Driving down to save some money, and my car is new and paid off so might as well drive down with gas so low.
Anyways 18 hour drive.
Advice on best time to leave?
Best overnight rest point in north Florida/Georgia if needed?
Best regions around Miami for 3 star hotels? I'm seeing Boca and DeerfieldBeach as good options, is that true? Any better suburbs closer to Miami and same price?
Also what's 1 must see attraction in Miami ?
Only staying in Miami for 3 days. Then cruising to Mexico
:)
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.
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 ??
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
I hear cab fare is high down there too.
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
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.
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!
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.
Plenty of hotels to choose from.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The airliners smell like beer farts and taco meat. Probably the worst airlines I ever flew. Drunk gamblers and no service.
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