Anyone drive to WDW recently?

[WIcruizer]

We're driving down May 18th, and I noticed there is a lot of road construction on I-75 through GA and FL. Has anyone driven through there recently? If so, was it pretty smooth or did you run into any problem areas? I don't mind recuced speeds here and there, but I'm worried there may be lane closures, traffic back-ups, etc. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[WIcruizer]

Moderator..feel free to move this post if it belongs elsewhere..thanks.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

I am going to move this where you may get more answers -

 

[chrispooh1963]

We drove April 17 to Florida from Mass. We didn't hit any traffic until we got near Fayetville NC and then more traffic just past Jacksonville. And of course we arrived in downtown Orlando right at rush hour. All in all a good drive. Took about 25 hours with the traffic tie ups.

 

[nativetxn]

I think you will get more advice and replies to this question if I move this to our community board. Looks like we're playing musical DIS boards today, doesn't it ?

 

[holycow]

The Jacksonville area has been a mess lately...the 95 if you take that way...it is also congested past St. Augustine...they've been paving the roads forever and it wasn't done when we went down 3 weeks ago.


Holycow

 

[WIcruizer]

Thank you, but I'm wondering if anyone has traveled I-75. That does not go through J'ville. It goes through Atlanta, into central FL, Ocala, etc.

 

[shep]

We went down last week and there was a lot of construction on I-95 but it seemed like there was more construction on I-75 according to the triptik, we didn't have any problems though...

 

[nowellsl]

I just drove I-75 from Gainesville south to the Turnpike and I didn't see any construction!

The only think I know of locally is the first Gainesville exit (sorry, don't know the #) going south has a detour after you exit - doesn't effect you unless you want to exit to the west.

 

[December99]

I was on I-64 going to Virginia a couple of weeks ago through Kentucky and they were working on almost every bridge on that interstate. Don't know if that would be the same for all of the interstates or not. Just giving you a heads up.

Are you going down 57 in IL or 65 in IN? It appears you are from WI so I was just wanting to let you know that 57 south of Champaign (we went 39 to 74 to 57) they were also working on every bridge to Mt. Vernon (we got on 64 there).

 

[colleen costello]

We drove in late March and the biggest delays were in Georgia. South of Macon thru to Valdosta the road is being dug up BIG TIME. Some of the work is only going on at night. We got stuck in a mess just south of Macon going home because we were traveling late at night.

Northern Florida also had some work going on, I think. Also some work around Atlanta. Regardless, I don't think our whole trip was slowed by more than an hour or so. Traffic was heavy due to spring break -- lots of small cars filled with teenagers and luggage!

 

[WIcruizer]

We're taking 65 through IN. That's the only way I've ever tried. Maybe it's being a man, but I hate going out of my way. 57 adds about 70 miles to the trip. I rather take a chance going through Chicago and Indy.

I have a trip tik from AAA that shows big time construction on 75 through GA and FL, so I appreciate your input Colleen. You never know what to expect, even with the trip tik. Sometimes they aren't even actively working, other times there are huge delays, lane closures,etc.

We will try to make it to Atlanta the first day, then leave early in the morning hoping to get to Orlando by 3:00 in the afternoon or so. Still plenty of time to see Dowtown Disney, have a relaxing dinner, etc.

Colleen, I believe the speed limit is normally 70 MPH in that part of GA, do you recall if they reduced the speed limit in that stretch?

 

[colleen costello]

WIcruizer, I do believe the limit was reduced in a few areas, but this was irrelevant as you couldn't go the limit anyhow with such traffic. There were signs up to "give us a brake" for the road guys, etc. My hubby thinks like you. We thought about going the "longer route" through Alabama but folks here put that trip at about 2 hours longer regardless of traffic. We "took our chances" with Georgia and it wasn't too bad. Most places that had work going on still had at least one lane completely open. I only recall one or two real bottlenecks in each direction. If you stop in Atlanta the real delays will be on your second travel day, so you might want to get up extra early.

Hope this helps!

See you at WDW.

 

[December99]

WI - just some FYI. We leave our home around 4am and usually have stopped in Dalton by around 4 or 5pm (that's with the time change of course and stopped only for gas and bathroom). Atlanta is about another hour. Then leaving Dalton around 7 we get to Ocala at around 2. Depending where you are in WI, you may be driving until around 9 or 10 to get to Atlanta the first night. But if you are like us, we like the longer day to be the first day. But you shouldn't have any problem getting to DTD by 3 that second day.

 

[doxdogy]

There is quite of bit of construction on I-95 around Jacksonville. It can be slow going at times. Make sure that you travel the reduced speed limit. Because the state troopers and sheriff's officers are giving tickets.

 

[kevind65]

we just made the drive last month. we time our drive to where we are going through georgia over night so we didn't have any problems with the construction zones. I believe the speed limit was reduced to 60mph in most of the construction zones; so, it really didn't slow us down much. The bigger problem for us was in Nashville. It always seems to take forever to get through that city. try to time your drive to avoid rush hour in Atlanta at all cost.

 

[Mousemomma]

WIcruizer, where are you departing from? We're in New Richmond, WI just across the state border from MPLS/St. Paul. We're doing the long drive as well. This will be our first trip to WDW, so we're just not sure about the actual road trip portion. Are you leaving at night or in the morning? Guess we will be on site at the same time--hope your time there is magical! We're staying at the All Stars for the week. We are scheduled to drive back on Memorial Day weekend--which I'm dreading!
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[olena]

Just drove back on xSunday. The areas on I-75 that had road work were in South GA. ...especially around Valdosta and Tifton. Anytime it got bad, we'd exit and take HWY 41 North, which parallels I-75. I also hear that there are areas around Locust Grove, which is just south of Atlanta. We exited the interstate before we got that far, so I have no first-hand report.

This site may also help.

If you take this route, take a good map with you, in case you have to make any detours.

 

[Tracyee]

I live in the area where I-75 and I-675 merge together. Be Forewarned! Avoid I-75/85 coming through downtown Atlanta during rush hour Monday through Friday. No matter what, its bad.

As for 75 just south of Atlanta, construction on the weekends is virtually round the clock from Friday 9pm to 5 am Monday morning. You will hit the traffic at the 675 and 75 merge. The traffic goes well past Locust Grove (exit 216).

Hope this helps.

We head for WDW on Weds.

Yippee!