Any advice for 2 ladies driving down from IL?

[Mouse-n-Mini]

My mom and I are planning a girls only trip next summer. We would like to drive down from Illinois. Can any ladies who have done this before give us some advice?

 

[bobcat]

Have Fun!

Seriously I usually drive to WDW just me and the kids and it is an easy drive. I love road trips. There is a great book called Along I75 and it not only has detailed maps but it listes things you will see along the way and what hotels and restaurants are at each exit. I checked it out of the library for our trip. It has lots of interesting facts.

Plan where you want to stay for the night on the way down. If you don't know how far you want to drive and you arrive in GA without reservations stop at the GA welcome center and they will help you find a place and you can make the reservation there. You will be in GA a long time!

If you aren't going through Atlanta at rush hour drive straight through and not around. Another Diser gave us this tip and it was great. I think you can use the carpool lanes with 2 people but someone can correct me if thats wrong.

Have AAA, or something similar, and get updated construction info.

This may seem like common sense but make sure you fill up when needed. Stop someplace you feel safe and make sure you don't push your luck and are forced to stop someplace with high gas prices and iffy safety. I don't let the gas tank go to 1/4 tank before I fill up again and that way I know I will have options if I hit a stretch of road that isn't as populated.

Burn a road trip music CD. I have a whole collection of Disney music and we have certain times when we play different songs. We also take books on CD for the drive. Harry Potter is a tradition and we all enjoy listening to our favorites.

 

[Hef4545]

Just have something like AAA and of course a charged cell phone and bring your car in for an oil change and a quick once over before the trip. We also keep windex and papertowels in the car so if the windshield gets dirty from bug splats we can give it a once over. I don't come from your direction so I can't offer stop suggestions but check out hotels and exits ahead of time if you need to stop so you can pick a clean place on a good exit. Bobcat suggestion of the book that is available might be a good place to start. Have some loose change for car tolls. Watch your speed limit so you don't give your vacation money to the police. Have a great trip.

 

[nuke]

I drove it a few years ago with a friend. We left the Chicago area at 5am and stopped in TN for lunch and then just south of Atlanta about 6pm. The next morning we went the rest of the way. It was very easy.

Make sure you have a nationwide cellphone, a credit card or gas card and you will be all set.

 

[hearts8701]

my husband and i drove to fl quite often when our daughter was in the college program loved it
i don't know how far you'll be driving the first day but remember one thing after atlanta the rest stops are very far apart some are over 150 miles so if your tired sleep before atlanta the best rest stops are in georgia and gas prices are good too fill up before you head into fl.
also in tennesse driving thru the mountains at night make sure your well rested its very hard to see its only 2 lines and quite curvy especially in the rain day or night so consider weather too
be safe have a great trip

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

All of these wonderful suggestions are much appreciated. I thank you!

 

[Hugpug]

Why are you driving? With the cost of Gas and Plane tickets are very reasonable if purchase in advance. You could always rent a car after you get to Florida. I use to drive but now with gas SOOOOOOOOOO Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii It is much cheaper to fly.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I am a solo female driver, and I driven many times to Disney and back. I actually enjoy road trips! Though I must say, there is a problem I encountered, and it happened on my last two trips - BEGGERS!!! Twice now I been approached at rest stops on I-95 by creepy women with sob stories begging for money!! One time was at night and once in the day. One rest stop was outside Washington DC and the other in NC. One begger even followed me to my car and knocked on the window, trying to get me to open it to talk to her!! I screamed at her "NO MONEY!!" and she shrugged and left. At least it was women approaching me, as this would be far more scary if it were men!

I NEVER been approached by beggers in all my previous trips, then it happens twice recently! I got to use the facilities somewhere, so I guess I just have to pick more populated areas, or use fast food restaurants on populated exits instead. Or if I am at a rest stop, do everything quick and watch out for wierdos approaching you!

Well, besides all that, I use common sense for everything. I pick good hotel chains with inside corridors like Hampton and Fairfields. I second the gas stops that a previous poster said, as I am very picky about getting gas in unpopualed areas. I make mental notes of where I want to get gas, and make sure I don't run low in not-great-looking areas off I-95. And I make sure the car is running well. I even took my car with 193,000 miles recently, and it did great!

Have a great ladies-only road trip to Disney!!

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

Why are you driving? With the cost of Gas and Plane tickets are very reasonable if purchase in advance. You could always rent a car after you get to Florida. I use to drive but now with gas SOOOOOOOOOO Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii It is much cheaper to fly.

Hi. I realize that it makes more sense to fly, and I have flown twice, once to Ft. Meyers and once to Orlando, but the second flight was a little scary coming home and since then I have been terrified to fly. I just can't stand the thought of not being in control that high in the air, not knowing the pilot or whether he's slept or what's going on with the mechanics of the aircraft. It all just scares me. This is why we're driving. I have even contemplated going by way of amtrak but I think after 24+ hours on a train we would be mentally and physically exhausted by the time we arrive in Orlando.

 

[sandybobandy]

Hi there!
DH and I have driven to Disney each year we've gone. I too am terrible with flying.
Anyway, we drive from Minneapolis. It never feels long, honest! It's about 15 hours to Nashville (where we spend over) and then about 10 hours to Disney.

I don't have any advice. Each year though we bring the "book of questions" that is fun. Other than that, maybe bring along some trivial pursuit questions.

Either way, have fun and be safe!
Sandy

 

[manning]

We also keep windex and papertowels in the car so if the windshield gets dirty from bug splats we can give it a once over.

Lots of Windex and paper towel. Here's something that works great on windows. Carry a small bottle of Dawn liguid detergent. When you pull in for gas take the Dawn and put a couple of drops into the water containers provided by the gas stations.
Doesn't take much, but boy does it cut thru the bug juice!!