New Brunswick CA to Orlando in December / January

[medic6340]

Hi all!!

I think I've found many variations posts on this route (Boston to FL or NY to FL etc). I'm wondering about current conditions, and personal opinions are ALWAYS welcomed!

We are leaving Dec 26th, and we are drivers.... 12-18 hour days doesn't bother us (3 licensed drivers) , especially the trip down.

our plan is leaving NB/NS border area around supper, and driving to Bangor-ish and well make the decision at that point if we stop for the night allowing for an early morning start directly onto I-95, or keep going. From there this is my preliminary route, based on my best relocation of my last road trip to FL (2005).

I-95 - I-495 @ Boston - I-290 through Worcester- I-90 - I-84 through Hartford- I-684 - Saw Mill River Parkway - I-287 - I-78 to Hershey PA - I-81 - I-77 - I-95 - I-4 to Orlando.

My questions are, even though I'm missing the Mega centres of Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore ,Washington & Richmond.... Whats Hartford, Hershey & Charlotte gonna be like on Dec 26/27th?

Also wondering about elevations, my last North - South road trip was late March early April, am I going to run into more serious weather issues in through I-81 & I-77 during December / January?

And on the subject of I-81 & I-77, it looks like a big swing west, so I'm wondering about using I-66 or I-64 to get back towards I-95 earlier, which should also help me with my elevation concerns. My main concerns are Richmond on Tuesday December 27th... Will I-295 really alleviate my anticipated post Christmas craziness of a 3 day weekend in that Chesapeake/Richmond/Washington area?

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

Lets start by saying, that while 12-18 hour days on the road don't concern you - they should! Drives of that distance, even with multiple drivers, are just too far to be safe, and dramatically increase your chances of being in a crash - where you could seriously injure yourselves or someone else. Professional Drivers are limited by safety laws from being on the road for more than about 10 hours in a day - and time in the passenger seat is counted the same as time in the drivers seat - you would be wise to rethink a plan where you are trying to do what professionals are forbidden from trying.

You're looking at a drive of roughly 1900 miles, depending upon your exact route, and that means if you see good conditions, you need a minimum of 3 overnight stops for this to be a safe trip, especially noting your plan to not even leave until evening (presumably after you've already been up and working or doing other things for a full day).

It is impossible to say what weather you might see - but certainly winter storms are a possibility. If there is winter weather, that's even more reason to avoid anywhere near the mega-congested corridor of Boston to Virginia.

The odds of having traffic problems around places like Hartford, Hershey, or Charlotte will of course depend upon the time of day and the weather, but the odds of having traffic issues are far less than the near certainty of significant traffic problems on I-95. Cutting back on I-66 or I-64 doesn't make much sense to me, as they both add another 50 miles, and still put you back on I-95 in the middle of DC-Virginia traffic. If you think that I-295 will help you avoid those traffic concerns, I'd say you're badly mistaken, as it can be every bit as congested as I-95.

[glc]

Welcome to RTA!

A tip around Hartford - take CT-5/US-15 over the Charter Oak Bridge to I-91, take that to I-691 to get back to I-84. This will keep you out of downtown, which can be quite congested.

I'd also stay on I-684 to I-287, without taking the Saw Mill. You may want to consider taking I-84 all the way to Scranton instead to pick up I-81 because I-287 can be a bear.

Charlotte now has the I-485 bypass. Hershey/Harrisburg is a non-issue. Richmond can be an issue.

You really won't know how the weather and the roads are going to be till you start the trip, I personally would stay away from the I-95 corridor as far as possible.

[medic6340]

Thank you, I edited my post to include the we have 3 licensed drivers, and historically we like long days with good conditions, so if we run into poor weather or traffic issues it's easier to convince ourselves to pull off the road early and take a break, but we are planning on 2 overnights, so 3 "days" of driving, that first day will just be a short day 5-7 hours! But I certainly understand your point, and value your opinion. I kinda figured 295 is just the lesser of 2 evils, and Ive pulled my route all over that western track the APPEARS to be questionable, and can't seem to find a better route, which was why I asked for other opinions. ... Thanks again!

[Midwest Michael]

Once again, having multiple drivers really doesn't change the facts. Sitting in a moving car by itself is fatiguing, which is exactly why being in a passenger seat counts the same as driving time for professional drivers. Professionals have to be completely separated from the road, by being in a sleeper cab - not possible in a regular car, even with 3 drivers - for their time to be considered rest.

While "historically" you may have done this in the past and not been involved in a crash, "statistically," it's only a matter of time. Maybe the next time will be that time, maybe it won't, but the facts are pretty straightforward: getting proper rest is essential to safe driving, and failing to get that rest quickly causes even the best drivers skills and reactions times to deteriorate, in the exact same way that alcohol does. Whether you're talking about driving drunk or driving fatigued, just because you got away with it in the past doesn't mean you were safe then or that you will be so lucky in the future.

Safe Travels - to you and everyone else you will be sharing the road with.

[glc]

If you are determined to drive more than 600 miles a day and have 3 or more competent drivers, please read this article.

[DonnaR57]

Hmmm, did the original post disappear???

Anyway....at one time or another, a few of the regulars in this forum have attempted what you want to do. I am one of those, and my best advice is: DON'T DO IT. When I was a lot younger, I drove across country with three friends (all of them drove). We took turns driving, and there was a rule: if you were in the front passenger seat, it was your job to keep the driver awake and do any navigation. Those in the backseat were to sleep. All "shifts" were two hours in length, then we rotated. When we pulled into the place where I was to be dropped off, I was exhausted. I slept for hours afterward. The sleep I got in the backseat was NOT refreshing. All it really did was rest my eyes. I would never, ever do it again. When I returned to college in the fall, I got on a train with one of the other gals that had done this marathon drive going the other direction. Both of us said, NEVER AGAIN.


Donna

[Midwest Michael]

Hmmm, did the original post disappear???

The original poster edited his post after others had responded. That caused it to be sent into moderation. It should be back now.