Chattanooga to WDW? How long?

[Skyw]

Hi
We are driving to the Fort the 2nd week in May. We aren't camping.....As my DH says "We have camped enough in the Army, I am not camping on vacation.". So we are staying at the cabins with nothing to tow. Just a car full of stuff!!! So how long will it really take from Chattanooga Tn to WDW? We are planning a stop there to see the Aquarium but I am thinking the next day will be a long haul. Especially Atlanta!!! I calculate 8 hours but I think that may be a little short.

BTW, what is the "back" way to drive to the Fort?

 

[bama_ed]

It should be beautiful then. I've driven from Birmingham over to Atlanta to the Fort and back both towing and not. It is about 450 miles (or slighly less) between Atlanta and WDW and should take 6.5-7.0 hours.

It's pretty unexciting south of Atlanta but still crowded until you get south of Macon then less so. The last 30 miles or so of Georgia Interstate is one big speed trap (around Valdosta). Florida driving is fine. Cheapest gas is near Lakewood (the exit before you get to the turnpike although gasbuddy.com might tell you otherwise). Gas in Lake City (first main city in Florida) is way overpriced.

The back way to the Fort is when coming down the turnpike take exit 267a (I think it's 267a and not 267b) which will put you on Hwy 429 south (Daniel Webster Western Beltway). It's a relatively new piece of toll road that comes down along the western edge of the Disney property. This way you avoid the turnpike/I4 interchange and the I4 traffic down to Disney. Hwy 429 has only a few exits, pretty light traffic, and one toll booth. Get off at exit 8 (Western Way) and follow it onto Disney property (speed trap alert again on Western Way). It comes in beside Coronado Springs resort near Blizzard Beach. At the t-intersection by CS, turn left and follow the signs to MK/Fort. I MUCH prefer using this route.

Enjoy the Chattanooga Aquarium (both buildings). We like it there!

Bama ED

 

[2goofycampers]

Approximately 8 hours drive from Chattanooga to The Fort with no traffic slow downs. If you can drive 3 hours after the Aquarium that will put you thru the Atlanta traffic zone near Forsythe Ga.


Not sure of the back way, but the quickest way is I-75 to the Fl. turnpike exit at first WDW exit hwy 429.

 

[Skyw]

Yeah, I was thinking we might push a few more hours in after the aquarium or find another fun stop a long the way. Atlanta can be such a pain. My inlaws got stuck in the traffic on Sat. It took 35 minutes to go 6 miles. Yikes.

 

[YellowXterra]

I live 1 hour north of Chattanooga and driving it takes me 10 hours counting fuel stops. Towing it takes me 12.

Try the Tennessee Valley Railroad

 

[DaveInTN]

Yeah, I was thinking we might push a few more hours in after the aquarium or find another fun stop a long the way. Atlanta can be such a pain. My inlaws got stuck in the traffic on Sat. It took 35 minutes to go 6 miles. Yikes.

We were in that too! So much fun....I think next trip I'm back to taking the Alabama route through Montgomery and Dothan. A bit longer but Atlanta is such a wildcard.

To the OP, I think without towing, you will find it is not that bad of a one day drive. I would plan on 9 hours with a couple stops. I just drove straight thru yesterday from WDW to Nashville...14 1/2 hours with the MH. We had some issues with traffic and kids, so it should have taken a little less, but I've never gotten that drive done in less than 13 hours. I drive between 65-70 mph, so in a car if you drive 5-10 mph above the posted limit you'll do much better....and Chattanooga is 2 hours south of Nashville.

 

[dfchelbay]

We've done this drive a million times. We travel I-75. Leaving Tennessee at the Georgia state line, from there to the Florida state line, on I-75, is 350 miles. Depending how fast or slow you drive, it can take from five hours and up to however slow you decide to travel. From the Florida state line to the entrance of WDW is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. That's taking I-75 to the turnpike to I-4, to WDW property.

For me, it's 5 hours thru Georgia, and 2 1/2 thru Florida. I go as fast as I can get away with. Spouse takes much, much longer. Bathroom breaks, stretching legs breaks, etc. Drives me crazy.

 

[5stljayhawks]

We live in stl and on the way back we stay in you neck of the woods when we are hauling a camper. I would imagine you can make it one day easy. Just plan enough time to get settled in and go watch the fire works or catch the camp fire.

 

[bradisgoofy]

"You're talking about the Western Beltway, signed as TOLL 429. On the Turnpike you'll encounter it at Exit# 267A and then you take the 429 southbound "Tampa". There is a $1 mainline toll a few miles after you get on but that is the only toll. The Disney exit is called Hartzog Road/Disney World and this is Exit#8 along the 429. Can't miss it." - quoted from KINGBOBOFTHENORTH

BTW, once you get off 429, watch your speed, they strictly enforce the speed limit from 429 to the turn at West Buena Vistas Drive.

 

[mdoc]

We've stayed at the Holiday TravLPark in Roswell, GA, which I believe is pretty close to Chattanooga, and it's taken us about 9 hours from there to the Fort. We were travelling in a motorhome and probably not going over the speed limit, and I think we only needed one bathroom break for DH. If we had to stop every time a kid had to go, it'd probably take us 14 hours.

 

[Shan-man]

In this case, pretty close is 120 miles! LOL