Driving from New York

How long will it take to drive from New York to Orlando. We thought we'd try this, rather than flying down. We are prepared to take a few days - stopping along the way.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks...;)

A loopy friend of mine once drove his family from their home in 78th Street, Brooklyn to Gaylord Palms in Orlando. He told me that his Driving Time (excluding all stops) was just over 18 hours. Although he shared the driving with his wife, they agreed that they would not want to do that again.

Mo Green did this, going the opposite way though (she was driving up to joint the QE2 in New York, lucky thing). She did trip reports for the sections of the journey and it was pretty interesting. Go and check them out on the trip reports board. She did several stops to break up the journey and take in the east coast.

Carolyn

If it is any help, my American friends did it this way. From Brooklyn, they went on I-78 West into New Jersey and followed the interstate into Pennsylvania as far as Harrisburg, where they stayed overnight. Next day was Sunday and they started early and took I-83 South to Baltimore, joined I-95 South that took them through Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina and into South Carolina. Here they stopped for a couple of days at Myrtle Beach before continuing on I-95 South into Georgia and then Florida as far as Daytona Beach; here they found I-4 West and followed it into Orlando.

Thanks for the info - We would hope to find a few interesting places to stay at on the way.
We just thought it would make a change to flying, as we'll be in the States for about three weeks...

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by feathersonline
How long will it take to drive from New York to Orlando. We thought we'd try this, rather than flying down. We are prepared to take a few days - stopping along the way.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks...;)
[/quote]

We drive from Mass...and it takes about 22 hours driving time.....we stop overnight on the way down.....

Most of the trip is really easy.....

Thanks Chrissie

Any tips or good places to stop on the way?

Please email or DM if you'd prefer.

Thanks

[website link edited]

All the info you'll ever need......[msnsmile2]

I'll DM you it incase anyone finds something in the link that can't be used here......

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by feathersonline
How long will it take to drive from New York to Orlando. We thought we'd try this, rather than flying down. We are prepared to take a few days - stopping along the way.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks...;)
[/quote]

As Carolyn has already mentioned we did the journey but it was actually drive down/fly back.

It was 1500 miles from New York to Ronda West on the Gulf Coast with several diversions on the way. Can thoroughly recommend it. You will find my trip reports covering the journey from New York to Florida on the following links:-

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums...rk-Florida-QE2

Have fun planning it.

We drive all the time, twice a year, from Connecticut to Florida. Takes a good two days of driving. We ususally stop in either North Carolina or South Carolina overnight. Not a bad drive once you get onto I-95.

Thanks Chrissie & Maureen

Looks like we've got a few hours of planning ahead of us now!!!

Perhaps it will be easier to fly after all...[msnwink]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by feathersonline
Any tips or good places to stop on the way?
Thanks
[/quote]

You can ususally do it with 2 overnight stops. Myrtle beach in South Carolina is a good choice for the second stop while driving from NY to Orlando in late spring or summer. The I-95 passes within 25 miles of the beach and it is an easy diversion.

I wasn't too keen on the idea when Helen first mentioned it, out of the blue, but now I'm getting quite excited about the prospect of exploring new places on our way to Florida.

Thanks everyone for all your ideas so far...:D

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by feathersonline
I wasn't too keen on the idea when Helen first mentioned it, out of the blue, but now I'm getting quite excited about the prospect of exploring new places on our way to Florida.

Thanks everyone for all your ideas so far...:D
[/quote]

This sounds like a lot of fun, I love to see all the different places in the US. Ray loves driving so I get to look at all the scernery as we drive. We haven't done this route yet but it is one we would consider. We had a couple of guests from near NY travel down by car and they thought nothing of it, a short hop.[msnsmile2]

I have a couple of friends that live in the USA and they seem to take driving 1,000+ miles in their stride. They would pack up the car and the kids and set off on a Thursday night to drive to Orlando. They would only stay a couple of days and then do it all in reverse! I love driving but have never really considered that sort of distance, maybe I should look at a map and see what nice places I could visit on the way from NY to Orlando :)

Pam.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by markandpam
I have a couple of friends that live in the USA and they seem to take driving 1,000+ miles in their stride. They would pack up the car and the kids and set off on a Thursday night to drive to Orlando. They would only stay a couple of days and then do it all in reverse! I love driving but have never really considered that sort of distance, maybe I should look at a map and see what nice places I could visit on the way from NY to Orlando :)

Pam.
[/quote]

Ever since I saw the 'road' movies of the 1970s, it has been my ambition to drive across the USA coast to coast on my own. Traditionally, this is done from NY to LA but as I don't like LA, I hope to do it from New York to San Francisco someday.:)

When I was a kid, my family drove from NY, down to Georgia, then across country to Los Angeles, then up the West Coast to Oregon, then back East across the north to NY. We saw all kinds of sites, historic and natural landmarks, and I will never forget all the places we went to. I wish I could do the same for my kids some day.

We drove all over Europe when my father was posted to Germany when I was aged between 7 - 11. As Teresa says you never forget it.

We are looking at driving from NY or Washington to Kissimmee in the summer as we are flying over with our youngest and a friend who will be staying in NY to visit friends father for a week and then down to us for a fortnight. Well that is the plan, it rather depends on whether I am going to be able to fly then, otherwise it is plan b, and the girls just go to NY for 2 weeks, and we go away on our own later. But we have been planning a route as it is something we are keen to do.

If you have the time it is a great way of seeing a variety of different places.

We particularly enjoyed Lancaster County with the Amish and covered bridges, Gettysburg (very atmospheric), Shenandoah National Park and Williamsburg.

We are planning Washington DC to Florida in 2006 Fiona. There was a thread on here about it once an it sounded a fantastic trip. We would take a week to ten days for the drive down and then the same again in Florida[8D] Hope you are wll enough to make the trip I shall look forward to the trip report[msnwink]<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by fiona
We drove all over Europe when my father was posted to Germany when I was aged between 7 - 11. As Teresa says you never forget it.

We are looking at driving from NY or Washington to Kissimmee in the summer as we are flying over with our youngest and a friend who will be staying in NY to visit friends father for a week and then down to us for a fortnight. Well that is the plan, it rather depends on whether I am going to be able to fly then, otherwise it is plan b, and the girls just go to NY for 2 weeks, and we go away on our own later. But we have been planning a route as it is something we are keen to do.
[/quote]

We have driven from NY to florida two or three times now, though a friend did it in one go in a VW golf but we stop in South Carolina overnight. I think it is a great trip, and a great way to see the place.

We once did a 5 week driving trip from NY out to the west coast, South to Mexico, East then North. Great Fun.

I think this sounds like a great idea and would love to do it someday, but not for a few years. Maybe when the girls are grown up and no longer want to come away with us. Wouldn't like to do it now with 3 children in the back[msnmad][}:)][msncry]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by E. Cosgrove
We are planning Washington DC to Florida in 2006
[/quote]

Should be good. I-95-south goes all the way from DC to Florida and you can join I-4-west at Daytona. Plenty of opportunities for detours in between if you wish. Have a good trip.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Sally D
I think this sounds like a great idea and would love to do it someday, but not for a few years. Maybe when the girls are grown up and no longer want to come away with us. Wouldn't like to do it now with 3 children in the back[msnmad][}:)][msncry]
[/quote]

Have to agree about the children, wouldn't want to do a long road trip until our boys have flown the nest or at least do not come on holiday with us anymore. They would drive me mad with "are we nearly there yet" or "i'm bored".:([msnsmile2]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by jolliffee
We have driven from NY to florida two or three times now, though a friend did it in one go in a VW golf but we stop in South Carolina overnight. I think it is a great trip, and a great way to see the place.

We once did a 5 week driving trip from NY out to the west coast, South to Mexico, East then North. Great Fun.
[/quote]

I love road trips.......next time we drive to FL we want to drive down the long way and take in some different States......maybe see Dollywood......

In the UK my kids when younger (even now sometimes) would be constantly 'are we nearlly there yet' but in the states we could drive for 10 hours and they never said it once, always so much to look at. Once saw Zebra in a field in CA!

With the new Bristol to New York service coming into play this may well be something I'd look at doing.
The road trip would be incorporated into the holiday and it would be great to see a couple of places en route.

How easy is it to get out of the initial New York area though, that's the bit that might worry me...

Brizzle.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by brizzle
How easy is it to get out of the initial New York area though, that's the bit that might worry me...
Brizzle.
[/quote]

Actually, it is not that bad out of JFK and you can be on an interstate virtually throughout. You have to first go west on the Shorebelt Parkway that runs along the southern coast of Queens and Brooklyn and across The Narrows into Staten Island as I-278. Then across Staten Island, cross the river at the Toll Bridge into New Jersey. You meet I-95 almost immediatly, bear left into I-95 South that goes all the way to Miami.

In the initial stages of I-95, the interstae passes through many busy metropolitan areas of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, cutting through Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC and so expect many toll booths. But once you hit Virginia, it gets smoother. Unless you have specific reasons to stop in any of the aforementined cities, I suggest that you avoid them. To see the major attractions in Virginia and North Carolina you will have to divert quite a bit from the I-95, but in South Carolina it passes only about 25 miles from Myrtle Beach. Further south in SC it passes close to another favourite tourist stop, Hilton Head Island. Then it goes across the Georgian coast into Florida. You may want to plan to see the Space Coast, Daytona Beach etc first before joining I-4 West near Daytona to head for Orlando.

Actually, if you could manage a flight into Newark International, it would be a lot easier, as you could just jump on the NJ Turnpike and totally miss going into NY and Philadelphia.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ctgirlscout
Actually, if you could manage a flight into Newark International, it would be a lot easier, as you could just jump on the NJ Turnpike and totally miss going into NY and Philadelphia.
[/quote]

By going to Newark and taking the I-95/NJ turnpike, you will bypass New York certainly, but it still goes to Philadelphia. The only way to avoid Philly (and quite a desirable alternate route too), is to take the I-78 west as far as Harrisburg and then I-83 South to Baltimore, before picking up the I-95 south. That's what my Brooklyn friends did (as mentioned above), but that route might be confusing for a first timer. One big advantage with this alternative route though is that one misses a lot of the toll booths.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by brizzle
With the new Bristol to New York service coming into play this may well be something I'd look at doing.
The road trip would be incorporated into the holiday and it would be great to see a couple of places en route.

Brizzle.
[/quote]

Think we would consider this as well, as I would love to see some more of the US.[msnsmile2]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by feathersonline
How long will it take to drive from New York to Orlando. We thought we'd try this, rather than flying down. We are prepared to take a few days - stopping along the way.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks...;)
[/quote]

Hi Feathers,

We have done something similar we flew to New York(Newark) and drove to Niagara Falls. Then drove to Orlando. We did it in Two and a half days. We Stopped when we had had enough driving there are plenty of places to stay on the way down off the interstates. We drove more inland instead of the I95, thru the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia along the blue ridge parkway. That was beautiful, it over looks the Shenandoah Valley. You can pull over at various veiwpoints and see commemorative plaques for different battles that took place during the civil war. Also we went close to Harrisburg, PA there is a large Armish community around that area and you do see a few of them.

Would we do it again? Yes without a doubt. It was a very enjoyable trip.

Steve & Dawn

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i]Originally posted by Steve and Dawn[/i Also we went close to Harrisburg, PA there is a large Armish community around that area and you do see a few of them.

Steve & Dawn
[/quote]

Was that where the 1986 Harrison Ford film 'Witness' shot?

We saw a number of Armish people at Niagara Falls, when we went in August last year, appeared to be a whole community of them there. They quite fascinated one of my sons.[msnsmile]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i]Originally posted by Steve and Dawn[/i Also we went close to Harrisburg, PA there is a large Armish community around that area and you do see a few of them.

Steve & Dawn
[/quote]

Was that where the 1986 Harrison Ford film 'Witness' shot?
[/quote]

'Witness' was shot in the quaintly named town of Intercourse Nostromo. Now very commercialised with coach trips etc but still plenty of Amish people driving around in buggies. Only have to walk a few yards down the side streets and you find the stores used by the Amish people with signs saying 'No photographs'.

Also nearby are the towns of Bird-in-the-Hand and Paradise!

I agree it is easy to get out of JFK using the Shorebelt Parkway Nostromo but think people will miss so much if they drive straight down the I-95 to Washington - Amish communities, Gettysburg, Blue Ridge mountains, Williamsburg - each one worth a day's visit. Surely the whole point of driving down is to see something of the country?

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mo Green
I agree it is easy to get out of JFK using the Shorebelt Parkway Nostromo but think people will miss so much if they drive straight down the I-95 to Washington - Amish communities, Gettysburg, Blue Ridge mountains, Williamsburg - each one worth a day's visit. Surely the whole point of driving down is to see something of the country?
[/quote]

Oh, I agree entirely. But I was not sure how experienced brizzle is in driving long distances in the US and indeed what his intentions were. He wanted a route from NY to Orlando and that's what I told him. There are countless stops on the way including all those you mentioned and a lot more. I thought that I'd give the most direct route and leave the divertions to Brizzle himself.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mo Green
I agree it is easy to get out of JFK using the Shorebelt Parkway Nostromo but think people will miss so much if they drive straight down the I-95 to Washington - Amish communities, Gettysburg, Blue Ridge mountains, Williamsburg - each one worth a day's visit. Surely the whole point of driving down is to see something of the country?
[/quote]

Oh yes, if you are going to do this the best way would be to take in some of the landmarks on route, make it part of the holiday and not just a dash from one to the other.[msnsmile2]

This is getting more exciting now. So many place to go, so much to see. We're now planning 2 nights in New York, then driving down to Orlando in 4 or 5 days.

Hope we can get it organised before we go...:)

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mo Green
I agree it is easy to get out of JFK using the Shorebelt Parkway Nostromo but think people will miss so much if they drive straight down the I-95 to Washington - Amish communities, Gettysburg, Blue Ridge mountains, Williamsburg - each one worth a day's visit. Surely the whole point of driving down is to see something of the country?
[/quote]

Planning the route is half the fun Kevin and Helen. Unless you have driven in New York would suggest you go back to JFK and collect your car there. It is so easy to get onto the Shorebelt Parkway from there.