| smg1062 |
From NYC area to Disney area. Can anyone tell me estimated costs? Wife wont fly since 9/11 and we've done the AMTRAK overnight trip 2x already (mixed results AND expensive). Other than possibly stopping at a cheapie motel and a few bathroom/food breaks, what can I expect gas and tolls to cost?
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| CSHDMD |
Long Island to the Florida border is a good 15-16 hrs with bathroom stops. Lots of tolls b/t NY and Maryland. Not sure the exact distance to Florida or fuel costs since I just got my MDX. Make sure you try to avoid the D.C. area during rush hour. Also, lots of traffic on Rt.95 during the summer months.
My wife also is a bad flier post flt 800 and 9/11 but I highly recommend Song or Jet Blue. New planes with lots of distractions; on Song (a Delta subsidiary) for example, every seat has a tv and you can play a trivia game against all the other passengers. |
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| Warzau |
| Im doing the same distance 16 hrs. Too much for my wife and child we are spliting the drive from Chicago to Destin, Fl. Stopping off in Nashville overnight the first day and finishing the next day. AAA has a great appox for gas usage based on you car. http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/ |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by Warzau
Im doing the same distance 16 hrs. Too much for my wife and child we are spliting the drive from Chicago to Destin, Fl. Stopping off in Nashville overnight the first day and finishing the next day. AAA has a great appox for gas usage based on you car. http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/
Have you been down here at this time of year before? This is THE high volume traffic time! The only East/West road, Hwy 98 can get very long lines of traffric.
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| SirJOW |
| No tolls if any after Washington. As for fuel costs I'm not sure. Mapquest it for the number of miles and divide it by the MPG. Premium here in Florida is typically $2.33 or less now. |
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| Warzau |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
Have you been down here at this time of year before? This is THE high volume traffic time! The only East/West road, Hwy 98 can get very long lines of traffric.
G
Yipes! we are going in late july. |
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| G. COLTON |
I would suggest that you try to be off the roads between 4pm and 5:30pm. This will be the busiest time.
G |
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| Warzau |
| Gotcha! Thanks for the info. :4: |
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| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by SirJOW
No tolls if any after Washington. As for fuel costs I'm not sure. Mapquest it for the number of miles and divide it by the MPG. Premium here in Florida is typically $2.33 or less now.
Unless you use Florida's Turnpike. Then the distance you travel on it will determine the cost. Recent trip from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale on the pike cost about $20. |
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| laborlitigator |
Have done the trip in the past with one of the girls. About 16 hours from NY to Orlando. I wouldn't do it again.
In the DC area make sure you take the belt around DC and not to go into it.
I'd suggest you stop in the Carolina's to sleep. Hotels there are very reasonable. Don't sleep in the rest areas since it could be very dangerous. ie. robberies.
Finally, once you get to Orlando, plan on waiting in long lines since schools will have let out and summer vacation has begun. In the parks divide your day. Mornings, return to your hotel in the afternoon and then try the rest of the park in the evening when there are less people.
As for 9/11, you've got a better chance of getting into a car accident rather than getting into a plane crash.
Good luck and have a safe trip! |
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| edepa |
I just got back from Florida via the Amtrak Auto Train. It goes from Lorton, Va. to Sanford, Fl, just outside or Orlando. I didn't use my MDX, so I paid the automobile rate, $140, plus 2 passengers at $70 a piece for coach. However, the prices vary widely, and the further ahead you book, the better the deal. Unfortunately, SUV price I believe is around $265. Note these are all one way rates. The savings is some wear and tear on the car and the family, it knocks off around 700-800 miles off the trip, leaving at 4pm and scheduled to arrive at 830 a.m. the next morning. Prices include dinner on board, snacks and coffee gratis, continental breakfast, and a movie in the lounge car. You can also go for a sleeper, but we felt we'd manage okay sleeping in the fairly large reclining seats with footrests, and we did fine!
The Auto Train in itself was a good experience, we met alot of nice people and it was a very sociable trip. Hope this offers an interesting alternative. |
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| RonH |
As most have said, I'd avoid the roads and hour before and after the AM and PM rush hours. The only time I've encountered tolls going north through Orlando headed out of state via I4 to I95 is if I jump on the 417 Greeneway loop to bypass a major snafu in downtown Orlando. The loop adds miles, but can cut on time if there's a big tie up in the area. The loop is basically $6 one way end to end.
I'll also add that if you venture much past the Disney/LBV area you'll enter the dreaded Lands of Continuous Construction .. bad day. The interstate in this area west to Tampa is routinely a parking lot ... and the onset of the rainy season hasn't help that much the past week or so. :rolleyes: |
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| smg1062 |
| For the tips. I've already done the FULL NY to Orlando Amtrak trip twice. Way too expensive to do again and the overnight car we had this last trip was FILTHy dirty..................Driving will def. cost less. Im not that concerned about wear & tear (otherwise why buy a car or SUV at all?). Im looking more towards year end (Xmas/New Year time). How are the speed traps down south? AND do they profile out of state cars? Ive heard some stories.................... |
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| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by smg1062
For the tips. I've already done the FULL NY to Orlando Amtrak trip twice. Way too expensive to do again and the overnight car we had this last trip was FILTHy dirty..................Driving will def. cost less. Im not that concerned about wear & tear (otherwise why buy a car or SUV at all?). Im looking more towards year end (Xmas/New Year time). How are the speed traps down south? AND do they profile out of state cars? Ive heard some stories....................
Florida State Troopers are notorious for catching out-of-towners. This may just be anecdotal but I've noticed more cars pulled over on the way back North than going South. Maybe they figure they'll get you on your way out, after you've spent all your money at Disney:D |
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| crmsnidol |
If you are driving down I-95/295 through NJ/DE/MD expect about $12 in tolls. If you take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as an alternative to I-95 for coastal driving that's another $12.
http://www.cbbt.com/schedule.html
No idea on total gas costs but when I fill up for a long trip I generally get the 91 octane and see better mileage than normal. The last trip to the Pocono mountains was a 24MPG avg for up and back. My normal day-to-day commute is around 17 with 87 octane. |
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| freddy112 |
| I'm planning the same trip to Orlando (taking my nephew to Disney) soon but I still have doubts. It seems like I can save money that I rather spend on him but is a long way. |
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| smg1062 |
| APPX 1,100 miles to Disney. At 21 MPG, thats 50 gallons x 2bucks and change per gallon = appx 150-ish for fuel...plus stopping to eat and maybe sleep a night.....STILL way less than AMTRAK. |
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| Slick15 |
entering FL. I live on the FL/GA border and the gas in GA is about 20 cents cheaper. Premium gas in GA (last exit on 95S) is about $2.23 while it can as high as $2.43 in FL. Good gas stops and food on exit 3 as well.
Figure a few bucks saved doesn't hurt.
:) |
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| riseboi |
quote:
Originally posted by Slick15
entering FL. I live on the FL/GA border and the gas in GA is about 20 cents cheaper. Premium gas in GA (last exit on 95S) is about $2.23 while it can as high as $2.43 in FL. Good gas stops and food on exit 3 as well.
Figure a few bucks saved doesn't hurt.
:)
O/T: Do you happen to live in Kingland or St. Marys? |
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| JTM |
Just came back from Orlando. The gas price down there is between $2.20 and $2.45 for premium, depends where you are pumping.
We didn't drive down there, so I can't tell you how much you will need to pay on gas with MDX from DC area to Orlando. But I am sure you don't need to pay any toll between DC and FL. (You will be driving I-95 for most of time, then I-4 for about 30 ~ 40 miles)
Enjoy your trip!!! It was REALLY HOT down there during our stays (mostly around 90 degree). |
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| Slick15 |
The gas in GA on the final exits is $1.97 for regular unleaded and $2.17 for premium. Definately cheeper.
No tolls from DC down to Orlando. Just traffic.......
Hope you have safe travels.
O/T. I live in Fernandina Beach, FL but commute to GA daily. |
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| URIRx98 |
WEll, im actualy going to be driving from BOca area in southern florida to Long Island New York in middle October, and im hoping for some big changes. I hope gas prices lower, but they probally wont, and I am also driving to bring my 95 pound Akita up, as well as my girl friend. Taking a plane, round trip is usually 300 to 400 depending on months and how early you buy, thats using jetblue. and then to add the cost of a pet, prbally another 100 or so, so im sure driving will be cheaper. My only worries are the rising gas prices and the fact that i barely get 14 mpg locally, dont drive much highway, long distances that is. I also have bigger tires, 20s to be exact, and was also wondering if i should take them off for the trip and put my stock 17s back, for comfort, and if that will help me get better gas milage. IF anyone knows this info, let me know. thanks
wg |
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| G. COLTON |
In simple theory, IF all else was equal then 20" rims would give better gas mileage than 17". This is because each revolution of your tire will travel more distance on the road. The better gas mileage would assume that each revolution on the 20" wheel is accompanied by the same number of engine revolutions that would have been made by a 17" wheel.
However, in real life it is hard to say what would happen. The 20" wheel probably puts more of a load on the engine and transmission. This is because of the longer radius from the axel to the business side of the tire. Whether this cancels out the tire travel advantage could not be guessed. Could even make mileage worse.
I have really never seen a reliable study on the possibilities. Would be interesting if some instrumented study was performed.
Going back to the improved ride comfort of the 17" wheel certainly makes sense. You gain more cushion in the tire sidewall.
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| URIRx98 |
well the thing is that the new rims and tires are actually only about a 1/2 inch bigger then the 17inch rim with bigger tires. THE 20inch rims have smaller tires, lower profile iguess, and it also makes them fit in the wheel well. I will probally change them over, especially since the weather will be changing up north, and the bigger tires arent that great in them i guess.
wg |
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