Dollywood to Orlando

[technodisney]

we are from Australia and we are going to Dollywood before Orlando in our trip. We are thinking or driving down. How long do you think it will take to drive down and where would you stop at? 1 night 2 nights?

 

[Darklord77]

It takes about 3-4 hours to get from Atlanta to Pigeon Forge, TN. It's a little under 7 hours from Atlanta to Orlando. So 10-11 hours based on driving conditions. Macon, GA would be about half way.

 

[LadyBeBop]

No more than one night, and I've done the trip in a day. Fairly long day (about 12 hours with stops), but still manageable.

What route would you be taking? There are two routes from the area that take about the same time.

The route through Atlanta (I-75, Florida Turnpike)...well it takes you through Atlanta (watch out for the busy traffic). Plus you have to pay the turnpike tolls. If you take that route and decide to take two days, I'd spend the night in either Valdosta, GA or Lake City, FL. That way, you'll have an easy 2 1/2 to 3 hour trip to WDW.

The route through the Carolinas (I-40-26-95-4) includes windy roads through Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. But once you hit Asheville, it's smooth sailing. In fact, I think this drive is a little more boring than the Atlanta drive. But that's my opinion. If you decide to take two days, I'd overnight in either Savannah, GA or St. Augustine, FL. Both are historical towns with much sightseeing. Savannah is about four hours from WDW, and St. Augustine is about two.

 

[Euby]

I live in Nashville, so when we drive down it's through Atlanta. In my experience, it seems the only good time to go through Atlanta is in the middle of the night. Traffic is horrific. Take a bathroom break in Marietta (north of Atlanta), stay in the HOV lane, and pray there are no accidents or construction. Sometimes, it can take an hour just to get through downtown. Another option is to take the by-pass. This takes a long way around Atlanta, but the traffic is usually less and your stress level may be lower as well. We stay overnight in Valdosta. Lots of nice places to spend the night before heading to Disney the next day.

 

[JimMIA]

I live in Nashville, so when we drive down it's through Atlanta. In my experience, it seems the only good time to go through Atlanta is in the middle of the night. Traffic is horrific. Take a bathroom break in Marietta (north of Atlanta), stay in the HOV lane, and pray there are no accidents or construction. Sometimes, it can take an hour just to get through downtown. Another option is to take the by-pass. This takes a long way around Atlanta, but the traffic is usually less and your stress level may be lower as well. We stay overnight in Valdosta. Lots of nice places to spend the night before heading to Disney the next day.

I agree with this. Atlanta traffic is often just a parking lot, especially weekdays during rush hours.

From Dollywood, I would go north a few miles to Sevierville, TN and from there take US 441 over to Knoxville, TN. Then I-75 south to Atlanta.

Just south of Marietta, GA, take the Atlanta bypass (I-285 -- either West or South, not East) to avoid as much of Atlanta as possible.

When you get near Macon, GA, look for the I-475 bypass and take that to avoid the crowded, winding expressway through downtown.

Continue on I-75 to Valdosta and you'll find lots of hotels right alongside I-75. Valdosta is a little less than 500 miles from Pigeon Forge and should take you roughly 8 hours of driving.

There are also hotels in the Macon area, but some of the areas along I-75 there are not the best, and you'd have a longer drive the next day.

Stay one night in Valdosta.

The next day, continue south on I-75 into Florida. It's approximately 220 miles from Valdosta to WDW -- so about 4 hours. About 50 miles north of Orlando, at Wildwood, FL, I-75 will bear off to the right (SW). You will go straight onto the Florida Turnpike and follow that to the Orlando area. The Turnpike will bring you into the Orlando area west of downtown, and quite close to WDW. You'll probably exit onto I-4 westbound, depending on exactly where you are bound.

(It would probably be a good idea to stop somewhere in Florida before Wildwood and buy a Sunpass for the car. They sell a disposable Sunpass for $4.99, I believe and you get a $4.99 credit on your account, so it actually costs you nothing. You will set up your account with your credit card, and that will greatly simplify tolls and save you some money. Just be sure to remove the Sunpass from the car when you turn it in, so other drivers aren't charging their tolls to your credit card!)

I would also download Google Maps to your phone, and use it for navigation. Waze is another navigation app, but I much prefer Google Maps.

Have a great trip!

 

[AngiTN]

I agree with this. Atlanta traffic is often just a parking lot, especially weekdays during rush hours.

From Dollywood, I would go north a few miles to Sevierville, TN and from there take US 441 over to Knoxville, TN. Then I-75 south to Atlanta.

Just south of Marietta, GA, take the Atlanta bypass (I-285 -- either West or South, not East) to avoid as much of Atlanta as possible.

When you get near Macon, GA, look for the I-475 bypass and take that to avoid the crowded, winding expressway through downtown.

Continue on I-75 to Valdosta and you'll find lots of hotels right alongside I-75. Valdosta is a little less than 500 miles from Pigeon Forge and should take you roughly 8 hours of driving.

There are also hotels in the Macon area, but some of the areas along I-75 there are not the best, and you'd have a longer drive the next day.

Stay one night in Valdosta.

The next day, continue south on I-75 into Florida. It's approximately 220 miles from Valdosta to WDW -- so about 4 hours. About 50 miles north of Orlando, at Wildwood, FL, I-75 will bear off to the right (SW). You will go straight onto the Florida Turnpike and follow that to the Orlando area. The Turnpike will bring you into the Orlando area west of downtown, and quite close to WDW. You'll probably exit onto I-4 westbound, depending on exactly where you are bound.

(It would probably be a good idea to stop somewhere in Florida before Wildwood and buy a Sunpass for the car. They sell a disposable Sunpass for $4.99, I believe and you get a $4.99 credit on your account, so it actually costs you nothing. You will set up your account with your credit card, and that will greatly simplify tolls and save you some money. Just be sure to remove the Sunpass from the car when you turn it in, so other drivers aren't charging their tolls to your credit card!)

I would also download Google Maps to your phone, and use it for navigation. Waze is another navigation app, but I much prefer Google Maps.

Have a great trip!

Be careful WHEN you do this!
Don't do this on a weekend in the FALL! or it will make traffic in Atlanta look like smooth sailing

Otherwise, this is the way we go also. Well, went. Now we fly. That's too long in a car for me any more. 2 1/2, 3 hours is my limit.

I also agree about skipping hotels in Macon. Too iffy of an area now. Go on to Valdosta. If you just can't swing that far, check out Perry.

ETA - Regarding Atlanta Rush Hour - it's way longer than anywhere else. Starts as early as 6:30 AM and lasts till like 9:30 AM. And in the afternoon, starts as early as 3:30 PM and lasts till like 7:00 PM

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Be careful WHEN you do this!
Don't do this on a weekend in the FALL! or it will make traffic in Atlanta look like smooth sailing

Otherwise, this is the way we go also. Well, went. Now we fly. That's too long in a car for me any more. 2 1/2, 3 hours is my limit.

I also agree about skipping hotels in Macon. Too iffy of an area now. Go on to Valdosta. If you just can't swing that far, check out Perry.

ETA - Regarding Atlanta Rush Hour - it's way longer than anywhere else. Starts as early as 6:30 AM and lasts till like 9:30 AM. And in the afternoon, starts as early as 3:30 AM and lasts till like 7:00 PM

Good point about doing this route on fall weekends. Lots of people drive up that way to see the fall colors. It makes for some really long drives if you're not expecting that.

 

[Michiel]

We’re from the Netherlands and did this trip a few years back, it was awesome, you’ll have a great time!

We actually took a flight, we did:

Week in NYC
Flight from LGA to TYS
Week in Great Smokie Mountains, Dollywood, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans
Flight from MSY (through ATL) to MCO
Week in Orlando

 

[Darklord77]

I live outside Atlanta and agree with some of the rush hour assessments. Avoid driving through the city on I75/85 between 6:30am-9:00am and 3:00pm-7:00pm. It isn't a parking lot, but it's definitely stop and go. It will even get that way on the I285 bypass around the city in certain sections.

There are sketchy areas in every city. Just do a minimal amount of research to see if the area is safe. If the exit is full of chain motels and restaurants then it is probably good to go. Those businesses don't make a habit out of building in bad areas. Valdosta, Lake City, Gainesville, and Ocala have areas equally as bad as Macon. If we leave later in the evening and have to stop we always stop at Exit 427 in Lake City. There is a Hampton Inn and Country Inn and Suites that are both nice and reasonably priced. Lake City is only about 2.5 hours from Disney.

 

[AngiTN]

Good point about doing this route on fall weekends. Lots of people drive up that way to see the fall colors. It makes for some really long drives if you're not expecting that.

And Knoxville on a Football Saturday

 

[pjmom]

I would avoid Knoxville and go to Asheville, NC.

I-40 to Asheville to I-26 to I-95

This route takes you through North Carolina, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia, then down to Jacksonville, FL and on to Orlando. It's a much better drive than Knoxville and Atlanta!

I live in this general area and the route above is the one we use (Google Maps also shows it to be a little shorter)

 

[JimMIA]

I would avoid Knoxville and go to Asheville, NC.

I-40 to Asheville to I-26 to I-95

This route takes you through North Carolina, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia, then down to Jacksonville, FL and on to Orlando. It's a much better drive than Knoxville and Atlanta!

I live in this general area and the route above is the one we use (Google Maps also shows it to be a little shorter)

Another good option.

When we vacationed in Sevierville several years ago, that's the route one of my daughters drove. I think they overnighted in Savannah.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

And Knoxville on a Football Saturday

Most definitely!

 

[LadyBeBop]

I would avoid Knoxville and go to Asheville, NC.

I-40 to Asheville to I-26 to I-95

This route takes you through North Carolina, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia, then down to Jacksonville, FL and on to Orlando. It's a much better drive than Knoxville and Atlanta!

I live in this general area and the route above is the one we use (Google Maps also shows it to be a little shorter)

MapQuest also shows it's actually a slightly shorter route than I-75.

Not by much (less than 10 miles). But you avoid Atlanta.

 

[pjmom]

I forgot to add that the drive on I 40 to Asheville (especially in the Fall) has some beautiful views. I'm from this area and I always enjoy the drive. It's stunning. I live in this area and see mountain views every day and I'm always blown away by them.

Asheville is a really cool area and might be worth stopping for a couple hours. They have great restaurants and a fun downtown area.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I forgot to add that the drive on I 40 to Asheville (especially in the Fall) has some beautiful views. I'm from this area and I always enjoy the drive. It's stunning. I live in this area and see mountain views every day and I'm always blown away by them.

Asheville is a really cool area and might be worth stopping for a couple hours. They have great restaurants and a fun downtown area.

...as well as the Biltmore Estates. Definitely something to see.

If you take the Carolina route, I wouldn't blame you if you stay overnight two nights to get from Dollywood to WDW. Between the Biltmore Estates, Savannah, St Augustine and the seashore, there is so much to see.