recommendations for drive from NYC to SRQ? (Jacksonville, Sarasota: extended stay, coupon) - Manatee and Sarasota Counties - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

photoman_6 · 07-10-2010, 06:54 PM

i just made the trip last week, although without dogs.
I took a somewhat longer route, but a lot less hassless. I went outerbridge crossing to 440 to I believe it was 78 to 81 down to 77 into North Carolina, 26 to 95 to 295 around Jacksonville, hooked up with 10 and then with 75. Interstate traffic all the way, no lights, no construction, no hassles. The only hairy part was in Virgina and NC going into the mountains up and down drove the wife crazy.
We stayed at several quality inns. Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and some others are part of the same group and were decent cheap hotels around 50-60 a night, with restaurants nearby.
Go to google maps and trace the route cause when you ask for directions to sarasota it takes you down 95 all the way and that's a no-no.

BTW- I've been here 10 days and I love it. Best thing i ever did.

jnanner · 07-10-2010, 07:08 PM

excellent! thanks for the info. i thought 95 was the way to go. i am worried about staying in safe towns. Do i need to worry about driving south with NY plates or is that a thing of the past?

I gotta say, i dunno if i will survive this trip! I just got back from picking DH up from JFK and I am shot. Mentally and physically drained lol That Delta terminal is the pits! i am used to Jetblue. I think I am going to have nightmares about circling the terminals all night lol

jnanner · 07-10-2010, 07:10 PM

btw - i'm glad to hear you are so happy down there! That's fantastic

MissLizzie85 · 07-10-2010, 10:13 PM

I've made the drive from northern NJ to SRQ several times, and the previous poster who mentioned avoiding DC at rush hour is so right! We hit DC around 9 AM on one trip, and were in traffic all the way through Richmond... it added about 2 hours to our drive... ugh. We have had issues in the past driving with NJ plates (particularly in NC and GA), but as long as you don't give the police any reason to pull you over, you should be fine.

I typically stay in Fayetteville, NC on the way. I just recently got a room at the Fayetteville Econo Lodge, which is pet friendly, extremely clean, and really affordable. Good luck with your trip, and be sure to bring a book on tape

gettinoutofjersey · 07-11-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

excellent! thanks for the info. i thought 95 was the way to go. i am worried about staying in safe towns. Do i need to worry about driving south with NY plates or is that a thing of the past?

you take 95 all the way down but then you need to go west and south to get over to 75. it is all quick moving, 10 to 15 over the posted speed except for rt 301.

we came down with jersey plates on and it concerned me in regard to having a flat tire or mechanical at night. there are alot of long, long dark stretches on 95. most down here especially the bad guys know that nj is a very liberal anti gun state. down here all the states are concealed carry or guns are common with the good guys. my thought was that if a car of bad guys go by and see you have problems and see the plates they will know you are on vacation and probably have cash. then they double back to help you out. so just in case i brought my own protection in a variety of calibers.

beachymom · 07-11-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnanner

that's so funny! but see... it's not just me! would serve us right to have a crust with nothing delivered one day after ordering it plain lol

so, since you just did this - how does the tipping, feeding of the movers, etc go? do you tip at both pick up and delivery? after they are done? did you just tell them you were getting lunch for them halfway into the day while they were working? our movers are from queens so i know we'll be speaking the same language when it comes to pizza at least.

and thanks, i've heard the La Quinta chain is good and pet friendly. 2 more weeks....ahhh! can't wait!

Well, we waited until they moved us in down here to tip them. We gave each guy (three of them) $100 each. I have no idea if that was enough. I bought them lunch up in Ohio and here in Florida. I just asked them around 11-12 when and what they wanted to eat. I also had water and drinks available whenever they needed it. Those guys work SO hard and it is so hot. We even offered for them to take a dip in the pool. LOL! They were great guys.

jnanner · 07-11-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachymom

Well, we waited until they moved us in down here to tip them. We gave each guy (three of them) $100 each. I have no idea if that was enough. I bought them lunch up in Ohio and here in Florida. I just asked them around 11-12 when and what they wanted to eat. I also had water and drinks available whenever they needed it. Those guys work SO hard and it is so hot. We even offered for them to take a dip in the pool. LOL! They were great guys.

thanks!! i would be clueless!

jnanner · 07-11-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gettinoutofjersey

you take 95 all the way down but then you need to go west and south to get over to 75. it is all quick moving, 10 to 15 over the posted speed except for rt 301.

we came down with jersey plates on and it concerned me in regard to having a flat tire or mechanical at night. there are alot of long, long dark stretches on 95. most down here especially the bad guys know that nj is a very liberal anti gun state. down here all the states are concealed carry or guns are common with the good guys. my thought was that if a car of bad guys go by and see you have problems and see the plates they will know you are on vacation and probably have cash. then they double back to help you out. so just in case i brought my own protection in a variety of calibers.

zoinks :O now i am slightly more freaked out lol

Big House · 07-12-2010, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnanner

zoinks :O now i am slightly more freaked out lol

I always leave at 4:30 AM in the morning, and avoid all the Balt/DC traffic as I mentioned earlier. I also mentioned some of the time frames it takes to get to points south of DC from Baltimore.

If you are taking a leisurely trip down, and want some break the trip up, Williamsburg is an hour off track. You would take RT 64 east of Richmond. I recommend taking 295 around Richmond. Don't drive through the city if you can avoid it. Williamsburg has a ton of places to stay and things to do. ((tough with pets, but maybe on another trip you might consider this)).

When you get down to Charlotte, I would recommend you stay there, especially if you are plumb tuckered out. I was going to recommend dog friendly places to stay, but someone beat me to it (see the thread above). And, if you travel without a dog, I would even recommend planning to spend a day there, and check out the historic area around Broadway. You'll love it.

If you go down 95, when you hit Jacksonville - you are exactly 5 hours to my front door in Punta Gorda. Subtracting an hour - you are probably 4 hours to Sarasota. It is also about 7 hours to home once you hit the Florida border.

I hope this helps.

DeMango · 07-13-2010, 09:38 AM

When I did this regularly, North Jersey to FL, in the mid 70's, I got cheap and took I-81 south, then over to I-95 via 77 and 26. Saved on a bunch of tolls from the NJT to Petersburg, VA. Missed the horrendous traffic thru MD and DC. If you must travel during the daytime, this is the way to go. If you can leave at 8PM then of course straight thru on !-95 is cost effective.