Gatlinburg Tn - Orlando-WDW

[DISFANS3]

I am looking for info on the best route and how far from Gatlinburg Tn to Orlando-WDW. We live in Sw mo, just will be on a side trip to the smokey mountains before we go to WDW. Can we make the drive from Gatlinburg to Orlando in one day?? Will not be going until next Aug.... THANKS...

[themepark]

I live in Knoxville and it takes us about 10 hours to drive to Orlando. We travel I-75 to the FL Turnpike. If you drove that route (into Knoxville on I-40W then onto I-75) you should tack on at least an extra hour. It is probably a shorter trip for you to take I-40 east to NC, then I-26 to I-95 thru SC, GA and into FL then onto I-4 to Orlando. We drove this route to Cocoa Beach last year and it wasn't bad. I can't say how long it took us though because we were traveling with friends who stop ALOT. Our stops are infrequent and short when our family travels alone.

Just checked Mapquest and it says 680 miles from Gatlinburg to Orlando (Intl Dr.) 11 hours 10 min. From my house it's 646 miles and Mapquest says 10 hours 50 min. Ok so we drive fast. :) We have done the trip many times in one day. Only once have we stopped to spend the night (and that was with our friends who stop alot.)

[annabelle]

We live in Knoxville too... I was wondering how long the drive would be if we decided to go that route. But unfortunately, we've been blessed with children who don't do well in cars for long periods of time. On one trip back from Nashville... our 2 year old screamed and cried ALL the way back then finally fell asleep when we got to the Farragut exit! I can't imagine driving 12 hours with them! Maybe when they're older.