When would you leave the house?

[Anonymous]

I’m way overthinking this but I need some advice! We are heading to the Great Smoky Mountains area this weekend. Our original plan was to take Friday off, get yard work and things done, and then leave at 5am Saturday. We anticipate, after stopping for breakfast and other little stops, to arrive around 1-2pm.

But now DH thinks we can get everything done on Friday and still leave Friday around 3pm (one kid has a sports camp until 1pm) and get there around 11pm, which would give us another full day. The hotel we are staying at would be another $300 for that night, fwiw.

We are night owls, so we will likely be just as tired at 5am driving as we would be at 11pm. In theory it sounds good, but I worry it’s not the better idea. If you’ve ever done something similar, what would you advise?

[Anonymous]

Friday is the 4th of July. Aren’t most camps and activities canceled?

Regardless, most traffic for the Fourth will be Thursday evening and Friday morning. In the late afternoon you may have firework traffic to contend with. If you have EZPass Flex, getting though NoVa to I-81 is a breeze anytime of day.

[Anonymous]

Either way is fine. Let the driver decide.

PS - it will take longer than google maps says. Plan an additional two hours just in case and make sure your driver feels comfortable with those hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friday is the 4th of July. Aren’t most camps and activities canceled?

Regardless, most traffic for the Fourth will be Thursday evening and Friday morning. In the late afternoon you may have firework traffic to contend with. If you have EZPass Flex, getting though NoVa to I-81 is a breeze anytime of day.

OP here and I have no idea why I it says this weekend because it’s NEXT weekend. I think it autocorrected.

Everyone please note, NEXT WEEKEND.

[Anonymous]

I’d skip the yard work and leave earlier Friday to arrive at check in time Friday. Otherwise, you really aren’t getting your moneys worth.

[Anonymous]

I would also leave earlier if possible.

[Anonymous]

Traffic at 3pm on a summer Friday is brutal. No matter where you’re going. If you don’t mind sitting in hours of traffic go for it. I’d go Saturday morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traffic at 3pm on a summer Friday is brutal. No matter where you’re going. If you don’t mind sitting in hours of traffic go for it. I’d go Saturday morning.

If you’re in Virginia and live near an express exit, that isn’t necessarily the case. If you’re coming from DC or Maryland, add 1-2 hours to your ETA. The express lanes on 66 and 495 are bidirectional, so you don’t have to time it either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d skip the yard work and leave earlier Friday to arrive at check in time Friday. Otherwise, you really aren’t getting your moneys worth.

DS can’t miss sports camp and still play this school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traffic at 3pm on a summer Friday is brutal. No matter where you’re going. If you don’t mind sitting in hours of traffic go for it. I’d go Saturday morning.

THIS THIS THIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m way overthinking this but I need some advice! We are heading to the Great Smoky Mountains area this weekend. Our original plan was to take Friday off, get yard work and things done, and then leave at 5am Saturday. We anticipate, after stopping for breakfast and other little stops, to arrive around 1-2pm.

But now DH thinks we can get everything done on Friday and still leave Friday around 3pm (one kid has a sports camp until 1pm) and get there around 11pm, which would give us another full day. The hotel we are staying at would be another $300 for that night, fwiw.

We are night owls, so we will likely be just as tired at 5am driving as we would be at 11pm. In theory it sounds good, but I worry it’s not the better idea. If you’ve ever done something similar, what would you advise?

Driving 4th afternoon into night? Lots of traffic and questionable folks on the road.

[Anonymous]

Don't drive, fly or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't drive, fly or something.

Why does someone say this on every road trip post?

Sometimes people need to drive, some cities aren’t convenient to fly into, it’s often cheaper to have your own car rather than buy airline tickets and rent a car, and some people just enjoy a road trip.

[Anonymous]

I would leave Friday after 6 and drive about 4 hours to a hotel, then finish the drive on Saturday morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would leave Friday after 6 and drive about 4 hours to a hotel, then finish the drive on Saturday morning.

This what I would do also. My kids would be very grumpy at 5am even if all they had to do was get in the car. I’d also stay somewhere generic and fairly low cost that night on the road.