Hello everyone! Get ready to buckle up for an exhilarating adventure as we share our epic 22-hour road trip drive from Toronto to Orlando (in Florida) with our two kids, ages three and six.
Oh yes, you read that right! We embarked on this unforgettable journey, filled with laughter, sing-alongs, and just the right amount of ‘Are we there yet?’.
We learned so much along the way and we can’t wait to share our experiences, tips, and invaluable lessons with you. Hold on tight, it's going to be a wild ride!
Drive From Toronto to Orlando
We were so excited to take the i95 route from Toronto to Florida and let me tell you, it turned out to be quite an adventure!
The journey itself took us around 24 hours, with a few much-needed breaks along the way. We headed off around 5 a.m. while the kids were still sleeping in the car.
Personal Tip: Get your kids to wear their comfy clothes for the next day! That way, you can easily whisk them into the car and worry about teeth brushing later in the day. 😉
My husband did not get any sleep due to his work prior to vacation so we took turns driving.
Product Tip: Try the Essence of Chicken Drink (雞精) to help stay awake for a caffeine-free solution.
Hotel
Make sure to scout for a cozy hotel along your route to spend the night during your road trip.
Personal Tip: We recommend Booking.com as it's super convenient and helps you easily locate hotels nearby. What's even better? You can become a genius member, which means you can score additional discounts when you book. Try your best to pick a hotel in a big city since there will be better options for you to choose from.
And let me tell you, I absolutely adore how many of these hotels offer complimentary continental breakfast. You can simply grab and go, allowing you to save precious time as you hit the road!
Packing Tip: To enhance your hotel experience, try packing all the essentials you need in a single luggage! This strategy can save time and eliminate the hassle of dealing with multiple bags. It's a game-changer!
Sonic Drive-in
We decided to give Sonic Drive-in a try for a quick dinner. I really like how they have these drive-in spots where multiple cars can park. Oh, and their milkshakes are just amazing! Not to mention their small tots, they're absolutely delicious.
We rarely visit fast food restaurants as a family, so this was a nice change of pace for us! It's definitely an exception, especially since it's not available in Canada.
The White House
Even though our schedule was tight and we didn't have much time to explore, we simply couldn't resist making a little detour to Washington DC.
Our ultimate stop was none other than the iconic White House, and to top it off, we managed to squeeze in some time to stock up on groceries for the road.
Orlando
Finally, we made it to our destination – Westgate Resort in Orlando! We absolutely adore our resort because it's incredibly family-oriented and offers a fantastic range of activities for the kids. And guess what? We even have a huge jacuzzi in our bedroom! It's the perfect spot for the whole family to relax together, watch TV, and indulge in some tasty snacks. It's truly a dream come true!
Drive From Orlando to Toronto
After we completed our Disney World journey, it was time to drive back home.
We took the i75 route (1 hour longer than taking the i95 route) from Florida to Toronto and decided to take our time, spreading it over 3 days.
Personal Tip: Try to grab your hands with the “Along Interstate” guidebook by Dave Hunter before our trip to get some extra tips for our road adventure. We stumbled upon these incredible hidden gem restaurants, like SmokinPig, that blew our minds! Seriously, it was beyond amazing!
Our first detour was Atlanta, where we couldn't resist checking out the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.
Georgia Aquarium
Let me just say, it was an absolutely mind-blowing experience! This aquarium is no joke – it's the biggest in North America, with a mind-boggling 10 million gallons of water.
Apart from the breathtaking marine life, you also got a chance to attend an awesome dolphin show. One of the main highlights is to see the whale sharks!
It was incredible and highly entertaining for our kids and not to mention it is a such great place to burn the kids' energy after a long drive.
Personal Tip: Make sure to book your tickets at least a day in advance! Not only will you snag a special discount, but you'll also secure your spot and avoid any last-minute disappointments.
World of Coca-Cola
We also made sure to visit the World of Coca-Cola, which was a must-see since it's where Coca-Cola originated. It was such a fun and educational experience – we learned so much!
Our kids were super excited to check out the 4D movie, explore the pop culture gallery, and catch a glimpse of the vault containing the original Coca-Cola secret formula.
The best part (especially for the kids!) is that you get to sample a variety of soda flavors from around the world. There were so many options that it almost felt like we were having a sugar overload!
And of course, the grand finale is the station where you can enjoy Coca-Cola. They really know how to make it irresistible – perhaps it's the special fountain, the perfectly carbonated bubbles, or the ideal temperature. Either way, you can't deny that it's the ultimate soda experience!
Trader Joes
On our way back, we managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Trader Joe's. Our kids absolutely love it – the selection of snacks and drinks was just perfect for long road trips.
We also took the opportunity to stock up on snacks for the trip home – pretzels, crackers, chips, nuts, and much more!
Personal Tip: Find a store along your route with the highest ratings by using Google! You'll be able to visit one of the finest stores that has all the stocks you need.
Cincinnati Premium Outlets
On our third day, we decided to make a detour to Cincinnati Premium Outlets.
It was not one of my favorite outlets in the States, but we managed to buy some winter boots and clothes ready for fall and winter at discounted prices.
It's always a great idea to stock up on essentials before the cold winter hits.
Buc-ee's
Our visit to Buc-ee's was an experience in itself. The place is mind-bogglingly vast, and the variety of items on offer is just as expansive.
We were absolutely blown away by this massive chain of country stores, gas stations, and electric vehicle chargers. I mean, I've never seen so many gas pumps at a single station before – there must have been like 30 of them! It was just incredible!
A few must-buys that we'd like to highlight are the Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets – a sweet, caramel-coated corn puff snack that's incredibly addictive. The extensive variety of jerky was also impressive, with flavors ranging from traditional to exotic like cherry maple smoked beef.
Lastly, don't miss out on their sandwich counter – the brisket sandwiches are absolutely mouthwatering!
And finally, make sure you don't miss out on their amazing sandwich counter! Trust me, the brisket sandwiches will make your mouth water. Picture this: They expertly chop up fresh, hot beef briskets right before your eyes, and the staff will cheerfully announce “Fresh Briskets on the Board!” It's not just delicious, it's also quite entertaining. You won't want to pass this up!
Trust us, a visit to Buc-ee's is not just a pit stop, it's a destination in itself.
Going Back Home
We finally made it back home at 3 a.m.! Turns out, we made a major mistake by not checking the cross-border hours.
Lesson learned: Not all borders are open 24 hours!
So, we had to drive to the closest border that was still open, which added an extra hour to our journey. It was quite a rough day for my amazing husband, driving for 12 hours straight. But you know what? It was totally worth it! He even said he'd do it again next time. Can you believe it? 😄
Trip Preparation
Just wanted to share with you a list of things we did to get ready for our trip:
- Emergency medical insurance is important! We use the Manulife plan since it is part of my husband's work benefits.
- For our cell phone, we chose separate eSim plans in case one does not work. I chose Nomad $18USD for 10 GB) which is the cheapest USA plans. My husband chose Airalo ($26USD for 10 GB).
- We download Google maps on our phones in case we do not have data in some parts of the country.
- We shared our itinerary with family members for safety precautions.
- We make sure our auto insurance is covered in the states.
How to Keep Kids Entertained During Car Ride?
First of all, I have to mention that my parents and most of my friends live just about an hour's drive away from our house. It's amazing because we get to go on these awesome one-hour road trips about 3 to 4 times a month! My kids have been used to these trips since they were little, so it's become a fun tradition for us.
Ever since then, we've been having a blast going on camping and cottage trips that are just a 3-4 hour drive away. And you won't believe it – sometimes we don't even need to make any stops along the way!
But here's the exciting part – we went on an absolutely unforgettable 10-hour road trip last year to the breathtaking province of Quebec! It was such an inspiring experience that I couldn't wait to share some valuable road trip tips and tricks with you through the next two posts:
Some of our entertainments include:
- Itinerary (Kid-friendly)
- Snacks & drinks
- Road trip printables
- I spy games
- Podcasts
- Songs
- Ipad movies and shows
Personal Tip: We do not start entertaining the kids with the iPad. We use that as the last reserve.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, road trips are simply the best!
Especially these trips that span over consecutive days. They offer an incredible sense of adventure and an unparalleled chance to create lasting memories with your loved ones.
Let me tell you about our own adventure from Toronto to Orlando with our young kids – it was challenging, but oh-so-rewarding!
By the way, if it were up to me, I would've preferred a 3-day drive instead of 2. That way, we could have more time to explore along the way. But, you know how it is, my husband, being the main driver, wanted to get it done in 2 days. I totally understand his mindset of wanting to just get it over with.
At the end of the day, I truly believe that this requires teamwork. With my awesome husband as the main driver and me taking charge of planning the trip, we absolutely nailed the journey and everyone had a blast!
What was your longest road trip? Let us know by commenting below!
