We always get stuck in a monumental traffic jam in Nashville, so we can never make it to 30-A in less than 13 hours, even if we pull an all-nighter (I'm getting too old for those!).
Does anyone drive farther than us?
Replies
78
Beach Fanatic
I'll let you know Saturday morning. We are leaving from Dallas on Friday night & lookling at a 14 hour trip. We'll see. It could be much longer than that if we can't find gas. :shock:
Beach Fanatic
It takes us about 17 hours at least to get to SoWal from SouthEastern Michigan. And that's if we eat in the car for at least a few meals and stay within the speed limits. We're now switching to flying mostly because the drive each way involves an overnight stay at a hotel. By the time we pay for gas, hotel, food it makes flying sound better. Driving also takes a few days off our time in SoWal as well so we gain some vacation time if we fly. Kids are much happier if we fly rather than drive.
got any pics?
Normally 6 hours 
but this one time .... "at band camp".... 5 1/2 hours 
but this one time .... "at band camp".... 5 1/2 hours 
Meow
I'll let you know Saturday morning. We are leaving from Dallas on Friday night & lookling at a 14 hour trip. We'll see. It could be much longer than that if we can't find gas. :shock:
Are you doing what our family used to do??? Put sleeping kids in the car at 3:00 am, fill up thermos with coffee, eat junk in the car, pull into Destin and stop at the Walmart and Delchamps, arrive 13 hours later to sometimes find your house is not quite ready to move into, run down to the beach and smile...it's all good when your destination is SoWal!!!!
bean
Our drive is 13.5-16 hours depending on the time we leave. If we leave at 9pm and drive all night we hardly stop at all during the night and get to SoWal by 10:30 or so. We lucked out this year and the condo was ready when we arrived. Normal check in was 4:00! We wouldn't have cared...we were at the beach and that's all that matters right? Now the drive home was another story....we left at noon (bad idea) lost an hour b/c of the time change, made way too many stops, spent 1/2 hour looking for a chik-fil-a and got home at 3:30am. Not fun.
SoWal Expert
When a friend of mine (who usu has no more than 2-3 days off at a time) from Atlanta, about 5.5 hours away, drives down, he tends to get a few hours of sleep, before starting his drive around 3:00am. With the time difference, he arrives around 7:00am central. That way he has an additional full day, rather than only part of a day.
Beach Fanatic
3 hrs
pickyAuthor
It takes us about 17 hours at least to get to SoWal from SouthEastern Michigan. And that's if we eat in the car for at least a few meals and stay within the speed limits. We're now switching to flying mostly because the drive each way involves an overnight stay at a hotel. By the time we pay for gas, hotel, food it makes flying sound better. Driving also takes a few days off our time in SoWal as well so we gain some vacation time if we fly. Kids are much happier if we fly rather than drive.
Paula, what airport do you fly into? I'm thinking there will be times that we'd prefer to fly, but I'm not sure if it's better to go to Panama City Beach or Fort Walton Beach. Is it six of one/ half a dozen of the other?
Beach Fanatic
Ten minutes to the Crystal Beach/Henderson Park area unless I get caught up at the light at US 98 and Danny Wuerffel.
The advantage of Ft. Walton Beach/VPS airport is that you get more carrier options and there are more Delta flights that are actually operated by Delta proper and not ASA (aka Satan's commuter airline as determined by a major customer satisfaction survey) Though given a choice, I really prefer Northwest and connecting through Memphis on the trips to Michigan to visit the parents.
The advantage of Ft. Walton Beach/VPS airport is that you get more carrier options and there are more Delta flights that are actually operated by Delta proper and not ASA (aka Satan's commuter airline as determined by a major customer satisfaction survey) Though given a choice, I really prefer Northwest and connecting through Memphis on the trips to Michigan to visit the parents.
margarita brocolia
I'll let you know Saturday morning. We are leaving from Dallas on Friday night & lookling at a 14 hour trip. We'll see. It could be much longer than that if we can't find gas. :shock:
Let me know what route you take. We're going in October and planning to take the "North" route. Usually go across on I 10 though through Mobile.
From Arlington - 13 hrs for us if drive straight through w/short stops. Usually stay over somewher though. May not be rooms this time.
got any pics?
3 hrs
Bragger :!:
Beach Fanatic
Bragger :!:
I know. What is so stupid is how we can never seem to get time to go down there.
But not for long!!
SoWal Expert
I'm thinking our short term real estate goal should be to move CLOSER to the beach (5 hours or less instead of 12). More financially realistic.
Then later on move TO the beach.
Then later on move TO the beach.
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
3 hrs
OMG LL...you should be there at least once a month!!! It takes me 6 to 6.5 hours, and I am considering a once a month trip!!!!
Beach Fanatic
OMG LL...you should be there at least once a month!!! It takes me 6 to 6.5 hours, and I am considering a once a month trip!!!!
Once a month is hard to pull while I'm sitting in this stooooopid desk on the weekends!
got any pics?
OMG LL...you should be there at least once a month!!! It takes me 6 to 6.5 hours, and I am considering a once a month trip!!!!
It takes that long from Lacy Springs :arrow:
Beach Fanatic
It takes that long from Lacy Springs :arrow:
Kathy must take her time. When I'm on the way to the beach, all you'll see is smoke and rubber flying.
kt loo
From our home in ATL it's about 5 hours 10 minutes "rolling time". Add any stops to that. We try to stay no more than 5 miles over speed limits.
My husband is a map geek, spending most of the drive down calculating times and routes :roll: , but usually nails our arrival time pretty accurately by the time we leave our driveway. After much experimentation, the fastest route we've found from Atl to east side of 30-A is:
85 --> 185 --> 80/280/431 (Phenix City) --> 231 --> Hwy 109 (south of Dothan), becomes Hwy 77 --> Hwy 20 --> Hwy 79 --> 98.
My husband is a map geek, spending most of the drive down calculating times and routes :roll: , but usually nails our arrival time pretty accurately by the time we leave our driveway. After much experimentation, the fastest route we've found from Atl to east side of 30-A is:
85 --> 185 --> 80/280/431 (Phenix City) --> 231 --> Hwy 109 (south of Dothan), becomes Hwy 77 --> Hwy 20 --> Hwy 79 --> 98.
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
It takes that long from Lacy Springs :arrow:
Well, my twin sister always comes down with me....she is speed limit freak! and I have a 12 year old that thinks he has to pee every hour!!!
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Once a month is hard to pull while I'm sitting in this stooooopid desk on the weekends!
Oh ok..well that explains it. Luckily, I don't have to work on the weekends!
Beach Fanatic
Well, my twin sister always comes down with me....she is speed limit freak! and I have a 12 year old that thinks he has to pee every hour!!!
I don't believe it. There are two of you?
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
I don't believe it. There are two of you?
Yes, but she is the SERIOUS one....I just like to have fun!!!!!!
got any pics?
Well, my twin sister always comes down with me....she is speed limit freak! and I have a 12 year old that thinks he has to pee every hour!!!
I prefer to think of it as a "Speed Suggestion"
Beach Fanatic
Yes, but she is the SERIOUS one....I just like to have fun!!!!!!
Identical?
Beach Fanatic
Are you doing what our family used to do??? Put sleeping kids in the car at 3:00 am, fill up thermos with coffee, eat junk in the car, pull into Destin and stop at the Walmart and Delchamps, arrive 13 hours later to sometimes find your house is not quite ready to move into, run down to the beach and smile...it's all good when your destination is SoWal!!!!
Exactly that! I'll let you know how it turns out.
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