Anyone recently drive down I-75 to Florida?

[disneyholic family]

Has anyone recently driven down I-75 from Detroit (or anywhere along the way) to Florida?

How is the road?

Any construction?

How long did it take you?

Last time we drove down I-75 to Florida was when i was 12 years old and it took us two full days to get to Miami (first day to about macon georgia, second day to miami). But that was when I-75 wasn't yet completed.

Anyway, i might end up going that way if i can't get seats on a plane.
This trip is going to be last minute. I'll probably only know for sure that we can go, the day before the trip. So chances are the seats will all be gone by that time (the planes are almost full now, and it's 3 weeks from when our possible trip might be)

I used to love road trips as a kid - but then i wasn't doing the driving.

(just the nagging that we stop at lookout mountain and every other silly tourist trap along the way)...

but even though it's almost 40 years later, i do remember seeing that sign "welcome to the sunshine state".....
and stopping at the information center...
and buying all that stupid florida tourist stuff (orange everything)..

actually, driving down's starting to sound more and more appealing..

and i'll avoid having to go through airport security - so there are advantages..

in any case, anyone with recent I-75 experience? (at least more recent than 40 years ago).

 

[Belle1962]

TONS of construction in N. GA. both North and Southbound. PICK UP A MAP AT THE WELCOME CENTER AS SOON AS YOU CROSS THE BORDER! I know, I live IN the construction zone. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to the timing--some days south is backed up for miles, some days north, some days in the mornings, some days in the afternoons, some days at night. I have left my house for a dental appt--and come home 1.5 hours later to find the lines switched around on the road and no sign of a road crew.

Your alternate would be 41 but it's not a straight shot off all exits. (basically it is off to the right if you are heading south--off to your left if you are heading north). Repeat--PICK UP A MAP!!!!

You can also dial 511 to get the latest traffic conditions anywhere in GA.

Pick up a map!!!!

 

[squirrlygirl]

Would traveling through Georgia during night hours work? We're also thinking of doing the driving thing, too, so more input would be appreciated!

 

[Bookly]

We drove down from the Detroit area twice last year, once in August and once in November, and we're driving down again next month. We packed a ton of snacks and Disney music, and we only stopped at McDonalds bathrooms on the way.
Honestly, we saved so much money driving that we won't do it any other way anymore. Plus our kids are wimpy about flying.
Atlanta at rush hour is a nightmare, but not bad during midday. There's also a bypass, but I can't remember the name of it.I think it took us 19 hrs straight through.
I would HIGHLY recommend a book called Along I-75, you can get it at your library for your trip. It has info on rest stops, speed traps, and trivia and it seems like it was written for us Michiganders since it starts here and ends there. But it does stop at Florida's state line, so make sure you get a Fla state map.
What part of Michigan are you leaving from? I hope you have a great trip!

 

[disneyholic family]

TONS of construction in N. GA. both North and Southbound. PICK UP A MAP AT THE WELCOME CENTER AS SOON AS YOU CROSS THE BORDER! I know, I live IN the construction zone. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to the timing--some days south is backed up for miles, some days north, some days in the mornings, some days in the afternoons, some days at night. I have left my house for a dental appt--and come home 1.5 hours later to find the lines switched around on the road and no sign of a road crew.

Your alternate would be 41 but it's not a straight shot off all exits. (basically it is off to the right if you are heading south--off to your left if you are heading north). Repeat--PICK UP A MAP!!!!

You can also dial 511 to get the latest traffic conditions anywhere in GA.

Pick up a map!!!!

i'll probably be able to get maps from AAA - i assume they still do that (the triptik thing)....i remember they would circle all the speed traps along I-75 (when it wasn't completed and you had to go through 15mile/hour speed traps)...
can you estimate the area you're talking about? 20 miles? 50 miles? 100 miles?
as the other poster said, is there a better time to get through there? like the middle of the night perhaps?

We drove down from the Detroit area twice last year, once in August and once in November, and we're driving down again next month. We packed a ton of snacks and Disney music, and we only stopped at McDonalds bathrooms on the way.
Honestly, we saved so much money driving that we won't do it any other way anymore. Plus our kids are wimpy about flying.
Atlanta at rush hour is a nightmare, but not bad during midday. There's also a bypass, but I can't remember the name of it.I think it took us 19 hrs straight through.
I would HIGHLY recommend a book called Along I-75, you can get it at your library for your trip. It has info on rest stops, speed traps, and trivia and it seems like it was written for us Michiganders since it starts here and ends there. But it does stop at Florida's state line, so make sure you get a Fla state map.
What part of Michigan are you leaving from? I hope you have a great trip!

we'll be leaving from oakland county (bloomfield hills).....i have to get the route from AAA - i assume they'll give us all the information if they still do this sort of thing...i haven't been on a road trip in centuries....

 

[mjkaferle5]

We drove down from Mount Clemens back in June 06. We left on a Sunday, so I am sure that helped us going through Georgia (especially Atlanta).

One GREAT tip is to use the Western Beltway to drive into Disney. It is brand new and awesome. You take I-75 to the Flordia Turnpike and then get on the Western Beltway. It actually travels south but brings you into Disney World from the west side. You totally bypass I-4 it is great!! It is a toll road but very very well worth it!!

Here is a link to a map.
http://www.floridasturnpike.com/maps/UpdatedMaps2007/westernbeltway.pdf

 

[disneyholic family]

We drove down from Mount Clemens back in June 06. We left on a Sunday, so I am sure that helped us going through Georgia (especially Atlanta).

One GREAT tip is to use the Western Beltway to drive into Disney. It is brand new and awesome. You take I-75 to the Flordia Turnpike and then get on the Western Beltway. It actually travels south but brings you into Disney World from the west side. You totally bypass I-4 it is great!! It is a toll road but very very well worth it!!

Here is a link to a map.
http://www.floridasturnpike.com/maps/UpdatedMaps2007/westernbeltway.pdf

thanks!

 

[LAS2AMS]

Honestly, we saved so much money driving that we won't do it any other way anymore. Plus our kids are wimpy about flying.

May I suggest you download Southwest's DING? Southwest added two daily nonstop flights between DTW & MCO earlier this year... the flight's generally haven't been successful and thus they've had regularly occurring OW$34-$44 flights -- I'll be taking my fourth sub-$90 (including taxes & fees) RT next week!

With fuel prices near $3/gallon, you'd be pressed to make the trip for less than $350 (and probably closer to $380) in a van... a family of four can fly for the same price it costs to drive : ). And with Alamo matching Hertz's SimplyWheelz rental rates, you can get a 1-week rental for less than $80 (tax/fees included) using coupons.

 

[disneyholic family]

May I suggest you download Southwest's DING? Southwest added two daily nonstop flights between DTW & MCO earlier this year... the flight's generally haven't been successful and thus they've had regularly occurring OW$34-$44 flights -- I'll be taking my fourth sub-$90 (including taxes & fees) RT next week!

With fuel prices near $3/gallon, you'd be pressed to make the trip for less than $350 (and probably closer to $380) in a van... a family of four can fly for the same price it costs to drive : ). And with Alamo matching Hertz's SimplyWheelz rental rates, you can get a 1-week rental for less than $80 (tax/fees included) using coupons.

we'll fly SWA if they have any seats left by the time we know when we're leaving...
we fly to the states in less than two weeks...
we have to be in detroit on halloween (my sister's birthday) and on november 1....and we have to be back in detroit for thanksgiving (thanksgiving at my sister's house is NOT to be missed).....
and sometime in the middle we'll be flying to arizona for a week - but i don't know when - it's up to my sister...we'll be going with her..

so the trip to WDW depends on when my sister has us going to arizona...and she hasn't scheduled the trip yet....pain in the derriere....

she'd better book those nwa seats to arizona soon if she doesn't want to have us spending an arm and a leg and our first born to buy tickets...(she's a NWA FF so she only flies NWA - i'm an NWA infrequent flyer, so i don't care if i'm on them or not)...

so as soon as she finally schedules the trip to arizona, then i can book the trip for DD and me to WDW...(DD and I are flying to the states together for the month of november - a home visit)...
anyway...
that's the story...
so i haven't a clue when i'll know when i our trip will be....

it might be only the day before we want to fly...or maybe a week before...

i'm going to download the ding software now, just in case....though i doubt anything will be available......

 

[disneyholic family]

We drove down from Mount Clemens back in June 06. We left on a Sunday, so I am sure that helped us going through Georgia (especially Atlanta).

One GREAT tip is to use the Western Beltway to drive into Disney. It is brand new and awesome. You take I-75 to the Flordia Turnpike and then get on the Western Beltway. It actually travels south but brings you into Disney World from the west side. You totally bypass I-4 it is great!! It is a toll road but very very well worth it!!

Here is a link to a map.
http://www.floridasturnpike.com/maps/UpdatedMaps2007/westernbeltway.pdf

i just looked at that map - that route looks great...
funny, because when i tried getting a route from yahoo, they took me a reallly stupid way......this is MUCH better...
so the western beltway is 429? that's what it seems to be on the map...

how many hours did it take you to drive from Mount Clemens to WDW?
Did you stop along the way or go straight through?

 

[disneydiz]

We drive when airfare is too high. I use www.i75exitguide.com. It lists everything located at all the exits on I-75 (food, hotels, gas, etc.) and has links to construction info for each state. It takes us about 20 hours and Atlanta will take you about 12-hours. Atlanta traffic is awful -- try not to get there before 4-6:30 pm. Its best not to use the 285 by-pass, but go straight thru on I-75 and use the HOV Lanes.
Make sure you take the Western Way shortcut -- get on the Turnpike, and take Exit 267A and this will take you to 429-S (this is also known as Daniel Web ster Exp/Western Beltway). Take the DisneyWorld/Hartzog Road exit to get to Western Way. Western Way is a 4-lane divided highway from the 429 into Disney World. There is no toll and there is a low speed limit -- DON'T SPEED ON WESTERN WAY. It puts you right next to CSR.

 

[Belle1962]

From the GA DOT website:


Roadwork on I-75 Statewide
NORTHWEST GA:
Catoosa County:
1 lane closed at Exit 350 (SR 2/Battlefield Pkwy.)
Cobb/Bartow/Cherokee counties:
Lane closures in both directions between Barrett Pkwy. (Exit 269) and US 411/Chatsworth Highway (Exit 293). SOUTH GA:Daily until further notice: Major reconstruction on I-75 in both directions between Cordele and Valdosta. Motorists traveling in Crisp, Turner, Tift, and Cook Counties are affected.

You can also get a construction report here: http://www.georgia-navigator.com/construction/lists/75.

If you go that link you will see the times are all over the board and some overnights scheduled.

Just be aware, keep the cell phone and map handy. Again, your best alt in N GA is higway 41 and 511 from the cell will get you GA DOT.

Ditto the other advice:
In FL use the Western Way. I LOOOOOVVVVEEEE IT!!!!
Don't use the 285 bypass around Atlanta but DO USE the bypass around Macon.


Also--please refrain from using our water resources as you drive through---potty stops in TN and FL only

 

[disneyholic family]

I use www.i75exitguide.com. It lists everything located at all the exits on I-75 (food, hotels, gas, etc.) and has links to construction info for each state. It takes us about 20 hours and Atlanta will take you about 12-hours. Atlanta traffic is awful -- try not to get there before 4-6:30 pm. Its best not to use the 285 by-pass, but go straight thru on I-75 and use the HOV Lanes.
Make sure you take the Western Way shortcut -- get on the Turnpike, and take Exit 267A and this will take you to 429-S (this is also known as Daniel Web ster Exp/Western Beltway). Take the DisneyWorld/Hartzog Road exit to get to Western Way. Western Way is a 4-lane divided highway from the 429 into Disney World. There is no toll and there is a low speed limit -- DON'T SPEED ON WESTERN WAY. It puts you right next to CSR.

thanks!
so it took you 12 hours to atlanta? that's not bad...
we'll probably start down on a friday....we won't go straight through though....
i think we'll stop along the way somewhere....maybe before atlanta and then hit the road again before dawn on saturday morning....maybe people sleep in on saturday so it won't be as bad.....
so i guess we'll get into orlando by the afternoon on saturday...that wouldn't be too bad...
of course the return trip must be awful....you don't have the excitement of WDW to keep you going...
maybe i'll convince myself that i'm driving to Mackinac Island and that'll keep me going...

Also--please refrain from using our water resources as you drive through---potty stops in TN and FL only

 

[disneydiz]

There is a real nice Hampton Inn in Dalton, GA. This would be a good place to stop just north of Atlanta.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My parents and I recently drove down I-75 from Toronto this past July and August like we have done every year since 1996 and we found the drive to be perfect. We never got delayed because of any major construction going on and the only time we had problems was because of three major traffic accdidents. The 1st time was drving South while in Florida past Ocala when there was a huge accident in the Northbound lanes which closed a long stretch of the Insterstate and because of that it slowed down traffic in the Southbound lanes. The 1st day driving home we saw two accidents which delayed us. The 1st one was either before or after Ocala and the 2nd one was in Georgia past Valdosta and that one could have been a lot worse, but the truck which turned over feel the right way not to close down that part of I-75 Northbound.

There is also a book you can purchase online called the Along Interstate 75, which lists every exits hotels, restaurants and gas stations from Michigian to the Florida border. The same company also has a book just like that for every Interstate located in Florida. I am not sure if it's sold at book stores or AAA offices in Detroit because it's sold in Toronto at those locations since that is where the guy who writes it is from. http://www.i75online.com/

There is a real nice Hampton Inn in Dalton, GA. This would be a good place to stop just north of Atlanta.

My parents and I always stay there the 1st day we drive back home, so I agree about it being a good location to stop at.

 

[disneyholic family]

There is a real nice Hampton Inn in Dalton, GA. This would be a good place to stop just north of Atlanta.

thanks. that's a great tip!

My parents and I recently drove down I-75 from Toronto this past July and August like we have done every year since 1996 and we found the drive to be perfect. We never got delayed because of any major construction going on and the only time we had problems was because of three major traffic accdidents. The 1st time was drving South while in Florida past Ocala when there was a huge accident in the Northbound lanes which closed a long stretch of the Insterstate and because of that it slowed down traffic in the Southbound lanes. The 1st day driving home we saw two accidents which delayed us. The 1st one was either before or after Ocala and the 2nd one was in Georgia past Valdosta and that one could have been a lot worse, but the truck which turned over feel the right way not to close down that part of I-75 Northbound.

There is also a book you can purchase online called the Along Interstate 75, which lists every exits hotels, restaurants and gas stations from Michigian to the Florida border. The same company also has a book just like that for every Interstate located in Florida. I am not sure if it's sold at book stores or AAA offices in Detroit because it's sold in Toronto at those locations since that is where the guy who writes it is from. http://www.i75online.com/

My parents and I always stay there the 1st day we drive back home, so I agree about it being a good location to stop at.

i'll look for it as soon as i get to detroit (before our WDW trip)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

i'll look for it as soon as i get to detroit (before our WDW trip)

My best advice is try to order it online, because I am not 100% sure if it's sold in the United States. I have a feeling it's sold in Detroit since that is where I-75 begins, however I am not 100% sure about that.

 

[Yzerbear19]

i just looked at that map - that route looks great...
funny, because when i tried getting a route from yahoo, they took me a reallly stupid way......this is MUCH better...
so the western beltway is 429? that's what it seems to be on the map...

how many hours did it take you to drive from Mount Clemens to WDW?
Did you stop along the way or go straight through?

There is another way to get to Orlando that doesn't involve I-75. That is the way we took on the way down to Florida in 2005. We took 75 on the way back. The way we took on the way there was kind of fun. It took us through OH-WV-VA-NC-SC-GA then Florida. Since I was the only driver we did split it up into two days. We stayed in Orangeburg, SC. It was only 5 hours from Orlando. Total it took us like 20 hours from Clinton Township, MI to WDW, but we did get stuck in some traffic on I-94 near Detroit. I actually liked this way better because it doesn't take as long to get through GA. Driving home on I-75 through Georgia was horrible. I thought it was never going to end. And by taking two different ways we got to see some different scenery and more states.

 

[disneyholic family]

My best advice is try to order it online, because I am not 100% sure if it's sold in the United States. I have a feeling it's sold in Detroit since that is where I-75 begins, however I am not 100% sure about that.

i'm sure it is - if not, barnes and noble can order it for me

 

[Belle1962]

Just found this about I 95 (have family traveling at Thanksgiving and saw it)

Major widening and reconstruction is underway on I-95 in Glynn, McIntosh, and Liberty Counties. Crews will have daily lane closures and traffic shifts (both directions) in the following areas:

Glynn/McIntosh Counties: Between Exit 29 (US 17/US 82/SR 520/S. Georgia Pkwy.) and south of Exit 58 (SR 57/Wiregrass Trail).
Liberty County: Between Exit 67 (SR 25/US 17/Ocean Hwy.) and south of Exit 76 (SR 38/US 84/Sunbury Rd.)

Motorists in these areas are urged to allow extra time, obey posted speed limits, and use caution in the work zone. This project will continue through August, 2010. Click here for real-time I-95 construction reports.