Driving back-up plan from Nashville

[ptrbryant]

At this point, we're planning on flying to WDW in May, but current airfare is nearly 3x what I had budgeted for and car rentals aren't as good as in prior years, either. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed better SWA fares will come out in time. Our 4 trips to WDW have always been by plane, but I know many people in the Nashville area (we're about an hour north) drive it. Right now, airfare and car rental are near $1100 vs. $385 last year.

Here's the thing: DH really doesn't like driving very much (as opposed to those who love to get behind the wheel and take off). I don't drive (previously vision issues, but now just need to get some experience in!). The idea of driving down, while unappealing, is possible but DH really, really would love to have a route that avoids the whole Atlanta mess without adding another 2-3 hours to the drive. We would certainly stay overnight each way (way down: Valdosta? way back: ???) and not try to drive it all in one day.

Does anyone have any solutions?

Thanks!

Karla B.

 

[grimley1968]

I have to drive I-75 down, since for me I-75 is a good 2 hours faster than any other way, unless we fly.

Except for having to spend a week in Atlanta on business once, I've never once been caught in a traffic jam in Atlanta. Heck, I drove right through Atlanta during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics on I-75 right by the stadium. I never had to slow below 45 MPH.

The trick in that case was that everyone in Atlanta was already where they needed to be and I had about 8 lanes to myself, and only stayed about 45 to obey the speed limit.

If you can simply adjust your driving schedule so that you hit Atlanta at sometime other than morning or afternoon rush hour, you should be fine. Do NOT take the loop around Atlanta, or you really will get caught in traffic. Just take I-75 straight through downtown. It's more direct, more lanes and less commuter traffic, assuming you're not attempting it during rush hour.

If you take something other than I-75 to get to Atlanta, try to get on I-75 without having to get on the loop. Hopefully your interstate will bring you straight to the downtown area, where you can then get on I-75 without having to deal with the loop.

 

[Luv2Travel]

ptrbryant - I live 1 1/2 hours south of Nashville and it's a straight shot on I65. We used to take I65 to B'ham, I20 to Atlanta, and then I75 to Orlando because we preferred going interstate. That drive was right at 10 hours (maybe a little more depending on Atlanta traffic). We've cut our drive down to 9 1/2 hours (which would be 11 hours from Nashville) by staying on I65 to Montgomery, taking Hwy 231 to Florida where we get on I10 toward Tallahassee, and then taking I75 down to Orlando. We stop over night in Tallahassee (get a room on Priceline) which is about 5 1/2 - 6 hours from here and then have 3 1/2 to 4 hours left the next morning to drive to WDW. If you were to go through Alabama and didn't want to go all the way to Tallahassee, then Montgomery would be midway for you (or at least from Nashville). Just a thought. I bet you can still get a ding on SWA from Nashville when it gets a little closer (if your flexible with your dates), I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[ptrbryant]

I'm printing out the directions and suggestions! The only date that's inflexible is Monday May 15th...that's the day we actually added to the trip once I found out my childhood hearthrob, Davy Jones, was going to be performing at EPCOT the night before we were going to be there! We added a night at POP Century, but the next 7 nights are at VWL, for which we rented points.

Thanks again!

Karla B.

 

[clkelley]

I've tried the 231 route through South Alabama and I hate it.

If you time it where you get through Atlanta about 3:00 in the afternoon or after 7pm in the evening, Atlanta is fine.

As folks said, don't take the Loop!! The trucks HAVE to take the loop, (except local) and the traffic through downtown Atlanta is not bad.

Carol

 

[allonte]

I'm flying from Nashville. I've always said that any destination more than 6 hours away requires a plane ticket. I would wait. SW always has different sales from Nashville. Since they just opened today, I would give them two weeks to come up with some specials.

 

[ptrbryant]

He always claims a 6 hour drive is his limit! Yeah, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and reminding myself that the $39 fare showed up last March for our May trip...and it wasn't even a ding!, just a system-wide special---I think for Florida destinations. Man, I just hate that I've already charged $404 for 3 of us for one-way fares ($124 each)! As I mentioned elsewhere, we're also going to Philadelphia this Sept. and I am hoping, hoping that my current amount will cover r.t fares to MCO AND some of the cost for Phila.

Karla B.

 

[madge]

At this point, we're planning on flying to WDW in May, but current airfare is nearly 3x what I had budgeted for and car rentals aren't as good as in prior years, either. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed better SWA fares will come out in time. Our 4 trips to WDW have always been by plane, but I know many people in the Nashville area (we're about an hour north) drive it. Right now, airfare and car rental are near $1100 vs. $385 last year.

Here's the thing: DH really doesn't like driving very much (as opposed to those who love to get behind the wheel and take off). I don't drive (previously vision issues, but now just need to get some experience in!). The idea of driving down, while unappealing, is possible but DH really, really would love to have a route that avoids the whole Atlanta mess without adding another 2-3 hours to the drive. We would certainly stay overnight each way (way down: Valdosta? way back: ???) and not try to drive it all in one day.

Does anyone have any solutions?

Thanks!

Karla B.

I am in the EXACT same boat as you, Karla! Well, I'm 2 hours North of Nashville (in Kentucky) but watching the SWA fares with great interest! Our trip isn't until October, but we have taken advantage of the $39 fares out of BNA several times over the last few years!

We have made the drive (well, DH does most of the driving... I do not do well driving on expressways/interstates ) to Orlando several times, and have timed it as many ways as possible to avoid driving through Atlanta. What we found was driving through Atlanta during non-rush hour is no more stressful than driving through Nashville. LOL.

For places to stay? Anywhere from Tifton, GA on down to Lake City, FL is a good choice for the drive down. We've made as far as Gainesville or Ocala, too. We always stop at the GA welcome center to pick up a coupon book and make calls when we are about an hour from where we want to stay.

Coming back, we stay at a Hampton Inn in Forsyth, GA. It's about 45 minutes south of Atlanta-- we grab a quick breakfast and get through downtown as early as we can. Our trips home are usually on a Saturday, though... so traffic isn't bad at all then. In fact, we seem to run into more traffic issues on the North side of Atanta, near Marietta. We've found staying in Forsyth to work well for us-- it doesn't seem to take long to get to the TN/GA border and then it's a hop, skip, and a jump back home!

A tip for Atlanta traffic-- drive in the carpool lane. Seems to go a little smoother there.

 

[ptrbryant]

Taking note of your suggestions!...I feel so schizophrenic! I've made car rental reservations (but am unsure if I can double codes the way I did!), booked one-way over-priced fare (which I can recoupe on either cheap, low r.t. fares to MCO OR towards a Philadelphia trip in the fall) AND I'm trying to get advice about driving! Hopefully, within the next month, I'll have some focus!

Thanks again!

Karla B.