Driving for the first time from SE Michigan, Any tips?

[APB513]

Originally Posted by DaniH

I hate this kind of winter but I am hoping it stays like this until we get back I grew up in Ypsi! Small World!

I agree with you and I hope this weather continues until we return.

If by "this kind of winter" you mean a winter without snow - I'm the opposite - I love it

I was born in CA and lived there until we moved to Detroit when I was 12. I have been in MI for over 30 years and I still have not adjusted to the winters

And you're right - it is a small world after all

Have a fun and safe trip!

[MrMarv]

Atlanta is 450+ miles from Cincinnati, so you cannot cover that distance in five hours.

If you leave Cincy at 10 PM, plan to reach the outskirts of Atlanta around 5 AM or thereabouts.

[LadyBeBop]

Originally Posted by MrMarv

Atlanta is 450+ miles from Cincinnati, so you cannot cover that distance in five hours.
.

He's right. Although I have a sister who wishes it was only five hours to Atlanta. She has children and grandchildren living down there.

Realistically, it's three hours to the Tennessee border, four hours to Knoxville, 5 1/2 hours to Chattanooga, and eight hours to Atlanta.

[Aatif911]

I personally like driving all the way through.
We made two road trip last year from the Ann Arbor to Lake Buena Vista.

The first road trip was in April. We left at 5:00pm Friday. By 5:00am Saturday we were in GA. We got to CSR by 3:00pm on Saturday.
We took multiple potty breaks and ate Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch.

The second time in September we left at 11:00pm Wednesday night and reached Disney by 6pm Thursday.

My wife drove for 2 hours so I could take a quick nap.

[stargazertechie]

Originally Posted by DaniH

Hi Everyone, Just wondering if any fellow Michiganders have any tips for first time drivers to Orlando. My husband & I are planning on driving straight through from Saturday to Sunday in December.

Time it to avoid rush hour in Atlanta. We drive from the West side of the state, but we take 75 down.

I second the advice to watch your speed in Ohio.

[APB513]

I forgot to post the results of our first drive from Ypsilanti to Orlando.

We had snow from the time we left Ypsi until we reached Kentucky. We saw two jack knifed semis. Kind of scary

I drove the entire way down. We stopped for the night in Atlanta and then continue to Orlando the next morning.

Here are our times:

12/21/12
5:21 am - left Ypsilanti
5:58 am - Ohio border
10:15 am - Kentucky border
1:26 pm - Tennessee border
3:56 pm - Georgia border
* I forgot to write down the time we reached the hotel

12/22/12
5:42 am - left Atlanta
10:15 am - Florida border
2:45 pm - Hilton hotel in DTD

We left WDW and stayed two nights at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. The resort is beautiful!! I would love to go back when its warmer.

We drove straight through from SC to Ypsilanti. We left about 5:00 am and got home around 9:00 pm. (I don't have the exact times. I was sick so I didn't write anything down)

The trip was great!!! The drive down wasn't bad at all. I could definitely see myself doing it again.

[Poohs Pal]

Thats great time especially in the winter. Susan

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

Originally Posted by APB513

I forgot to post the results of our first drive from Ypsilanti to Orlando.

We had snow from the time we left Ypsi until we reached Kentucky. We saw two jack knifed semis. Kind of scary

I drove the entire way down. We stopped for the night in Atlanta and then continue to Orlando the next morning.

Here are our times:

12/21/12
5:21 am - left Ypsilanti
5:58 am - Ohio border
10:15 am - Kentucky border
1:26 pm - Tennessee border
3:56 pm - Georgia border
* I forgot to write down the time we reached the hotel

12/22/12
5:42 am - left Atlanta
10:15 am - Florida border
2:45 pm - Hilton hotel in DTD

We left WDW and stayed two nights at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. The resort is beautiful!! I would love to go back when its warmer.

We drove straight through from SC to Ypsilanti. We left about 5:00 am and got home around 9:00 pm. (I don't have the exact times. I was sick so I didn't write anything down)

The trip was great!!! The drive down wasn't bad at all. I could definitely see myself doing it again.

I'm in Ypsi too...and I can't imagine driving to WDW! I've driven to the Alabama Gulf Coast and I drive to Arkansas...but I'm always so tired when I leave WDW. I can't imagine driving back! We are flying down tomorrow!

[APB513]

Originally Posted by Mom2aJessieGirl

I'm in Ypsi too...and I can't imagine driving to WDW! I've driven to the Alabama Gulf Coast and I drive to Arkansas...but I'm always so tired when I leave WDW. I can't imagine driving back! We are flying down tomorrow!

Wow! What a small world

It's hard to say whether or not I would normally be too tired to drive back. I got sick about 5 days into the trip. By the time we left SC I was sick as a dog. Plus I hadn't been sleeping very well the last few days of the trip.

I drove for about 3 hours until I couldn't do it anymore. My oldest son took over.

The reason we spent two days in SC was so we could rest and unwind from the trip before we drove home. This might have worked if I hadn't been sick

Have fun on your trip!!!

[APB513]

Originally Posted by Poohs Pal

Thats great time especially in the winter. Susan

Yes that's what I was thinking. I was very happy once it stopped snowing.

We were supposed to leave Saturday but I got nervous because I kept hearing that there would be more people on the road than the year before. So we ended up leaving on Friday instead.

All in all it was a good experience. I would do it again.

[auger]

I always have to make my recommendation to people in your situation.
We drive from NW Ohio to WDW for most of our trips. Flying on points next times with SW.

Anyway, we used to do the whole drive thru the night thing. But when I started having to make the trip on my own with the kids, I found it was much easier and much less of a drain to my body if I left in the dark hours of the morning and arrived late.

For us, that equates to leaving between 5-7am and arriving between 10-12pm, as it is about a 17 hour trip from here. I know you have a bit longer than that, but it would still be doable.

Ever since my bil and sil had an accident falling asleep at the wheel while trying to drive thru the night, we always try to steer people away from that course.
They were fortunate to survive, as they ran up a wall barricade and the car was left riding on two tires and crossed the other two lanes of traffic before it fell back onto all four tires rather than flipping.

If you do choose to drive thru the night, please be careful.

[Poohs Pal]

Originally Posted by auger

I always have to make my recommendation to people in your situation.
We drive from NW Ohio to WDW for most of our trips. Flying on points next times with SW.

Anyway, we used to do the whole drive thru the night thing. But when I started having to make the trip on my own with the kids, I found it was much easier and much less of a drain to my body if I left in the dark hours of the morning and arrived late.

For us, that equates to leaving between 5-7am and arriving between 10-12pm, as it is about a 17 hour trip from here. I know you have a bit longer than that, but it would still be doable.

Ever since my bil and sil had an accident falling asleep at the wheel while trying to drive thru the night, we always try to steer people away from that course.
They were fortunate to survive, as they ran up a wall barricade and the car was left riding on two tires and crossed the other two lanes of traffic before it fell back onto all four tires rather than flipping.

If you do choose to drive thru the night, please be careful.

I completly agree with you. I think people should think twice before driving straight thru the night from Michigan. I know I have to always stop somewhere in Georgia for the night. I always feel driving straight thru ends of feeling like jet lag and I myself would need a day to recover,lol. so might as well stop for the night on the way down and arrive feeling full of energy.