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.

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?