NJ to Florida drive
 

Looks like I may need to drive alone from Lambertville (think Bucks County, Pa) to Florida in July. As much as I hate I-95, does it make more sense to drive to Harrisburg, then 81 and 77 to Columbia, then hit I-95 via I-26? It seems just a little longer but perhaps faster? Less truck traffic? Probably doing this on Sat and Sunday, so probably less traffic on the weekend from Philly to Richmond if I just did I-95. Help me decide.

Well, from where you are via your alternate route, it is 11 hours to Charlotte. Then 3.5 hours to Charleston. I think it has to be further and longer time than I95.
Our friend from NYC who drives to FL a lot usually stops around Darlington for the night--not sure how far that is.
I think sometimes it is better to just "put in the time".
Good luck!!

It is 108 miles further to Jacksonville going through Charlotte than down I-95. (895 vs. 1003).
When I lived in central PA, I went through Charlotte to get home from Melbourne.
If you time it right you should be able to get past Washington before 1PM.
An alternative depending on where you are going in Florida is to take the Autotrain from Lorton VA to Sanford Florida.
Their phone # is 1 800 SKIPI95.

For what it's worth:
I understand the desire to bypass the DC/No. Va part of I-95, but the last few times I've made the drive, the DC area hasn't been so bad. I don't know if they've improved the road or what, but it has been better.

I suppose the AutoTrain is an option, but I figure if I have to drive as far south as DC, I've already done the worst part.

Autotrain has ZERO appeal to me. When I get off in Florida at 9 AM I'd have to get a motel as I wouldn't have slept all night on the train -- that's just me. And it just isn't worth something like $300 to take the train and still have to do a night in a motel to do that! Driving and checking into a comfortable motel for the night sounds a LOT better than sitting up on a train all night, or getting a roomette and trying to sleep in one of those God-awful berths in a moving train.

Hmmm. I'm not getting the "11 hours to Charlotte". On Mapquest it shows 9:41 which would probably more like 9. I pretty much always beat the Mapquest times in actual driving.

If I add Lambertville to Charlotte, then Charlotte to Naples, it comes out only a little over an hour longer than Lambertville to Naples on I-95. Also it's about 90 miles longer total, but again seems like a lot fewer trucks and general traffic -- even weekend traffic along I-95? I would honestly think that hour could easily disappear with less traffic on the I-81 routing. NO?

Ooops. I forgot the cost of the car on AutoTrain. More like $500 total for a night of Hell! No thanks.

I'd say the most important issue would be the relative quality of the barbecue available near each route.

Understand your concerns about the AutoTrain. IME a lot depends on the accommodations you book aboard as to sleep quality, etc.

My one experience with I-81 has been best when I used it very late at night or early in the morning. There used to be so much semi traffic on that route that the Governor of Virginia mandated additional highway patrol coverage at one point.

The "corridor of consternation" which extends from the bottom of the Beltway down 95 to Fredericksburg still exists during the week I suspect but if you time it correctly perhaps not so bad.

You could take DE 896 to 301 South I suppose but that mean suburbia and traffic lights in many sections. At least it is somewhat more scenic than 95 (as is 81 for sure).

My 11 hours was to Milford PA, I think. And it was pretty accurate, to my amazement (thinking it would be more).
I think the 81 route is pretty easy--people keep talking about the truck traffic, but it is moving.
BBQ could be a concern. There's a GREAT place nearish Charleston.
What is Lambertville? I'll look for myself.

OH, wait, I see!! LOL

There's a reason people "talk about the truck traffic" on 81 obviously.

Oh, wait. So you're saying the truck traffic on I-81 is worse than on I-95? I was mainly considering the I-81 route because I thought there would be overall LESS traffic, including the major trucks. No? But for what it's worth, I tend to think the big truck traffic tends to be worse on the weekends -- or is that just my imagination?

I think you are reasonably stuck with 95 until north of Jacksonville.

Washington is not a problem after 9 and before 3, unless there is a wreck, and last Monday, we sailed through to Richmond without even a slowdown.

In Florida in the past, we have cut over from 95 north of Jacksonville to 75 near Gainesville on a combination of roads, FL 200 and US 301 I think.

It is mostly divided highway, busy enough, but not soul-deadening like I-4 (IIRC) from 95 to Tampa.

As you know too well, 75 is 75.

Afterthought: Monday and Tuesday might be better in that there is going to be beach traffic outbound on Saturdays and inbound on Sundays.

To answer your question about trucks:
Truck traffic on I-81S, especially in PA, is very heavy, more than I-95.

Interesting. So I'm getting the idea that I'll get more not less truck traffic on I-85 than on I-95. And yes at Jacksonville I will do the 301 route through famous Waldo to I-75. Still the best way from 95 to Naples in my book. Maybe there's less a problem with the Washington DC corridor especially on Saturday, so guess I'll go with that.

Neo, I would go through the DC area as early as is possible, even on a Saturday. I am simply making this recommendation after having lived and driven there for more than 40 years.

Hmmm I can't see me leaving earlier than maybe 6:30 or so, so that makes it around 9:30 to 10:00 Sat morning.

You are talking about leaving from HOME at 6:30? That makes sense since I would hope you could do that in 3.5 hours or so.

It is a crap shoot between the bottom of the Beltway and down 95 to F-burg (hopefully they aren't having some sort of gigantic sale at Potomac Mills) but after that I would think it would be pretty easy.

Hope you have a great, UN-complicated drive.

I have been driving DC to Richmond on 95 fairly often this past year because I have a daughter up in DC now, but man the traffic can be horrendous no matter what time of day. There is a lot of construction around Fredericksburg lately both directions. Saturday summer travel is starting soon and will add to the madness. I think weekdays are better if you hit the DC area after the work traffic time. It can be 1 hour and 15 min to Richmond or a lot longer. Oh and HOV lanes will probably be closed southbound at that point, but if they are open, then hop on for sure. It is more money, a lot more, but you will fly by a lot of traffic.

Personally, I think 81 moves better from PA down to below Virginia. Yes there is more truck traffic on 81 than 95 in my opinion. Same daughter went to school in Blacksburg VA and I was on 81 for two hours every time heading south. We have family in northern NJ and have taken 81 north, across PA and into NJ on holidays.

South of Richmond, 95 seems to move fairly well all the way down to Fl.

Have driven my mom to Naples the last few years so I know the drive. It is boring but usually no real traffic.

On 95, there is a Residence Inn near the Savannah airport Pooler GA exit that we stayed in last year and it was only a few months old. It was clean and there were several chain restaurants ( Long Horn and I think an Olive Garden )very close. I think we will stay there again because it was clean and quiet. Some of the hotels along the way can be really run down.

I've driven I-81 as far as DC, and there is a LOT of truck traffic on it. I can't say if it's worse than I-95, but it's bad. Truck traffic in general is just horrible on all the interstates any longer, and it's very stressful driving on any of them. I don't think you'll find anything specifically easier.

Unless you really want to visit Charleston or Savannah or some destination in between NJ and Florida, I'd do the auto train. It's worth it not to have to drive.

Have done it both ways. If you're not on a tight time schedule and your goal is the Gulf Coast, suggest considering the western option of I81-I85-I75 including routing to Charlotte and Atlanta, trucks or no. Instead of the Balto-Wash headache you get the Shenandoah Valley and some very pretty, brief mountain stuff. And instead of the horrific back-ups through the only-2-lanes-in-each-direction stretch through SC into GA is blocked, you get the relatively open trip from Charlotte to Atlanta.

I-95 is a guaranteed gauntlet of construction and unexplained traffic back-ups, especially in summer. Tuesday midnight-5 am is probably the best time...

If you just can't hack the idea of that much time driving on your own, then at least consider taking the I97-US301 bypass of the WashDC mess. It once took us 7 hrs. to go from Baltimore to Richmond, while the 97-301 ploy is usually about 3 to maybe 4 hrs. no matter what. And it's so much more pleasant.

I haven't timed it out according to ETD and ETA, but take a look at a map and consider..... It's nerves vs. hours.

My Google map estimate says that I-95 is 18.5 hrs. while the western route is 20 hrs. One bad jam on I-95 would eat up that time difference.

Hmmm. Just when I thought I had made up my mind, cfc and girlonthego are backing my original thoughts which seem to make I-81 sound like a more pleasant alternative to I-95.

For ME, the auto train is not an option -- sitting up on a train all night unable to sleep (yes, I DO know myself) and paying $500 for the privilege of doing so is just NOT going to happen! Especially facing another 5 hours of driving AFTER getting to Florida exhausted from the lack of a good night's sleep in a nice bed.

I really don't mind driving by myself. I put on discs and listen to the music, then stop and get a decent meal and a nice night's sleep in a real bed.

I tried to say what girlonthego said, but got shouted down. So there are trucks. They MOVE at or above the speed limit.
Music is good--ever try audiobooks!! ;o)

I think audiobooks take more concentration and become distracting from the driving. Music is mindless entertainment. LOL

The problem is not the trucks. It's the people who are either afraid to pass them, or reluctant to move to the right to let you pass. And so they hang slightly behind, blocking traffic. A pox on them all.

I can't listen to audiobooks in heavy or city traffic, but on the long rural stretches with relatively unchanging scenery, I used to be in danger of drowsiness. Generally a good suspense or mystery novel kept me entertained. Nonfiction can add to the drowsy, as does a bucolic relationship saga with long ruminations. Comedy isn't bad but the CDs are never very long.

Let us know how your trip goes, Patrick! At least no ice storms this time of year, the biggest p I t a in driving thereabouts..

(Music puts me to sleep too, unless it's decent Oldie Rock or certain types of classical - but even then, suspense works better. I stay awake to find out what happened.)

If you drive slowly through a speed trap, do you get credits so you drive faster on the way back?

not the trucks. It's the people who are either afraid to pass them, or reluctant to move to the right to let you pass

This happens no matter if it is truck or car--just plain stupid left lane drivers.

Neo, you do not HAVE to "sit up" on the AutoTrain.

>>>This happens no matter if it is truck or car--just plain stupid left lane drivers.<<<

True, but I've noticed this sub-species when trucks are involved.

I would take 81.
I would also make a stop in Asheville and enjoy the trip a bit.

Dukey, if I had a full roomette to myself on the Auto Train (at a cost of a few more hundred dollars), I would still not get any sleep. Trust me on this. Been there, tried that.

Actually, starrs, the plan when I drive the car back up -- probably in early October) is for Peter to go with me, and then we're definitely doing a couple days in Atlanta and probably a couple nights in Asheville (and my old stomping grounds in Flat Rock). He's never been in that area.

The goal for this trip is to get to Naples within two or two and a half days at most for me to begin with some contractors on my townhouse. No time to stop and smell the roses (or mountain laurel). But I am still considering 81.

I wouldn't drive that far without adding something to see that's new or appealing. That's just me. There's always something to see along the way.

Sometimes we have to do what we have to do.

Due to obligations I can't leave until Saturday the 9th. I must be in Naples by about noon on Monday at the latest (getting there Sunday evening would be much better) to meet with contractors and to do some prep work before workers come on Tuesday.

But starrs, if you're offering to drive to Naples and do that for me while I take my time to enjoy the scenery -- that's great. Thank you very much! I can give you a key code and a list of instructions and explain which wallpaper needs to be stripped. LOL

I may be in Naples, but alas I'd be working. ;)

Well, so much for that idea!

Your schedule suggests that traffic away from I-95 won't be too heavy -- not so many truckers on summer weekends, for one thing. But I-95 will be jammed with people coming and going from shore resort areas (as you know, rentals begin and end on Sat. or Sun.) plus shoppers in all the suburbs around the cities.

Like the idea of Asheville, whenever you do it.

OK, now a change to the plans. It looks like I will now leave NJ on Friday morning rather than Saturday as it seems I really need to be in Naples by afternoon on Sunday.

So is that MORE reason or LESS reason to take the I-81 route, since otherwise I'd be doing Baltimore/Washington/Richmond mid morning on Friday -- not Saturday? Or should I just draw straws?