Alright, so I'm driving from our beloved Raleigh 12.5 +/- hours down to Miami ON A SATURDAY (the 13th of March) headed down with my girlfriend to Key West for spring break.

If any of you have made the drive or a similar one before, what are the traffic red-zones on the trek down I-95, and based on that, is there a strategic "best time to leave"?

I was thinking 5am, that way I would beat morning rush hour in Raleigh / down I-95 to Fayetteville and rush hour would be over by the time I hit Savannah. I'm not sure if there's really a Saturday rush hour, but anyway... The only problem is that time puts me in Jacksonville right at lunch time.

Thoughts, advice?

2/26/2010 9:38:13 AM

Leave at 7 pm on Friday night. Seriously.

2/26/2010 9:39:23 AM

12 hour drive? No thanks

Fly, Pelican, Fly!

2/26/2010 9:42:20 AM

^^ what she said

[Edited on February 26, 2010 at 9:43 AM. Reason : #]

2/26/2010 9:42:51 AM

Get a case of red bull and drive through the night.

2/26/2010 9:42:58 AM

I used to live in charlottesville, drove from there to boca and back, that was ~14hours.


on the way down i stopped in savannah for the night cause that town rock. On the way back I did it all in one day


I left ~6am i believe and got in around 10pm. I imagine you'll need to leave around 6am from Raleigh to get to Miami before midnight. Driving w/2people is a little slower cause you'll want to stop and stuff. I dind't stop for anything but gas, got my food at the gas station

2/26/2010 9:43:14 AM

Quote :

"Leave at 7 pm on Friday night. Seriously."

2/26/2010 9:43:18 AM

Stop being a cheap ass and fly down there.

2/26/2010 9:43:25 AM

If you listened to "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" on loop during that trip, you would listen to it over 216 times before you reached your destination.

2/26/2010 9:43:32 AM

damn dude

if you're driving to key west there's quite a bit more to go beyond miami

surely you're aware of this?

2/26/2010 9:43:34 AM

As much as I DON'T want to do that considering that I have class 'till 5:30pm on Friday, I think that you couldn't be more right. Maybe I could just pack earlier in the week and get a butt-ton of sleep Thursday night...

The hardest part about that suggestion is going to be getting the girlfriend to go along with it... I'll be driving the whole way, and she usually doesn't sleep in the car, but maybe this could change that?

2/26/2010 9:43:46 AM

Well since it will be on a Saturday, you don't have to worry about rush hour traffic. I guess it all depends on what time you want to get there.

I would personally take Lucy's advice and drive through the night, taking shifts sleeping. But that's just me.

2/26/2010 9:44:01 AM

We are presuming you will be staying in Miami for a bit?

2/26/2010 9:45:25 AM

And on a sidenote: Going to Spring Break with your girlfriend is a terrible idea

2/26/2010 9:47:36 AM

^^ He said it's a spring break trip. What are you from Finland or something?

[Edited on February 26, 2010 at 9:47 AM. Reason : *]

2/26/2010 9:47:39 AM

it all depends on what you have going on for this trip. Driving through the night will get you there faster by maybe an hour or two. With it being Saturday and less of a rush hour I personally would prefer driving during the day. Driving at night starts straining your eyes after a bit (whining i know) and at least during the day there is stuff to look at.

But if there are things you can do in Miami Saturday then drive the night before and enjoy Miami

2/26/2010 9:48:21 AM

I'm spending a day and a night in Miami for free with a friend before driving the remaining 5 hours or so to Key West. Yes, I'm aware of how long the drive is going to be, and I haven't driven 12.5 hours straight before, but I have done 11 and it wasn't bad at all.

As for being a cheap-ass, I'm a college senior without a job, and tickets to Key West are ~$500 a pop. I'm currently in an insurance-paid rental car because I got rearended by a drunk driver on Valentine's Day, so I'm sure we'll drive that and I don't have to worry about wear and tear on my car. Gas should cost us ~$200 total for the whole trip. I would rather save the cash and drive...

2/26/2010 9:48:25 AM

honestly, unless ur used to staying up all night, i wouldn't recommend driving all night. No reason to take a risk falling asleep at the wheel. Go when you are alert and be glad you didn't die.

2/26/2010 9:49:19 AM

He and the girlfriend could take shifts and sleep/drive. Unless she's one of those uppity bitches that won't ever drive OR is more of a hazard driving than a chimp on meth.

2/26/2010 9:50:23 AM

Quote :

"Driving at night starts straining your eyes after a bit (whining i know) and at least during the day there is stuff to look at."

There is NOTHING to look at in South Carolina, Georgia and North Florida.

Trust me. I've made the drive from Raleigh to Miami 3 times, and the drive from Raleigh to Orlando about 10.

2/26/2010 9:50:24 AM

ya i guess if you have a friend w/you that helps, forgot about that.


i'd still say safer to go during the day.

2/26/2010 9:51:36 AM

i could sleep for 12 hours prior to driving at night and STILL fall asleep...i cannot do the night driving thing for more than a couple of hours

2/26/2010 9:51:59 AM

that ain't shit

i did 24 hours straight once to Massachusetts and back.

2/26/2010 9:53:02 AM

The longest drive i have ever made in one shot was Greensboro to Buffalo, NY. About 10.5 hours. Left at 5AM, took a nice power nap as soon as we got there, then went and partied it up all night in Canada.

2/26/2010 9:53:41 AM

@dharney

I'm an architecture student... Haha I pulled at least 2 all-nighters a week my sophomore year. It's more like 1 every other week now, but I can definitely stay aware to drive all night. I know I wouldn't have any issues about driving all night - the main issue is convincing the girl (and her parents, who she will give a say) that it's not a bad idea...

2/26/2010 9:53:48 AM

Just take 3 5-hour energy drinks and you'll be fine.

The traffic is easier at night. Only problem is it's harder to see cops. If you don't have a radar detector, then stay within 9 miles of the speed limit.

2/26/2010 9:54:49 AM

The girl has to convince her parents to let her drive at night?

Does she have a curfew too?

2/26/2010 9:55:01 AM

I have a friend that drove from Asheville to Las Vegas in a straight shot. He and 3 of his college buddies took shifts driving.

Crazy part: They did it in a Civic. Imagine 4 dudes in a Civic for 33 straight hours.

2/26/2010 9:55:28 AM

^ That sounds like it could get disgusting fast.

2/26/2010 9:56:02 AM

I don't think the drive there would be that bad because you would be looking forward to Vegas.

The drive home would SUUUUUUUUCK

That being said, I rode in the back of that Civic for the 1 hour ride from Emerald Isle to Myrtle Beach and it SUCKED. Sore neck and legs ftl. I couldn't IMAGINE riding back there for like 10 hours.

[Edited on February 26, 2010 at 9:58 AM. Reason : a]

2/26/2010 9:57:05 AM

The flight home from Vegas is painful enough.

2/26/2010 9:58:09 AM

read that as "took shits driving" lol

2/26/2010 9:58:21 AM

lol i remember taking a 11pm flight home from vegas once.. took a sleeping pill + the bumpiest plane ride i've ever had = damn near broke my nose a few times on the tray

good times, good times

2/26/2010 9:59:04 AM

I've driven to Toronto twice and am going to Montreal next month, it's not that bad to drive that far.

2/26/2010 9:59:52 AM

Last time I flew back from Vegas, I sat beside Coach Bruce Pearl and he let me watch Family Guy with him on his personal DVD player. That was the only thing that kept me from wanting to die.

It was a rough trip.

2/26/2010 10:00:29 AM

i drove from Charlotte NC, to Miami in one shot new years day. i left at 530am. and got down there about 6:30 that night


I went 77 to 26 to 95.

South Carolina is a depressing state to drive through.


ALSO dont speed when you get to Florida. they check radar by helicopter..

[Edited on February 26, 2010 at 10:04 AM. Reason : .]

2/26/2010 10:01:50 AM

^? Haha that's too creepy.

Quote :

"I have a friend that drove from Asheville Morganton to Las Vegas California in a straight shot. He and 3 2 of his college our high school buddies took shifts driving. Crazy part: They did it in a Civic. Imagine 3 dudes in a Civic for 33 41 straight hours."

I didn't get to go b/c of another trip.. They ended up in Portland, OR where they left the car and flew back. They were sick of each other lol. Plus, the owner of the car was going to come to Willamette Univ in the fall.



[Edited on February 26, 2010 at 10:05 AM. Reason : striking out a four is fail]

2/26/2010 10:02:28 AM

Quote :

"South Carolina is a depressing state to drive through."

Ain't that the fucking truth. I have driven to FL twice (once to FSU for a FSU/NCSU football game, and once to J'ville for the Gator Bowl). And that stretch through SC is probably the most depressing stretch of highway on the east coast. Including the stretch of I-81 through Virginia.

2/26/2010 10:04:19 AM

Quote :

"I've driven to Toronto twice and am going to Montreal next month, it's not that bad to drive that far."

Yeah that's not a bad drive. Our trips always tack on an extra 2+ hours or so because we always go up to Barrie/Wasaga Beach

2/26/2010 10:08:38 AM

Toronto is an awesome city and I would move there if I knew someone who could plug me into the social pipeline

2/26/2010 10:10:48 AM

@lucyinthesky
I need to get a good radar detector, because I sure as hell don't need any more tickets... My friend has a Passport, maybe he'll let me borrow it for the week.

@Schpenxel
WOW. I couldn't do that unless it was for a very good reason. That took balls.

@Slave Famous
She doesn't HAVE to ask her parents for anything, but being a good girl who loves her parents and is ridiculously overprotected by them, she will.

@djeternal
Whoa. Four of us wolves, running around the desert together, in Las Vegas, looking for strippers and cocaine.

2/26/2010 10:10:54 AM

lol when we were leaving key west, we left at like 2pm. drove all the way from mile marker 0 to homestead, went to the everglades, drove all the way down 41. we wound up spending the night on the other side of Orlando. it wound up being like 4 or 500 miles in one day. shit was brutal but fun

2/26/2010 10:11:19 AM

I drove nonstop from Raleigh to the French quarter on a Friday night and back to Raleigh non stop that Sunday night.

That was a rough weekend!!

2/26/2010 10:12:03 AM

I wouldn't try a straight shot with just two people. Cause the other person is supposed to be asleep while you're driving, and then it's just you by yourself awake.

2/26/2010 10:17:35 AM

OH YEAH WELL I'VE DRIVEN TO LONDON AND BACK ALL IN ONE SHOT BEAT THAT

2/26/2010 10:18:25 AM

Maybe you'll get a tape stuck in the player and have to listen to one song the whole trip like Ted and Marshall

2/26/2010 10:18:42 AM

Quote :

"is there a strategic "best time to leave"?"

night time

fuck "having stuff to look at" in the daytime

much less traffic >>> a scenic drive

2/26/2010 10:19:02 AM

Anybody here driven from Miami to Key West? Google says 3 hours, but I've heard it takes a fair bit longer...

2/26/2010 10:23:37 AM

I don't advise driving through the night... that can be a very boring drive between cities and 95 is not the best for friendly drivers

Since it is a Saturday, leaving at 6 or 7 am should get you there by midnight (giving you time for a few stops, not sure how stir crazy you or your gf can get). Driving during the day also means more side attractions (even if they are food places) would be open. Its for spring break, I'm assuming you will be there for most of the week. Why kill yourself to get down there?


Enjoy Key West


^^ that sounds accurate. I did this drive a few years ago. Omce you get to us 1 after 95 ends, it can crawl through the everglades/swamps or when you are hopping keys. That's the fun part of the drive though

[Edited on February 26, 2010 at 10:29 AM. Reason : i need to do this again]

2/26/2010 10:24:10 AM

Quote :

"ALSO dont speed when you get to Florida. they check radar by helicopter.."

I've found that Florida is the best state to speed through. Honestly, traffic flows MUCH faster, on average. eleusis and I drove to Miami once where we set the cruise control at 90 mph in Ft. Lauderdale and we were getting passed by TONS of traffic.

Traffic tends to flow much faster. They'll pull others before they pull you. Just keep it around 9 over or less. You won't be worth their time to pull.

2/26/2010 10:26:12 AM