Best route - Chicago to Orlando

[2dogmom]

I know there are some old threads out there with routes from the Chicago area to Orlando. I was wondering if anyone can share what is the best route you have taken. I plan on leaving from the Southwest suburbs (Oswego/Aurora area). Also, what do you do about getting good rates at a hotel along the way. I plan to drive us as far as we can make it (hopefully past Atlanta) and stop for the night. TIA!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

http://classic.mapquest.com/maps?1c...s=FL&2y=US&2l=28.538231&2g=-81.377388&2v=CITY

 

[2dogmom]

I know I could mapquest it, but I have read about avoiding certain highways/truck routes so I was looking for firsthand knowledge of what was good.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We used to take I57 to I24 to I75 to the Turnpike. Last trip we took I65 (to I24 to I75 to Turnpike) through Indiana and felt we made better time, and the road conditions overall were better. We're going to take I65 again this Summer as DH and I both felt it was an easier/faster drive.

As far as a hotel on the way down, we used to stop just before Atlanta (between 10-11pm and used Priceline for our hotel) but on our last trip we kept driving and did just fine. The way home was a LOT harder and we struggled and stopped at a rest area in Indiana for an hour or two, but we're planning the same return trip this year.

 

[cruisingkat]

We live in the Naperville, Downers Grove area and drive to FL and Disney about 4 times a year or more. We have tried (a couple of times) the I65 route through IN that the previous poster likes and found that we prefer the 355 to I80 to I57 to I24 to I75 to Florida Turnpike route better. We found that the time difference is minimal between the routes (less than 1/2 hour difference). I65 has way more truck traffic and is more stressful - at least in our opinion.
We do divide the trip into two days. On the way down, we stop in Forsyth, GA south of Atlanta. By leaving there by 11am, we can make it to Disney around 3pm.
On the way back, we stop in Manchester, TN - northwest of Chattanooga.
Both of these stops puts more than half the driving on the first day.
The one thing that I would caution you on is to watch your speed in GA especially in Turner County (mile marker 85-74) to the FL border. There have been times where we have seen as many as 4 sheriff's cars clocking in a ten mile stretch.

 

[2dogmom]

Thanks for the route info. Good to know about the GA speed traps (at least that is what it sounds like).

 

[dgr1973]

I live in the Chicago area and for us the best route is to get ourselves to O'hare or maybe Midway in your case and fly to Orlando! Just joking with ya! We have never driven so I can't say cause I can barely stand stand the drive to the Dells! Good luck.

 

[hearts8701]

we live in chicago o'hare area and drive down about 4 times a year my friends drive from oswego and take 57
we prefer 65 to 24 to 75 to the turnpike to 429 exit at western way to disney we stop just passed atlanta on the way down atlanta is about 6-61/2 hours to disney we drive straight thru going home
heavy traffic spots are nashville where 65 meets 24 avoid rush hour traffic in atlanta at any cost
we never make hotel reservations unless its a hoilday when i enter georgia stop at a welcome center for a hotel coupon book when we get tired we have plenty of choices to choose from i tend to stop at exits that have what will need in the AM such as gas, a drive thru breakfast & coffee
to make the time go by i rent movies at redbox and return them at 7-11 on 192 or any walmart kangaroo gas station in fl exit 375 has a redbox

 

[2dogmom]

I live in the Chicago area and for us the best route is to get ourselves to O'hare or maybe Midway in your case and fly to Orlando! Just joking with ya! We have never driven so I can't say cause I can barely stand stand the drive to the Dells! Good luck.

This is my first time driving since 1995. We normally fly, but with 5 of us, it gets expensive, plus I am getting married down there to I will be having SO MUCH more stuff that I would typically take. My kids are at least excited to be able to check more states off of their visited list

we live in chicago o'hare area and drive down about 4 times a year my friends drive from oswego and take 57
we prefer 65 to 24 to 75 to the turnpike to 429 exit at western way to disney we stop just passed atlanta on the way down atlanta is about 6-61/2 hours to disney we drive straight thru going home
heavy traffic spots are nashville where 65 meets 24 avoid rush hour traffic in atlanta at any cost
we never make hotel reservations unless its a hoilday when i enter georgia stop at a welcome center for a hotel coupon book when we get tired we have plenty of choices to choose from i tend to stop at exits that have what will need in the AM such as gas, a drive thru breakfast & coffee
to make the time go by i rent movies at redbox and return them at 7-11 on 192 or any walmart kangaroo gas station in fl exit 375 has a redbox

Good point about the coupon books. I was also hoping there would be a lot of redboxes along the way, besides the stash I'm sure we will bring.

 

[dgr1973]

This is my first time driving since 1995. We normally fly, but with 5 of us, it gets expensive, plus I am getting married down there to I will be having SO MUCH more stuff that I would typically take. My kids are at least excited to be able to check more states off of their visited list

Oh yay congrats how exciting!!! I agree it is very expensive to fly and I see you will be there the same time as us and this trip is costing 1300.00 for 4 of us when in the past it has been around 700.00-800.00! It was hard to pay that much more but the thought of driving for me but I know so many people that do it and don't mind. I think I have adult A.D.D. lol!

 

[2dogmom]

Oh yay congrats how exciting!!! I agree it is very expensive to fly and I see you will be there the same time as us and this trip is costing 1300.00 for 4 of us when in the past it has been around 700.00-800.00! It was hard to pay that much more but the thought of driving for me but I know so many people that do it and don't mind. I think I have adult A.D.D. lol!

Thanks! I priced at least $1,500 for flights. That's crazy. A far cry from the good old cheap days. Plus my daughter and I get severe migraines on descent on flights so it may be worth driving. I do have a lot of memories of driving when I was little, hopefully I will have good memories with the 3 girls

 

[Suzanne033]

We drove to Disney last year from NW Indiana. We took I94 to I65 to I24 to I75 to US27 to US192. We were in Chattanooga by 2am and got to Kissimmee at around 11:30am.

Edited to say: I forgot to add that we stopped for dinner in Louisville for about an hour and we also stopped just south of Valdosta, Georgia for breakfast for about an hour.

 

[2dogmom]

We drove to Disney last year from NW Indiana. We took I94 to I65 to I24 to I75 to US27 to US192. We were in Chattanooga by 2am and got to Kissimmee at around 11:30am.

Edited to say: I forgot to add that we stopped for dinner in Louisville for about an hour and we also stopped just south of Valdosta, Georgia for breakfast for about an hour.

What time did you start your adventure?

 

[Suzanne033]

What time did you start your adventure?

We left around 4:00pm (Eastern time).

We live abt 30 minutes east of I65 so we had quite a debate on whether to go west and take I65 or go towards South Bend and take US31 to I65 in Indianapolis. I think we made the right decision because US31 has quite a few stoplight especially around Kokomo.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I know I could mapquest it, but I have read about avoiding certain highways/truck routes so I was looking for firsthand knowledge of what was good.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply you couldn't have found that on your own. Just saying were it me the 65/24/75 route is the way *I* would go rather than 57/24/75

 

[cruisingkat]

Thanks for the route info. Good to know about the GA speed traps (at least that is what it sounds like).

And the thing about GA speed traps is that there isn't a set fine like in IL - it could run in the hundreds. Also if you are 15 mph or more over there is an extra $200 tacked on by the state. Turner County uses Laser guns so a radar detector doesn't help.

 

[2dogmom]

Sorry, didn't mean to imply you couldn't have found that on your own. Just saying were it me the 65/24/75 route is the way *I* would go rather than 57/24/75

No problem! Thanks!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you DO take the 57 route, shout out. I probably have everything that exists from I64-Chattnooga memorized

 

[2dogmom]

If you DO take the 57 route, shout out. I probably have everything that exists from I64-Chattnooga memorized

Gumbo, my plan is to stay the night in Chattanooga and see some sights and also go to Ruby Falls/the cave there and probably lookout mountain. Where would be a good place to stay? I haven't been there in years, lots of years. lol

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Gumbo, my plan is to stay the night in Chattanooga and see some sights and also go to Ruby Falls/the cave there and probably lookout mountain. Where would be a good place to stay? I haven't been there in years, lots of years. lol

We usually grab a Super 8 or something similar if we stay in Chattanooga. There's tons of options though. If we can get in there early enough, we'll hit the aquarium on arrival night, then fast food & let the kids swim at the hotel. Then Lookout Mtn the next morning before heading out.