Anyone made the drive from DC to Tampa in one day? Do-able or a big mistake?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to be in Tampa in December and must drive (flying isn’t an option). We stopped in Savannah the last time we had to make the trip, and the second day of driving still seemed long.

Some in our party are lobbying to leave at 6am and make the drive in one very long day. Possible? How painful?

I think we should stop—maybe around Jacksonville?

Tips on if and where to stop would be appreciated.

While it is a long one day trip-personally I'd do it in one day, because it sounds easier to have everyone packed up and in the car just for one day, rather than getting 12 people into and out of the hotel and back on the road.

I've done the drive (from Tampa, I live near there) and it is long, but I'm glad to get it over with in one day.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone saying this is a 16 hour day? Leave at 5 in the morning to avoid dc traffic, switch off drivers a couple times, have food packed or plan on just a drive thru on the highway, and two or three quick pee stops. And you’re rolling into Tampa after rush hour. This is a straight shot and not a long driving day.

[Anonymous]

I did it. It was painful, but doable. The hardest part is that it’s 95 for SO long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have driven to Sarasota Florida from Springfield Virginia in one day, twice, many years ago. You have too many people to drive to Tampa in one day. Plan on about 10 hours to drive to Jacksonville if you don’t stop to eat. I would recommend stoping for the night at st. Augustine or st. Augustine beach, which is slightly past Jacksonville. I would not suggest Amelia Island Florida because it is too far from I-95. The biggest problem was the road quality in South Carolina, which is roughly 200 miles long.

What does the number of people have to do with it?

[Anonymous]

We drive down in one day, but then take two days to come back and spend the night in Florence, SC.

The drive is fine and easy until you get to the GA/FL border then you start to get tired and the drivers a little more nuts.

It works for us, but we always plan on doing absolutely nothing the next day - we just sit by the pool and chill.

[Anonymous]

Done it a ton of times for soccer showcases. It's doable but hard.