years. How fast were you going over the speed limit in Maryland and how much was the ticket?

It was only 40 bucks, No points! Thought it might have been a scam but I looked into it. They were just looking for revenue. I was probably either going 68 or 73 cause I stay within 10 miles of the speed limit and use 'Cruz' control.

In comment 12803442 spike said:

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they charges extra fees, so pack light ;)

The airliners smell like beer farts and taco meat. Probably the worst airlines I ever flew. Drunk gamblers and no service.

will save 800 miles off your trip.

i just did this drive

my advice is leave at night ... you want to hit DC - Richmond area at night to avoid traffic ..
if you leave during the morning you will add 2 hours to get thru DC - Richmond because of traffic