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I95 or I81 to Florida from NJ on Memorial Day Weekend Friday?

I95 or I81 to Florida from NJ on Memorial Day Weekend Friday?

Old Mar 29th, 2017, 05:18 AM
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I95 or I81 to Florida from NJ on Memorial Day Weekend Friday?

I'm leaving from northern NJ to drive to Orlando the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. Last time I drove was a weekend in November, 2016 and we left my house around 7pm, and arrived in Orlando around 1:30pm. We took I95 the entire way. This time, my wife was going to take a half day and we were going to leave a bit earlier - probably 1:30pm or 2:30pm in the afternoon. As a result, we'd be hitting DC right around rush hour and probably also hitting heavy beach traffic volume in the Philly area if we take I95 again.

So we're considering taking I81. It's about 85 miles longer, but if there's not much traffic that way vs if I took 95, i doubt it would take longer time.

My concern is I don't really know 81. I get about 300-350 miles per gas tank, so if i want to plan out my trip on either Interstate, what's the best way to plan out with the most efficient stops for on/off bathroom/coffee/snack breaks?

Any tips appreciated since this is only my second time doing it.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 05:41 AM
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Help me out here. You are obviously not going to "take I-81" all the way to Orlando so we need more information about your ENTIRE route, OK?

As to the traffic around the Beltway: yes, there will be traffic and especially to the south of the Beltway to F-burg.

I'm not going to talk about the 301 South or the Del 1 and 113 alternatives to Norfolk because I'm certain you'd probably not consider those.

So, again...what's the rest of your route plan?
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 05:54 AM
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So if I take I-81 instead of I-95, I believe 81 would connect to I-77 in Virginia which goes to Columbia, SC and then I take I-26 over to I-95. At least - that's the way google maps it. A friend told me though that I'd want to stay further west, and find my way to Macon, GA so I could shoot down I-75 and arrive in Orlando from the West instead of from the East.

I don't know a lot about that, so that's what I'm trying to figure out. If I took I81 - I just don't know what to consider as the "best" route to Orlando.

301 South or Del 1/113 would be pretty bad, I imagine, due to beach traffic.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 06:29 AM
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From "northern NJ" the route to I-81 is I-84 from Port Jervis to Scranton or I-80 from Hoptacong to I-81 just north of Hazelton.
When I lived in central PA north of Harrisburg, I took this toute (I-81,I-26,I-77 to I-95) several times to avoid the whole Beltway thing.
There's a big gas station (Pilot?) near Pulaski along I-81 before you get to the I-77 turnoff if you can make it that far.
I once drove home from Melbourne FL to Mifflinburg PA in 17 hours straight (never again) 1103 miles.
Turn off I-95 near Daytona onto I-4 for Orlando.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 06:41 AM
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thanks tomfuller. i would be taking I-78 from NJ to I-81 right around Harrisburg.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 06:44 AM
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For a time check, we drove from NJ to Charlotte via 81 in 11 hours. Then it is about 3.5 to Columbia and on to Charleston.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 06:46 AM
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I have driven both routes - Memorial Day weekend from noon-7 PM or so through NJ, NOVA, DC to about Richmond is likely to be horrible. Take the western route.

I would not stress about where to eat or pee - both routes are major interstates and will have plenty of truck stops, rest areas as long as you keep your eyes open for signage telling you how far to next one.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 07:09 AM
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Thank you for your response. I live in Fort Lauderdale and have driven the I-95 experience many times between here and our former home in Arlington, VA, so I am VERY familiar with ALL of the "traffic" issues.

I do not see any "advantage" to going all the way over to Macon to get to Orlando. I think you can safely take 26 to 95 South.

Once you cross into Georgia, I-95 is three lanes wide and it is also three lanes wide in North Florida to and beyond your I-4 "left turn."
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 07:11 AM
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Sorry, I meant your "bear right" onto I-4...but you get the idea.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 11:17 AM
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thanks so much for the feedback. i thought Macon looked too far out of the way. i didn't hit a ton of traffic in the Orlando area last time i drove from the east.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 12:45 PM
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I could shoot down I-75 and arrive in Orlando from the West instead of from the East.

As others have said, no. That is ludicrously far west.
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 02:18 AM
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If you insist on driving this non-stop, your 78-81-77-26-95 route will work better than all I-95, where you can add the Delaware Memorial Bridge and Richmond to your list of horrors.

But, especially on a holiday weekend, you might be better off leaving Jersey at 7 PM the way you did before. Everybody on your route is going to try to get off work early and head for the beach, the mountains, or grandma's on the Friday. Most of them will be at their destinations by the time you get to Martinsburg, WV, if you leave later. From then on, it's just you and the trucks.
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