Any advice driving from Disney to Peoria, ill

[Tigger1]

I heard that driving through Atlanta can be a nightmare. Is it all that bead or should i find an alternate route?

 

[quigs3]

We drive from Champaign, IL to WDW at least once a year. Atlanta isn't that bad. If you time it right, and hit it after 7pm, it's a breeze. Just don't speed! On our trip last month, I've never seen so many cars pulled over!

 

[Becky2005]

We have always driven through Atlanta, now true, it's usually on a weekend but I don't find it bad at ALL.

I usually hop in the HOV lanes and go straight through.

I'm used to Chicago traffic though and don't think Atlanta is anything worse than that.

 

[Traveliz]

We live right next door to Peoria and often drive from the Orlando area back and forth.

We always go straight through Atlanta and do not take the bypass. We have found it to generally be better than going around. We did take the bypass once when there was unusual construction going on and another time when the Olympics were in Atlanta.

Once you hit Illinois there is a "short cut" 24,57,to64 and then you take this rural road for about a half an hour (IL-4) and then 55 to 155 to 74 (for Peoria).

Hope that helps.

Liz

 

[Tauwillow]

Hey quigs3, we're neighbors! We're also from Champaign!

We also drive down to Florida frequently, and go through Atlanta every time. We've done it even during daylight hours, and its not bad if you are alert for the signs. The route seems to like to switch from the right to the left side a few times.

 

[Traveliz]

Hey quigs3, we're neighbors! We're also from Champaign!

We also drive down to Florida frequently, and go through Atlanta every time. We've done it even during daylight hours, and its not bad if you are alert for the signs. The route seems to like to switch from the right to the left side a few times.

If you stay in the HOV lane you will be in the left all the way through. Now Nashville - going through there is a heck of a lot of left and right manuevering.

Liz

 

[smidgy]

we cme from carptentersville (about 40 miles NW of chitown).. sometimes we go thru Indiana (65) sometimes we take 57 (thru IL)
anyhow, at first, we took the atlanta bypass then the last few years, we preferred going straight thru. but, every year it has gotten worse. so now we prefer the bypass.

one year, we got the GREAT idea to styay on 65, south of nashville, and, from birmingham, take a state route, through SE Alabama,and connect up with I10 in florida. boy, was THAT a ig mistake. little state routes, stop lights, towns, etc.


ps, we have found a great route around nashville : 155 Briley Parkway. you can pick it up from 24 OR 65. avoid donwtown nashville all together. for a short while, you are on regular mainstreetsm, with stop lights. for a VERY short while..... but, you dont' have to deal with the anxiety of all the forks in the road, and which way you have to stay.. ie. stay left, no stay right now, ok 65 and 24 are melding, no, stya with 24.. wait! now you need to stay with 40,, wait!! (ok, at this point, hubby is chloroforming me to shut me up, gee, he TOLD me to navigate!!!)

 

[Tigger1]

Ready or not, Atlanta here we come. Glad I asked here, I was about to add mileage to the trip by looking for alternate routes.

We live in oklahoma but will be going to Illinois to visit family after Florida trip.

We will be leaving orlando area around noon and getting a hotel for the night in route to Illinois. Any suggestains of good areas to stop.

 

[Becky2005]

If you stay in the HOV lane you will be in the left all the way through. Now Nashville - going through there is a heck of a lot of left and right manuevering.

Liz

I would take Atlanta any day over Nashville!!! I-24 scares the living daylights out of me between merges on BOTH your right & left hand sides....freaks me totally out! I like the concept of the cars merging into traffic come from the right and you just have to move over!

I get to drive it tomorrow!! Fun, fun, fun! I'm always a bundle of nerves until I get through that area.

 

[Traveliz]

Ready or not, Atlanta here we come. Glad I asked here, I was about to add mileage to the trip by looking for alternate routes.

We live in oklahoma but will be going to Illinois to visit family after Florida trip.

We will be leaving orlando area around noon and getting a hotel for the night in route to Illinois. Any suggestains of good areas to stop.

How many hours do you want to drive before you stop for the night?

Liz

 

[Becky2005]

ps, we have found a great route around nashville : 155 Briley Parkway. you can pick it up from 24 OR 65. avoid donwtown nashville all together. for a short while, you are on regular mainstreetsm, with stop lights. for a VERY short while..... but, you dont' have to deal with the anxiety of all the forks in the road, and which way you have to stay.. ie. stay left, no stay right now, ok 65 and 24 are melding, no, stya with 24.. wait! now you need to stay with 40,, wait!! (ok, at this point, hubby is chloroforming me to shut me up, gee, he TOLD me to navigate!!!)

I agree with HUBBY, I appreciate the help but I'm about ready to strangle everyone in the car after getting through there with the white knuckles from the death grip on the steering wheel. If I take the 155 where does it catch up to 24 again? We have a hotel booked just south of Chattanooga, so I don't want to end up bypassing my hotel but to avoid the I-24 Nashville mess I will consider it!!!

 

[Tigger1]

I get off at noon on the day we leave Oklahoma. I figure I will drive 9 to 10 hours with few stops. Still not sure which route, Baton rouge or Jackson, I think both ways has construction. We will go to Panama City the next day and stay there the night or two before arriving in Orlando.


Once it is time to leave Florida ( around 11 am from Vero beach ) , we will head to Illinois, I would like to drive about 8 hours on this day.


I am the only driver for this (total of 3500 mile trip) so I kinda want to know where am stopping for the night before the passengers go to sleep (they usually sleep the whole trip).

 

[quigs3]

Hi, Tauwillow! It's great to know I'm not the only Disney fanatic in C-U!!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Once it is time to leave Florida ( around 11 am from Vero beach ) , we will head to Illinois, I would like to drive about 8 hours on this day.

What day of the week are you going?

The 8 hour mark will put you just south of Atlanta. I think everyone would agree that there's no problem going through Atlanta as long as you don't go through it during rush hour. However, rush hour is a different story.

I'd push it and get north of Atlanta (possibly Marietta) before you stop for the night. That's about nine hours.

Although, you'll probably get by with going through Atlanta on a Saturday or Sunday morning if you want to stop at the 8 hour mark. We've gone through Atlanta on a weekend morning with no problem.

 

[Traveliz]

What day of the week are you going?

The 8 hour mark will put you just south of Atlanta. I think everyone would agree that there's no problem going through Atlanta as long as you don't go through it during rush hour. However, rush hour is a different story.

I'd push it and get north of Atlanta (possibly Marietta) before you stop for the night. That's about nine hours.

Although, you'll probably get by with going through Atlanta on a Saturday or Sunday morning if you want to stop at the 8 hour mark. We've gone through Atlanta on a weekend morning with no problem.

I agree - I would try and get North of Atlanta - lots of fine stops there. Just pick whatever hotel chain you prefer and put it in a route and you can see what your options are.

Liz

 

[hearts8701]

we drive from chicago leaving about 8am downtown nashville has become more congested over the years but no different than downtown chicago rush hour we drive thru altanta after rush hour we normally stop just after atlanta i never book a hotel on the way because my husband likes to stop when he gets tired since he's the only driver i leave it up to him its always a little farther each time we go down there are plently of hotels & motels along the highway to sleep for the night we stop to eat gas etc stretch our legs when we drive home we always drive straight thru unless its winter and we hit bad weather my saver is a portable dvd player we get tired of music and when i watch a movie it gives my husband some quiet time i rent movies from redbox for $1 and return them the next day on 192 before i check in to the resort you can return the movies at several locations on 192 at 7 eleven, mobile gas station just outside celebration or inside walmart i pick up our snack food for the resort when we leave i get a few more movies and return them when i get home

 

[Tigger1]

We will be traveling on a Thursday. If we leave Vero at 11 am, we could actually drive till 9 or 10 pm so I should make it past Atlanta. When is evening rush hour in Atlanta? Google map has us at 538 miles from Vero to Atlanta or about 9 hours. So I am thinking it would be 7 or 8 pm.

 

[Shagley]

Everyone else has already given you great advice . I just want to say hi from Peoria, and when you are here make sure to go to Avanti's restaurant for a Gondola (sandwich). It is the first place my out of state relatives want to go when they are visiting.

 

[Traveliz]

Everyone else has already given you great advice . I just want to say hi from Peoria, and when you are here make sure to go to Avanti's restaurant for a Gondola (sandwich). It is the first place my out of state relatives want to go when they are visiting.

HAHA had Avanti's for dinner tonight! My college roommate worked there in college and whenever she come through town she takes about 8 loaves of bread home with her.

Liz

 

[Tigger1]

Thanks for reminding me to stop at Avanti's.
I have also taken several loaves back. They will saran wrap it for a small price. I may get a few Gondolas for the reip home too. Can tastr them already.