Chicago to Orlando - quick help needed!

[4luv2cdisney]

Heven't done the drive in years but my DH and DD are driving down this weekend. We used to always drive straight through, but they need to stop and stay somewhere this time.

They should make it to about Nashville before needing to stop. I want to book them a hotel, not just wing-it because it's New Years Eve / Day. Space is already limited. I'm thinking there are several possible routes through Illinois depending on traffic at the time, but they all get them to I-24 near Nashville eventually. Any suggestions on how to narrow down a specific area near Nashville to search for available hotels and / or recommend a specific hotel not far off the highway I24. It's one night. I don't care the cost. Want very clean, safe and breakfast would be nice.

 

[MrKnight]

Wow that's a long drive! IMHO, for the amount that it will cost you to find a hotel on New Years Eve plus gas prices, tolls, etc.. It may be more cost effective (and significantly faster/less stressful) to just book a flight from Chicago to MCO, especially if its only two people traveling.. Something worth thinking about, you may be able to land a last-minute deal on airfare..

 

[robinb]

I would go through to Chattanooga and do a 10-hour drive the first day and a shorter drive the second day. I usually just use Priceline to pick a place and then cross reference with TripAdvisor for reviews.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Wow that's a long drive! IMHO, for the amount that it will cost you to find a hotel on New Years Eve plus gas prices, tolls, etc.. It may be more cost effective (and significantly faster/less stressful) to just book a flight from Chicago to MCO, especially if its only two people traveling.. Something worth thinking about, you may be able to land a last-minute deal on airfare..

Thank you. But my DD is doing the Disney College Program and we are bringing / leaving her car.

My other DD and I are flying! lol

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I would go through to Chattanooga and do a 10-hour drive the first day and a shorter drive the second day. I usually just use Priceline to pick a place and then cross reference with TripAdvisor for reviews.

They aren't leaving until nearly noon on NYE because of work and don't want to be on the roads too late.

Nashville is probably pushing it.

I'm just having a hard time finding the right "spot" so they can choose the best route out of IL (in the moment - day of) but also not take them too far out of their way. I don't trust trying to just stop and find a hotel when they feel like stopping. That was the original plan. Wasn't really thinking about it being NYE.

 

[MrKnight]

Thank you. But my DD is doing the Disney College Program and we are bringing / leaving her car.

My other DD and I are flying! lol

I see, makes sense, and very exciting! Another option could be the Auto Train, granted that would require driving to Lorton, VA to catch the train but it would certainly solve the overnight accommodations challenge as they would sleep on the train overnight while their vehicle is transported in cargo.. If possible, book a roomette which includes a private sleeper cabin and a full dinner.. The train arrives in Sanford, FL the following morning which is just north of Orlando, a quick drive from there to WDW..

 

[robinb]

They aren't leaving until nearly noon on NYE because of work and don't want to be on the roads too late.

Nashville is probably pushing it.

I'm just having a hard time finding the right "spot" so they can choose the best route out of IL (in the moment - day of) but also not take them too far out of their way. I don't trust trying to just stop and find a hotel when they feel like stopping. That was the original plan. Wasn't really thinking about it being NYE.

In that case, I would just go with the original plan and let them go until they feel they need to pull over and rest/sleep. It's what we do when we take a 2+ day drive. Pre-booking a hotel almost always bites me in the butt. Either I still have energy to keep on driving and I have to stop early or I'm wiped and have to keep on driving. I recall driving through dangerous fog for hours on the way to WDW one December because I had to make it to my hotel that I already paid for.

 

[macraven]

I moved from north of Chicago to GA some years back
I found it easier to drive thru Nashville and get a hotel room right after getting out of Nville
Guess it would depend on how the traffic will be once you are nearing Nashville.
You could get to Nashville in 9-10 hours based on traffic

 

[FCDub]

I moved from north of Chicago to GA some years back
I found it easier to drive thru Nashville and get a hotel room right after getting out of Nville
Guess it would depend on how the traffic will be once you are nearing Nashville.
You could get to Nashville in 9-10 hours based on traffic

This is good advice no matter where you’re headed. Always get PAST the major city before stopping for the day.

 

[Jml813]

This is good advice no matter where you’re headed. Always get PAST the major city before stopping for the day.

I agree with both of these posts. That being said we used to drive from Tampa to Chicago and used to stop in Murfreesboro as that made a pretty good midway point.

 

[sam_gordon]

Do they have cell phones with data plans? IMO, if so, there's no reason to prebook a hotel, even on NYE. About an hour or so before they want to stop, the passenger gets their phone out and starts looking for hotels along their route. We've driven from WDW back home on NYE, leaving at around 3-4p, and had no problems finding a decent hotel stopping around 10-1030.

My big problem with booking a hotel in advance is what if there's a issue that results in you not getting to that exit when you think you will? Car problems, traffic slow downs, get tired earlier, whatever? Or, you're making good time, traffic isn't bad, and you feel like going an extra hour or two?

I agree with trying to get past a major city before stopping.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Do they have cell phones with data plans? IMO, if so, there's no reason to prebook a hotel, even on NYE. About an hour or so before they want to stop, the passenger gets their phone out and starts looking for hotels along their route. We've driven from WDW back home on NYE, leaving at around 3-4p, and had no problems finding a decent hotel stopping around 10-1030.

As long as there’s no major events going on in the Nashville area on New Years Eve, you should be fine. You’d probably have bigger problems finding a room the night before (Music City Bowl is tomorrow). Once, I had a whale of a time finding a room in the Lake City, FL area the night of a Florida State football game. And Lake City is nearly 100 miles from Tallahassee.

 

[sam_gordon]

As long as there’s no major events going on in the Nashville area on New Years Eve, you should be fine. You’d probably have bigger problems finding a room the night before (Music City Bowl is tomorrow). Once, I had a whale of a time finding a room in the Lake City, FL area the night of a Florida State football game. And Lake City is nearly 100 miles from Tallahassee.

I once had an issue driving from Texas to Kentucky (picked up a truck for work). I got a later start than I had anticipated, and about 10p pulled over for the night. I stopped in Waco and had to hit 2-3 hotels before I found one with a room. The next day was "move in" day for Baylor University. I also was travelling solo, so didn't have the extra hand to look for places.

One good thing about NYE is it's not really a "travelling" holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Of course if there's a Bowl game on NYE or NYD, that's a difference.

 

[FCDub]

I agree: I don't see NYE as a holiday that will book up interstate hotels.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

They aren't leaving until nearly noon on NYE because of work and don't want to be on the roads too late.

Nashville is probably pushing it.

I'm just having a hard time finding the right "spot" so they can choose the best route out of IL (in the moment - day of) but also not take them too far out of their way. I don't trust trying to just stop and find a hotel when they feel like stopping. That was the original plan. Wasn't really thinking about it being NYE.

We've stayed at the Sheraton Music City in Nashville just off of I-24 in the past and have always found the rooms to be clean and welcoming. No free breakfast though.

We also always take I-57 to I-24 when driving from Chicago because we prefer to avoid most of the semi traffic we encounter traveling through Indiana and find it to be an easier drive.

Hope you all have a great trip no matter what you decide!