directions???

[VintageKnight]

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/...ba-cdbcf373&aid=419a9c5c-0006d-036ba-cdbcf373

Oklahoma City through Ft Smith to Memphis to Birmingham to Atlanta to Port Orleans???
anyone do anything close to this route before??

is it do-able in a taurus w 2 adults and a 5 yr old???

DVK

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Hi, DVK,

We have driven probably 20 times to DWD from Tulsa, always looking for the best route. I have done that one thru Atlanta with myself and my two kids (they were 11 and 12) and I hated it (too much crazy traffic). The best for us has been the "Southern Route": we take the turnpike to Paris, TX drive thru some 2 lane roads (still a heck of a lot better than OK's) and get on interstate I20 to Shreveport and then I49 to I10. Once on a Sunday we left at 5 or 6 am and got to DW OKW at 10pm that evening, but that was the fastest trip we have ever made. (I did not look at the speedometer, DH was driving. LOL) We have also gone thru Memphis and angled thru AL (avoided Atlanta), but there are so many small towns, you can make NO time.

If only OK got all the money we pay in fed highway taxes (instead of being such a big donor state) and actually had some good, FREE interstates. I would vote for the Southern route, though.

Sharon

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by VintageKnight
Oklahoma City through Ft Smith to Memphis to Birmingham to Atlanta to Port Orleans???
anyone do anything close to this route before??

I couldn't make your link work but I have done your trip from the middle going each direction many times. I live in north central Alabama and drive to Tulsa a few times a year through Memphis. A few tips...once you get on HWY 72 outside of Memphis and are going through MS & AL, cities are few and far between (about an hour or so between cities) so you must plan gas, food, bathroom stops accordingly. Also, the interstate changes around Memphis can be a bit confusing if you've never done them so watch the signs (especially crossing the bridge over the Mississippi to get to I-55).

We drive from AL to WDW many times a year and it's not bad at all and much shorter for us than the southern route. Around Atlanta, just make sure to take the I-285 cutoff from I-20 to I-75 to avoid the downtown traffic. Of course, it will also depend on what time of day you hit the city.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Part of it depends on time of year. You are probably best off (especially in cold weather) using a southern route.

I would suggest I-35 South to I-35E through Dallas to I-45 to Houston. Then pick up I-10 East (bypass New Orleans with I-12) going to I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike South to I-4 in Orlando going West (toward Tampa) to WDW.

As far as Mapquest is concerned, it often does NOT give the best route. I have seen it wake what should be a 15 mile trip and make it 25 with tolls, and have also had me going one time from the South THROUGH MIDTOWN MANHATTAN to get to Long Island.

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by Cheshire Figment
Then pick up I-10 East (bypass New Orleans with I-12)

Have all the bridges been repaired after the hurricanes?

 

[VintageKnight]

which one ( mapqwest?) has the options for interstate only, shortest rt, that type of stuff, i thot it was mapqwest but those options are no longer there.

DVK

 

[poohj80]

We use Streets and Trips

 

[Ozymoe]

We drive from Iowa City and our route goes through Atlanta. We never "go around" Atlanta, but always drive straight through the city. The far left lane is marked with large white diamonds. It is for cars with at least two passengers. Strange to say that even when traffic is at its busiest, this lane is not because most of the traffic is intra city and wants to be nearer the exit ramps.

The only time it's hectic for me is when I drive down by myself and cannot use the "diamond lane".

 

[DisneyMomOK]

I agree with Cheshire Figment, except for the Dallas to Houston. That is an extra hour and a half, as compared to taking I 20 from Dallas to Shreveport, then I 49 from Shreveport to I 10. The traffic between D and Houston is also extremely heavy. Of course, some people don't mind the heavy traffic, but the extra mileage just would not make it worth it, IMHO.

I think as long as you prepare the 5 year old with all the great suggestions people have here for keeping kids happy, you will be fine. I started taking mine on long road trips when they were around 3 and they seemed to handle it really well. A lot better than now that they are teenagers.

Sharon