Best route - Chicago to Orlando

[patches07]

We are from the same area and are driving down in November too.

We did the 57 route before but thinking about 65 this time.

We are leaving November 1st at 3am.

 

[Butterbunkins]

We are leaving November 1st at 3am.

Please come back and update the roads (construction, etc.) We're leaving 11/8 but camping, visiting family on our way down so not arriving until later on 11/11.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We are driving the 57/24/75 route from Chicago and leaving on 8/17 after work!!! I'll update when we get back.

We took 65 last trip and it was fine, but all of the construction talk made us change our minds.

 

[droycro]

We are leaving November 1st at 3am.

Are you driving straight through?

 

[patches07]

Are you driving straight through?

We are stopping for the night in Macon GA.

 

[mama23babies]

Any driving updates? We are leaving from Chicago suburbs (south) on Nov, 9th. I'm looking for tips, places to stay for the night?


Thanks!

Debbie

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Butterbunkins]

Any driving updates? We are leaving from Chicago suburbs (south) on Nov, 9th. I'm looking for tips, places to stay for the night?


Thanks!

Debbie

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

We are leaving the evening of 11/8 but making a few stops on our way down (our favorite camping spot in Southern IL and with family in Knoxville, TN) and will be arriving 11/11.

I'm not sure what time of the day you're leaving, but if you are looking to just stop overnight somewhere I would suggest trying to get past Atlanta before stopping. On the way home we always stay at the Best Western in Murfreesboro, TN. Its just south of Nashville and is more than half way home.

 

[Suzanne033]

I'm looking for tips, places to stay for the night?

Thanks!

Debbie

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I don't live far from you. My DD13 and I drove down in June. We left Northwest Indiana at 6:30am and were in Macon, Georgia by 7:00pm. I got a great pre-paid rate on Hotels.com at a Best Western that had free breakfast right off 275.

The second day we left Macon approx. 8:00am and were in Disney by 2:00pm.

In all honestly, even though I was the only driver, if I didn't already have a pre-paid reservation at that particular Best Western I would have kept going and easily made it to Valdosta by 9pm.

 

[mama23babies]

Thanks! Everyone I have heard from has said to get past Atlanta the first day. That's the plan. We have three drivers, so that should help. I'd love to go straight through, but I don't know how the kids will make it. I just want a decent place to stay if we need to.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[jimbostacks]

Lots of great info here. We are planning on doing Mammoth Cave for a few hours on the way and I do not think I can make it past ATlanta. Any good hotel recommendations in Kennesaw GA? Ithought I saw an Embassy Suites for $100 which sounds cheap with the large breakfast they serve.

 

[luvavacation]

Just popping in, with a little update on the drive from far western Chicago area to almost Orlando (went to Jacksonville) over Thanksgiving.

We picked up my daughter at Purdue, and took 88 to 355 to 80 to 57, then got off in Ashkum to take side roads to my daughter's apartment. It is faster than taking 80 to 65 on a Friday during rush hour (we left the house at 4 on Friday before Thanksgiving).

The roads had more cars on them than we have ever seen, especially on the way home the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving! I do like that the speed limit on the Indiana route is higher than the IL route, so at least everyone was going at a good pace.

There was some construction, but it didn't really create many back-ups. I always carry good maps, and have the settings for the local radio station, so if the highway is backed up, we can get off and take alternate roads to bypass the stopped traffic. Didn't have to do that this time.

The worst traffic was into and out of Atlanta, both ways. It started maybe an hour from Atlanta, and continued for an hour out of Atlanta. No discernible reason why, it just was. HOV lane, once you got to it, was also backed up. We were barely moving. I realize Chicago drivers have their issues, and we rarely ever drive into Chicago from the boonies where we live, but I really do believe the drivers in Atlanta are even worse! At least in Chicago, we are all in a hurry - in Atlanta, you have your hurry-up drivers (must be transplanted Northerners ) and your easygoing Southern drivers. The two do not mix well, especially on Thanksgiving weekend when all the IL, IN, WI and MI plated vehicles are trying to get home! Fun times!

We were very disappointed that our favorite place to stop coming out of the mountains of Tennessee, Nickajack Lake rest stop, was closed. We always stop here to make sandwiches and stretch our legs, it is just so pretty. Hopefully it will be open before we do the drive again this summer. The return trip side was open, but it was dark when we got there, so we kept going.

If anyone is interested, we also found our new favorite hotel, the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. If you are a Hilton Honours member, you can use points, otherwise I believe it is around $150 a night, at least it was for Thanksgiving weekend. I felt it was well worth it. We traveled with one teen daughter and one adult daughter (and Grandma in the connecting room), and there was plenty of room, and the beds were AMAZING! Breakfast was tasty, and the manager's reception until 7:30 p.m. was a nice touch. Nice pool, warm but not scalding hot tub, it was all good. And the friendliest employees!

Normally we stay with Marriott points at the Residence Inn off Briley in Nashville, but when you factor in the drive around Nashville to get there, staying more south in Murfreesboro was almost a wash in terms of drive time home. I know there are lesser expensive hotels to stay in, but staying in hotels when we drive is part of my vacation, so I like them to be nicer hotels with fantastic breakfasts included. We are very frugal all year long, so we live it up on vacation. And using my credit card for everything to attain points, then paying it off each month, it all balances out. Looks like I will be using my Hilton AmEx from now on, not my Marriott, to make another visit to the Murfreesboro Embassy Suites!

Hope everyone has safe and pleasant drives over the coming winter!

 

[BethanyF]

we are leaving this Friday at about 1:30pm and driving straight through. 2 drivers and a 14 year old.
I'm debating between 65 and 57 since our departure time is going to put us in Indianapolis at rush hour. Or is that not really a problem?

The plan is for DH to drive out of Chicago and then I can take over for a couple hours. Then we will rotate as needed. DH prefers driving to being a passenger, so I don't really drive too much. I usually end up doing a few hours in Georgia since that is about when he hits his 'wall' and needs a break.

I used to pack all kinds of food & drinks, but found we don't really use what I pack. Plus the few minutes to stretch is a welcome break. So we stop as needed, get reenergized and keep going.

Driving at this time of year is new to us, we usually go down at spring break. I'm not looking forward to the shortened daylight hours. I have my Kindle for books & movies, but I prefer paging through my stack of unread magazines. I read them and then leave them at rest stops with a 'help yourself' sticker for others to read on their trips.

I know this can be touchy, but does anyone know what cigarette prices are along the way? They are expensive here, so if I know where to find them cheap along the way I can plan accordingly.

 

[Samish]

We are driving this weekend too! Leaving approx 12 hours after you (kids have school on Friday). We are driving a bit East though. Stopping over to see family in Charlotte and staying there for the night. Hopefully planning to reach WDW on Sunday night

Sorry can't help with the cigarette prices.

 

[droycro]

BethanyF I see you're leaving around 1:30pm. We are heading down over spring break. We had thought about leaving at 2pm, and we are planning to drive straight through. What can you tell me about approximately what time we'll arrive at The World? We do plan on taking 57. Only slightly longer, but much less traffic to worry about.

 

[BethanyF]

BethanyF I see you're leaving around 1:30pm. We are heading down over spring break. We had thought about leaving at 2pm, and we are planning to drive straight through. What can you tell me about approximately what time we'll arrive at The World? We do plan on taking 57. Only slightly longer, but much less traffic to worry about.

Last March we left at about 3:00 and pulled in to SSR at about noon.
(had to go look at my FB pics to see the time stamps, LOL)

We stopped a few times, a couple longer (Waffle House) stops and several coffee/potty breaks. Never more than 30 or 45 minutes

 

[droycro]

Last March we left at about 3:00 and pulled in to SSR at about noon.
(had to go look at my FB pics to see the time stamps, LOL)

We stopped a few times, a couple longer (Waffle House) stops and several coffee/potty breaks. Never more than 30 or 45 minutes

Thanks! Enjoy your upcoming trip

 

[smidgy]

we are leaving this Friday at about 1:30pm and driving straight through. 2 drivers and a 14 year old.
I'm debating between 65 and 57 since our departure time is going to put us in Indianapolis at rush hour. Or is that not really a problem?

The plan is for DH to drive out of Chicago and then I can take over for a couple hours. Then we will rotate as needed. DH prefers driving to being a passenger, so I don't really drive too much. I usually end up doing a few hours in Georgia since that is about when he hits his 'wall' and needs a break.

I used to pack all kinds of food & drinks, but found we don't really use what I pack. Plus the few minutes to stretch is a welcome break. So we stop as needed, get reenergized and keep going.

Driving at this time of year is new to us, we usually go down at spring break. I'm not looking forward to the shortened daylight hours. I have my Kindle for books & movies, but I prefer paging through my stack of unread magazines. I read them and then leave them at rest stops with a 'help yourself' sticker for others to read on their trips.

I know this can be touchy, but does anyone know what cigarette prices are along the way? They are expensive here, so if I know where to find them cheap along the way I can plan accordingly.

we prefer 57, but we are coming from carpentersville, and take 53 south to 355 to 80 to 57. the other way, we take 53 to 290 to 294 t0 80 east to 65.

we take the briley parkway around nashvilee and don't really hit a city until chatanooga when we take 57. but the bypass around indainapolis isn't bad,

it is not "touchy" that you smoke, we used to ourselves. cigs are cheaper in kentucky, safe travels!!!

 

[BethanyF]

We are starting from Schaumburg

I'm thinking 57 might be the way to go to avoid Indianapolis (and those scary looking giant windmills, LOL)

 

[smidgy]

Illinois has a lower speed limit than Indiana. and 57 can be boring. other thatn that, we love it. stay on 53 to 355. it's really nice. you are only on 80for a very short time. when you get to nashville, take the 155 briley parkway (it will turn into a regular road with a couple stop lights, for just for a while. )

you will not actually go through a city until chatanooga.

ps. we have tried so many ways to avoid atlanta. we ahve stayed on 65 into alabama, and taken a few routes. I guess it's just better to suck it up.

we do prefer the bypass. frineds of ours swear by going straight through, and using the car pool lane. (I despise atlanta)

 

[BethanyF]

we usually plan it so we are going through Atlanta in the middle of the night or on a weekend day.

I used to have a friend that lived just outside Atlanta, so learned really quickly to avoid rush hour.

I'm starting to get anxious to get moving. DS arranged to take Friday's algebra final tomorrow, so there is a really good chance he won't be going to school on Friday. Or, if he does, we will pick him up before lunch since he only has study hall and algebra after lunch.

We still won't be on the road until noon or so since we have to take the dog to the kennel and have a couple other quick errands to run.

Is it Friday yet?