Driving Chicago to WDW question

[cemeb4dk]

As I am just looking at ideas as our December trip nears. We are in the western burbs of Chicago and have done the drive a bunch of times, and usually do the 65 route to 24 to 75. We have also done 57 to 24 to 75

But I was wondering if any of you have ever gone the route of 65 to 74 towards Cinncinnati then the 275 bypass then 75 the rest of the way down.

By mapping it thru mapquest the Cincinnati route is 40 miles longer and almost the same driving time. We will be leaving at about 5 or 6 am on a sunday in Dec. So we should see no issues with traffic, except for ATL because the Falcons have a a home game that day so we will take the bypass.

So just wondering if there are any advantages or anyone up from my neck of the woods takes this route and their reasoning. The extra mileage is so small that it will have no affect on my decision.

Thanks in advance, and safe travels to all of you that are traveling soon.

 

[LadyBeBop]

IIRC, you're going the last Sunday in December.

Since I live in the Cincinnati area, I know the I-74, I-275, I-75 route. The trip through the Tennessee mountains between the Kentucky border and Knoxville is beautiful.

However, the mountains are higher up, and tends to get snow in December.

I don't want to scare you away from the Cincinnati route. In fact, the distance between Knoxville and Nashville is enough that Nashville might be in a snowstorm and Knoxville may not. Since you'll eventually end up in Chattanooga, I wouldn't make a decision until you know the weather conditions for all three routes (I-57, I-65 and I-74).

All things being equal, I'd take the route you'd be most comfortable with. Keeping in mind that the Tennessee Titans also have a home football game (scheduled for noon, but it may also move to 3 PM).

However, with weather, all things may not be equal.

Hoping you'll post again a couple of days before you leave. You may have to avoid one of these routes. And there's also a chance you might not have to take the Atlanta bypass.

ETA: I forgot, you're coming from Chicago. I was thinking Indianapolis.

I'd keep track of the start time of the Titans' football game. Assuming you take the I-57 or I-65 route, if you leave at 5 AM, you should hit Nashville about 1 PM. If the game begins at noon you'll have no problem, since everyone will be at the game. If the game begins at 3 PM, you'll probably hit game traffic. And you won't know the game time until the Monday before.

As for me. I'd much rather drive through Atlanta than Nashville.

 

[marius97]

It really is 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other...Coming from SW Michigan, we have the same drive as you once we hit Indy. You don't really have to make the decision until you get to the split in Indy, so I would wait until that point to decide. The mountains via 75 are MUCH more significant than going 24. I would keep an eye on the weather and construction for both routes and let that be my deciding factor.

We've gone both ways several times. We find 24 to be at least a half hour shorter, but 75 seems to have fewer issues with the big cities that you drive through. All it takes is one bad bit of construction in one of the towns and the other route becomes much faster.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Thank you both, if weather and or construction is not a factor, maybe I will try this way one just to be different and secondly it sounds the more scenic route.