Anybody familiar with the area south of Atlanta, GA?

[stacy347]

We are going to be staying overnight on our drive down from MI to WDW and would like to find a nice area to get a hotel room. We want to get at least through Atlanta so we don't have to deal with the rush hour in the morning and I'm really not familiar with the area.

I have heard that Macon is not the best area and we don't want to stray too far from I-75 ~ any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!! TIA!!

 

[cbrfan]

We stayed in Macon on our way down last year. Well, not right IN Macon, but on the I-475 bypass. It was the Hampton Inn on Eisenhower Pkwy. It was off Exit 3. Seemed like a safe enough area to us and we plan to stop there again this year. We got back on the road at 8:30 a.m. the next day and had NO traffic. That's what we were aiming for. We made the mistake of stopping in Dalton on the way down a few years ago. BIG MISTAKE. If someone has a better place to stop I be interested to know, also.

 

[stacy347]

That is the EXACT hotel we had originally picked out, LOL! Thank you so much for your reply, that helps a lot knowing that someone from here has actually stayed there if we end up making that our choice!

 

[cbrfan]

That is the EXACT hotel we had originally picked out, LOL! Thank you so much for your reply, that helps a lot knowing that someone from here has actually stayed there if we end up making that our choice!

Just a side note: If you wake up in the morning and smell smoke, it's only the Cracker Barrel next door. We never got out the door so fast in our lives!!
What part of MI are you from?

 

[stacy347]

LOL, I'll have to remember that!!

I'm 10 minutes from Metro Airport and about 30 minutes north of the Ohio border

 

[Disney Gator]

If you don't stop in Macon the only thing after that is Valdosta, not much in between, and after that is the great sprawling metropolis of Gainesville, FL If you get there you might as well keep on to Orlando.

 

[Colleen456]

cbrfan how long did it take you to get to Orlando from the hotel in Macon?

BTW, I'm Stacy's sister/travel partner for this trip.

 

[tycon07]

That is the EXACT hotel we had originally picked out, LOL! Thank you so much for your reply, that helps a lot knowing that someone from here has actually stayed there if we end up making that our choice!

We have also stayed here. It is very nice. The cracker Barrel makes it much nicer. Before we spent the night we drove down and that is just where we ended up at 8:30am. It is very casual. Believe me, you will not be the only family on the way to Orlando!! We talked to these people at the table next to us and told us about their vacation and we told them about ours. It was kind of like a live version of these DIS Boards.

TyCon

 

[Poohs Pal]

cbrfan, Why did you say Dalton was a big mistake. We are planning on staying in Dalton on our way down in December. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Susan

 

[FLonMYmind]

I used to live just south of Macon and my dad lives east of Atlanta. I would say Macon is definately your best bet. Far enough out of Atlanta but not so far that you don't have as much available. Don't forget to fill up your tank in Valdosta. It's been a little while but GA usually has much better gas prices!!

 

[stacy347]

Thanks for all the great tips!

 

[cbrfan]

cbrfan how long did it take you to get to Orlando from the hotel in Macon?

BTW, I'm Stacy's sister/travel partner for this trip.

Well, last year we went to the Ft. Myers area first. But we left the hotel at 8:30 a.m., stopped at GA exit 5 and filled up (best gas prices) and hit the FL line at 9:45. I'm sure some kind DIS'r can give you the time from the FL line to WDW.

 

[cbrfan]

cbrfan, Why did you say Dalton was a big mistake. We are planning on staying in Dalton on our way down in December. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Susan

We really like the Dalton area, but when we left in the morning we ran smack into the Atlanta traffic mess. You waste alot of time getting through that. Now we won't stop until we're at least an hour south of Atlanta. And we usually hit Atlanta around 9:00 p.m. so there's no traffic to speak of. We don't even take the bypass. Just go straight through on I-75.

 

[bobcat]

If you are on the road and are looking for a place to stop I suggest you stop at the GA welcome center. They have a great desk availale and they will call and find a room available in your price range. We originally thought we would stop in Valdosta since that is where most people stop but once we were on the road I realized that would be a little more than I could travel that day. They found me a hotel right off I75 in I believe it was Tifton.

 

[cbrfan]

We originally thought about stopping in Tifton, but it was too far for us in one day. We're about 1 1/2 hours north of the OP. But it may be a good choice for her.

 

[Disney Gator]

didn't see anyone answer this, but from the Florida border to WDW on I-75 it's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Also you should definitely fill up in Valdosta before getting to Florida, the gas prices are always cheaper in Georgia.

 

[SuzyQue]

Can anyone tell me how many hours it is from Michigan (Metro area) to Valdosta, GA? Just found out my daughter will be skating in a show at Wild Adventures Theme Park. She'll be gone for 4 months and only gets 1 day off a week, so looks like I'll be taking some road trips. ~~

 

[cbrfan]

Can anyone tell me how many hours it is from Michigan (Metro area) to Valdosta, GA? Just found out my daughter will be skating in a show at Wild Adventures Theme Park. She'll be gone for 4 months and only gets 1 day off a week, so looks like I'll be taking some road trips. ~~

Don't have the actual time to Valdosta, but it take us 16 hours to get to the FL state line. I'm about 1 1/2 hours farther north than you. So figure around 15 hours.