Hello RV ProsWe are driving to Florida from the Boston Area, on December 26th, for the first time.We have a 35" Class A that we have had for two years.Any hints?*where to stay? *ways around NY City?*When can we de winterize?* how long should we plan?Any hints or help is apprecisted

merleandbabe wrote:Hello RV ProsWe are driving to Florida from the Boston Area, on December 26th, for the first time.We have a 35" Class A that we have had for two years.Any hints?*where to stay? *ways around NY City?*When can we de winterize?* how long should we plan?Any hints or help is apprecistedThe most stress free route would be to route down to the Tappenzee Bridge and then to I81. If you are headed to the east coast then take I77 to I26 to I95. If the west coast then stay on i81 to I40 to I75 and then south to Florida. That does take you through Atlanta. If you want to dodge Atlanta then take the other route and take I10 east to I75.

WE are headed to Florida on Dec 26th as well... The route we prefer is 84 to 81to 26 then 95 on south Its a longer route by about an hour or two but its pretty much stress free and totally avoids the NYC area congestion.Picking place to stop is a function of how far you want to travel each day.An alternate route we take depending on weather is 84 to 87 to 287 to 95... We usually will opt to go down thru Delaware and pick up 95 west of Norfolk to avoid the DC area...JohnnyT

merleandbabe wrote:Hello RV ProsWe are driving to Florida from the Boston Area, on December 26th, for the first time.We have a 35" Class A that we have had for two years.Any hints?*where to stay? *ways around NY City?*When can we de winterize?* how long should we plan?Any hints or help is apprecistedMerle and/or Babe, You have asked four very different questions. I will try to clarify them and make a way for answers to be meaningful. Where to stay? Do you mean stops enroute or in Florida? If in Florida, you will have to get opinions based on locations. If enroute stops, that very much depends on how long you want to drive on any given day. Ways around NYC, you got good answers there - stay away. Tappan Zee is good, but time of day still matters. That comes back to your driving schedule. Can we dewinterize? Most likely yes, but without knowing anything about the coach or where you plan to stop, that simply cannot be answered at all. If you are worried, don't, just carry jugs of water and use as little as possible. How long should we plan? Do you mean for the travel or the stay? If you mean for the travel, that all depends on how many miles you want to make in a day and what stops you want to make. There are many that never try to go more then 200 miles in a day. Well, Chelsea to Key Biscayne is 1500+ miles so at 200 miles a day that is a week right there. Well, have I confused you enough? Well, I didn't intend to, but you can get better information if you ask clearer questions. Matt

I like going down 81. Much smoother ride with less traffic and you dont have the tunnel issues to deal with in Baltimore if you have propane. Best campground I think there is on 81 is Endless Caverns in New Market. They put a lot of money into the place over the past 5 years and the caverns are on site. If your going to the east coast of FL you will have to get back to 95 by taking Rt. 77. My next stop after that would be either Charleston or Savannah. Savannah has RV parks, Charleston has a great state park if you can get in. Also there is a brand new park at exit 8 in SC called Camp Lake Jasper. Its pretty nice and 20 miles from Hilton Head and Savannah. Lots of options open up when you get into FL.As far as how long it should take is up to you. In my opinion the kids are in school now and all the parks should be easy to get in. Take you time, I would try to do it in 2 to 3 weeks, but most folks thing you should drive 14 hours a day.

We have 2 routes to going south for the winter. First,quickest is to bite the bullet and take 95, cross the George Washington Bridge in NYC;take NJ Trpke -I-95 and In Maryland take 695 outer loop back to I-95. At DC, we would stay at Cherry Hill Park,College Park,MD. Mileage from RI,about 400 miles.Lots of stress but a good chunk out of the way...Now, if we take route #2 we would take the Mass pike in Worcester to I-84. I-84 to I-87 to I-287 to NJ Trpke to Timberlane Campground in Clarksboro,NJ, about 385 miles. Not nearly as stressful but this is still the busiest roads in US.We use Microsoft Streets & Trips, there are other programs that are just as good; my advice is find one and do some preplanning. We always have contingency plans. This is winter camping and not many cgs open till you get down below DC.Next night is either NC or SC, somewhere along the I-95 corridor. It's usually pleasant traveling after the first 2 nights. We get to Florida on the fourth day usually,say Lake City area. Watch the forecasts for you route. Enjoy!

Driving to Florida from Boston First Time | Good Sam Community

Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2013
Take the Pike west to I-91. Follow 91 past Hartford to I-84. Pick up I-81 in Scranton, follow that south into VA. Around Fancy Gap, VA, you pick up, IIRC (maps not handy) US17 south. This will put you on I95 at Fredricksburg.
philandterri
Explorer
Oct 19, 2013
If you take I 77 when you get near Charlotte NC take the I 485 bypaass west, it goes round the city and avoids a lot of traffic,nd takes you back to I 77 it has only been open a short while.
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Oct 18, 2013
philandterri have given you the best route.....it avoids ALL the congestion of the cities. But take into consideration the weather as it will be December and it does snow.....But that is a good route. Also being the day after Christmas I think everyone North of Philly heads South and I-95 will be awful down at the lower end.....Depending where you are going in Fl you can get off I-95 at US301 near Fl border and have a nice ride down through central Fl and pick up I-75 around Ocala....Have fun on your run!
philandterri
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
From Boston I would take the Mass Pike to I 87 south to I 84 to I 81 south to I 77 south to I 26 east to I 95 south. No tolls and a less stressful ride. We are travelling that route now. The roads and traffic are good to VA. except a little rough the first 10 miles in PA
Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 18, 2013
Based on his previous two posts this year... they are not real good about responding. X3 on what steveownby wrote and south bound I'm pretty sure there s no toll on the TapZee bridge. I go through ATL all the time so I do not think it's all that bad other than at rush hours. Do not stay in the right lane as they become exits without much warning... sometimes both right lanes.
BillMFl
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
Joe2222 wrote:
We take I-95 to I-287 over the Tappan Zee Bridge to I-78 to I-81. Our first stop is
Western Village RV Park, Carlisle , PA (exit 45). Continue on I-81 to I-66. East on I-66 to Rt. 17 (exit 28). Take Rt 17 to I-95 south to Florida.
We stop the 2nd night at Carolina Crossroads in Roanoke Rapids, VA.
3rd night at Green Acres in Walterboro, SC. After that it depends on how much time we have till our first reservation in FL.
We like this route because it avoids DC. Depending on weather we don’t De-Winterize till the 2nd or 3rd night.
Enjoy your Winter!

I used this exact route northbound in the spring and southbound this Oct. Traffic on the Tap Zee was heavier than usual on a Sat but rest of the route was fine. From Portsmouth NH to Tampa was about 1500 miles and four days. On return trip I stayed at Western Village, Carolina Crossroads and Coastal Ga in Brunswick. The last two resorts are like new and very very nice. Western Village is a tad rustic but decent.
klm
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
I generally avoid NYC/BALT/DC at any cost - miles or time. I take MA TP to 84. S on 87 - this avoids all NY bridges. In NJ you will travel 287 - pick up NJTP - take exit 7 - to 295. You can overnight at Timberlane in Clarksboro at exit 18 (call for res - cg is currently packed). Some folks dewinterize here - full hookups. Continue on - cross Del Mem Br and pick up 301. This will avoid Balt and DC - but there are traffic lights along this route. 301 connects back to 95 a little north of Richmond. There are a couple of overnight choices here, or continue to VA/NC line to Roanoke Rapids - great overnight cg - Crosswinds? Once you get below VA, the cg's are open and plentiful. Continue south on 95 to FL - this route is great for FL east coast stays - have a safe trip and enjoy your FL stay
Pass42
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
Like Joe2222, we go 287 to 78 west to 81 south...sometimes have spent the night at Pilot/FlyingJ just off 81 right before 66.... 66 back east to 17 south is excellent, as is running down 17... We have also spent a night at the Ladysmith rest area on 95, below Fredericksburg, about mp105, there is the regular rest area, then a few miles further south is a truck only rest area. this is the one we've stayed at... well patrolled, by DOT & State Troopers, trucks in and out so plenty of eyes.........
RVUSA
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
if you overnight in S.C, I highly recommend santee state park. Great place.
Joe2222
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
We take I-95 to I-287 over the Tappan Zee Bridge to I-78 to I-81. Our first stop is
Western Village RV Park, Carlisle , PA (exit 45). Continue on I-81 to I-66. East on I-66 to Rt. 17 (exit 28). Take Rt 17 to I-95 south to Florida.
We stop the 2nd night at Carolina Crossroads in Roanoke Rapids, VA.
3rd night at Green Acres in Walterboro, SC. After that it depends on how much time we have till our first reservation in FL.
We like this route because it avoids DC. Depending on weather we don’t De-Winterize till the 2nd or 3rd night.
Enjoy your Winter!