Forum Discussion

kfp673's avatar
kfp673
Explorer II
Apr 11, 2019

PA to Disney Route Suggestions

Hello All,

We live about an hour North West of Philadelphia (Montgomery County) in the Pottstown PA area for those familiar. We are leaving this Friday for Disney. We will be leaving home around 6pm and hope to drive until about midnight / 1am, find a walmart or similar and get some sleep and then finish the trip on Saturday. For business I am very familiar with the drive from my area to DC and on down through Richmond. Typically I take 95 and all the beltways around Baltimore, DC, etc. For this trip however we will be towing our 35' travel trailer and have never towed 95. Do you recommend taking the 95 route all the way down? Can I tow through the Baltimore tunnels with propane bottles?(if not how do I avoid them?) I'd prefer not to go all the way out to 81 as that takes me about 90 minutes just to get there before I start heading south, however I am interested in your opinions. What route do you suggest?

Thanks!
Roads and Routes
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Apr 11, 2019
    kfp673 wrote:
    Thanks all. So there generally seems to be 2 thoughts. 1 is head west and avoid Baltimore /DC by using 81. Downside there is towing in the mountains but from experience driving to Roanoke in the past, typically very light traffic. 2nd thought seems to be avoiding Baltimore / DC by using 301 and what looks like 50 west back to 301 south again picking up 95 down near Richmond. No-one votes to just take 95. What a surprise ;-) I was in DC for business earlier this week and there is no shortage of construction and terrible road conditions, so I definitely want to avoid 95 at least until we get past DC. I'll look at traffic right before we leave and try to make a call. Thanks again everyone!


    could take I 81 down to 17 and over to I-95 at fredericksburg. the stretch from DC down to 17 on 95 was determined to be the worst mess in the country.
    bumpy
  • kfp673's avatar
    kfp673
    Explorer II
    Apr 11, 2019
    Thanks all. So there generally seems to be 2 thoughts. 1 is head west and avoid Baltimore /DC by using 81. Downside there is towing in the mountains but from experience driving to Roanoke in the past, typically very light traffic. 2nd thought seems to be avoiding Baltimore / DC by using 301 and what looks like 50 west back to 301 south again picking up 95 down near Richmond. No-one votes to just take 95. What a surprise ;-) I was in DC for business earlier this week and there is no shortage of construction and terrible road conditions, so I definitely want to avoid 95 at least until we get past DC. I'll look at traffic right before we leave and try to make a call. Thanks again everyone!
  • magicbus's avatar
    magicbus
    Explorer II
    Apr 11, 2019
    From Pottstown I would take either 422 or the turnpike West to 81 then 81 South. You can easily get back over to 95 in South Carolina using Rt 77 and completely avoid all the DC traffic and tunnels. I think it is actually a straighter shot. We just came back that way returning from winter in Florida.

    Dave
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Apr 11, 2019
    Pottstown Pa to Orlando
    This adds 30 minutes to the trip but that is only if you don't get into traffic on I-95. It also eliminates the tolls on I-95 north of Baltimore and the tunnels you are worried about.
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    Apr 11, 2019
    I would work my way to the Blue Route... OR whichever way you choose to get to 95... Run 95 to 495 around Wilmington.. Once south of Wilmington, exit onto rt 1 south... cross over the St.George Bridge and get on the new 301..

    Follow 301 south/50 East across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and 25 miles out to 95.. you will now be 17 miles above the draw bridge in DC... take it down to Ashland area or there about.. that should ne 6 hrs, or just short depending on traffic..

    I just towed this route on Tuesday, my WAZE was saying to take 95 threw DE/MD/Baltimore/key bridge ect.... I hopped onto 1 south and 301, it recalculated and was 6 minutes different and was a WORLD easier ! ! ! !
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Apr 11, 2019
    Which "Disney" ? I assume the one in Florida.

    I personally HATE most of I-95 and use it only when it's the only reasonable alternative.

    Alas, it looks like it is the only reasonable route for your trip.

    Note, however, that more and more "big box stores", WalMart included do NOT allow overnight parking anymore.
    I STRONGLY suggest that you pick an overnight spot and call ahead.
    If you don't, you might find yourself in a real pickle.
  • dblr's avatar
    dblr
    Explorer
    Apr 11, 2019
    For the Baltimore tunnels take 695 East to the Scott Key Bridge then just follow signs back to 95 or another route is you could get on Route 1 at the Christiana Mall area ( Tolls ) and stay on that to the new 301 connector which runs you right into 301 then you can stay on 301 thru Md. & Va. until it connects you back to 95. The first spot is one exit above Kings Dominion or you can stay on 301 until the Richmond bypass, 295. Good luck and have a safe trip.

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