Any recent Chicago (or Indiana) to WDW drivers?

[Gr8t Fan]

We usually take 57 to 24 to 75 to the FL Turnpike but I understand that 57 is down to 1 lane for a VERY long stretch in Illinois . I'm wondering about I65. I know there was a ton of construction on 65 last year but from what I'm reading on the Indiana DOT website it's mostly gone. Can anyone confirm? TIA for any info.

 

[grimley1968]

I will give some info about 65 versus 75 in Kentucky. 65 has seen a lot of construction recently in Kentucky, and is in general in need of a lot of upgrades, lane additions, etc. which seem to be finally be getting done (at the expense of easy travel). I don't think 65 is going to be much better in Tennessee. 75 has much less construction and fewer slow downs in Kentucky, with the exception of some construction just above the TN border. It helps, though, that this is a very rural area which keeps clogs at a minimum there, though I believe it will be down to 1 lane in some sections.

I-24 is also apparently construction-prone recently in Kentucky, though I have no recent firsthand experience with it.

Having said all the above, I-75 is definitely the best way to get through Kentucky and Tennessee going north or south, if it's not out of your way. If I were going up to Chicago from here (I'm very close to I-75 in southern Ky.), I'd head up 75 to Cincy, then head northwest to Indy on I-74, and on up 65 from there to Chicago.

I keep reading about I-57 being more direct between Chicago and Orlando, but it looks to me like it's going a bit southwest from Chicago, rather than southeast, and takes you a little out of the way before you get on I-24. And if 57 and 24 are both construction-prone, that would push me down the 65/74/75 route even more. Yes, I admit there may be slightly more traffic on this route, but it just seems like it would cut time down on pretty decent roads in Kentucky and Tennessee (I-75 in Knoxville is MUCH improved recently).

 

[mjbens01]

I'll back up the previous response. 74 from Indy to Cincy is the way to go. I-75 through KY is 3 lanes most the way. I can't speak for TN, but for the KY & IN section this is the way to go.

 

[grimley1968]

I'll back up the previous response. 74 from Indy to Cincy is the way to go. I-75 through KY is 3 lanes most the way. I can't speak for TN, but for the KY & IN section this is the way to go.

Tennessee is much the same as Kentucky for I-75 versus I-65. I-75 goes through Knoxville, but Knoxville has finished a bunch of its major road construction and it's much better than it used to be in about the last decade. I-65 goes through Nashville, and it seems to run into a lot of construction still, and Nashville is a bigger city than Knoxville.

Much of I-75 through Tennessee is 3 lanes now, though there are still some short 2 lane sections (like Ky.).

 

[Dell]

Just made the trip Early August.
57 is a must avoid due to construction. Took 19+ hours down that way from North of Chicago.
Came back on 65 and it took 17.5 hours. Very little construction on 65 vs 57.
FYI 57-24-75-Disney is 32 miles longer than 65-24-75-Disney.
Approx 30 minutes longer.

Just leave at the right time to avoid rush hour traffic at the key points (RT 80/65 interchange, Indy rush hour, Nashville & especially Atlanta rush hour.
Of course the construction south of Atlanta ~ 60 m.p. to border, is still there (getting better), but does not slow you down too much if you hit it at the right time.

I find leaving Chi. ~ 1:30 pm gets you to Disney ~8-9am local time.
Another option is 7:30 pm Chi --> Disney ~ 3pm local.

I usually leave Disney ~<-- 4am & it gets me home ~ 10-11pm Chi. time.

Above (driving straight through - only gas stops) misses all normal traffic jams.

 

[CharliNye]

Just made the trip Early August.
57 is a must avoid due to construction. Took 19+ hours down that way from North of Chicago.
Came back on 65 and it took 17.5 hours. Very little construction on 65 vs 57.
FYI 57-24-75-Disney is 32 miles longer than 65-24-75-Disney.
Approx 30 minutes longer.

Just leave at the right time to avoid rush hour traffic at the key points (RT 80/65 interchange, Indy rush hour, Nashville & especially Atlanta rush hour.
Of course the construction south of Atlanta ~ 60 m.p. to border, is still there (getting better), but does not slow you down too much if you hit it at the right time.

I find leaving Chi. ~ 1:30 pm gets you to Disney ~8-9am local time.
Another option is 7:30 pm Chi --> Disney ~ 3pm local.

I usually leave Disney ~<-- 4am & it gets me home ~ 10-11pm Chi. time.

Above (driving straight through - only gas stops) misses all normal traffic jams.

This is food for thought. See, my mom and stepdad went down in july to florida and said that we are to avoid 65, that it was worse then 57 because of all of the trucks.

We're heading out next friday am around 4. We're staying in macon overnight since we can't check into our place til 4pm the next day.

So you're saying it really is best to do 65 instead?? Is the truck traffic through indiana really bad?

I already made our maps/directions for 57, so now I'm wondering if we revise. PLUS we really need to find a place to stay on our way back for one night, so depending on what route we take I could use some advice.

 

[Dell]

not a good time to leave (4am) from chicago area. May beat rush hour in Chi, but...........
It is about 13 hours or so to Atlanta (Friday rush hour - ~ 6-7 pm their time) and you are going to stop in Macon? I might suggest Stopping North of Atlanta if that is your planned time of departure. Marietta is nice.

57 is really messed up near chicago, and alot of one lane after that. (all the way to the border.)

Truck traffic was not any worse on 65 than 57 (I have made this trip - both routes) more times than I care to admit (since 1979). The 65/80 area is the worst part. Even so, with the shorter distance down 65 it pays to try that route. Also, 70mph on 65 vs 65mph on 57.

Construction usually is my decision maker for either route. 57 was ok beginning of the year, but second week of Aug it was a nightmare..............
Going again in early Oct/late Sept (daughter works at Disney) and Rt 65 without a doubt.

JMHO

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Just wanted to update this thread. We ended up taking 65 to 24 to 75 and encountered very little roadwork and/or traffic tie ups. In fact, it was such a pleasant drive that we forgot why we hated it in the first place , so it is now our preferred route.