driving down

[campinfamof4]

We are heading down to Fort Wilderness the wed before Thanksgiving. Leaving from IL/WI border. Lookng for the best routes/stopping points. Any advice on travels during late Nov. from IL/WI border to FL. Should we travel with water in our trailer or wait until we get to warmer climates?

PS: How do you add the states of where you have camped to your profile???

 

[retired and happy]

if you mean a map of states visited, Google Visited States Map and you will be guided to a site that will let you create the map of your travels. The criteria for building the map is your choice...states camped in, traveled through, or whatever. You can then save the map and use it in other programs in signatures, profiles, etc.

I can't help much with the water issue since I tend to stay in the South, but if you're concerned with freezing, you should not have any problem that early. We carried water into a snostorm in Maine a couple years ag without trouble. Well, we had a transmission and generator go out and a radiator burst from over heating when the transmission went, but the water in our tank was fine. Some people do like to travel with just enough water for a trip due to the weight.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Where you stop will depend on how many miles you are planning on traveling each day. If you have some idea of the general area, I'm sure that someone here will have an idea of a campground that you may like. If you end up around Louisville, KY the Louisville South KOA was one of our stops along the way that we liked. We started that day in your general area, so that might work for you.

Whether or not you start with water in your tanks will depend on the temperature. We don't generally travel with full tanks, but I'm sure that there will be someone else who can give you some advice on that.

Have a magical time!!!

 

[campinfamof4]

ok thanks for the advice i think as far as water goes we will play it by ear. i think the first night we are going to try and make louisville.

 

[medic9016]

Here is the link to the map of the states visited. Save the map as a picture after adding your state. Then add it to your signature using the "user CP" tab.

 

[Goofyseven]

We are heading down to Fort Wilderness the wed before Thanksgiving. Leaving from IL/WI border. Lookng for the best routes/stopping points. Any advice on travels during late Nov. from IL/WI border to FL. Should we travel with water in our trailer or wait until we get to warmer climates?

PS: How do you add the states of where you have camped to your profile???

We are in Gurnee, Il and take 294 to 57 to 24 to 75. While its a bit longer than 65, it cuts off some tolls, traffic around Chicago and going thru cities in Indiana and KY. We are going to the Fort Dec 22, plan to hotel it in Clarksville TN, Camp in Lake City FL and arrive at the Fort on the 24th. We'll de winterize in Lake City. In November you should be OK with water in the tanks, how much is up to you

Hope this helps!!!

 

[campinfamof4]

we are going to take are time going down since we cant check in till friday. So we are going to stop at the koa in bolwing green the first night then somewhere in south ga or northern fl the second night. then finally arrive at the fort sometime midday friday.

 

[retired and happy]

We always stop at Lake City FL at the In & Out Campground. It's a quarter to a half mile off I-75 on US 90. That makes WDW about 150 miles to go. All kinds of fast foods nearby as well as a Wally World for those last minute things you forgot or need to add. Even a Home Depot across from WW.

 

[Goofyseven]

We are looking at stopping at Lake City FL. In reading the park reviews, In and Out doesn't look too good. Have you stayed at EZ Stop? EZ looks to be a better place

Thanks,

 

[retired and happy]

In and Out is not a resort, but has a lot of spaces and we have often come in late without a reservation and gotten in. It's relatively inexpensive. Since it's just for overnight, we don't worry too much about amenities, although there is a Subway Shop in the building with the office. We've never stayed anywhere else in the Lake City area.

 

[redshoe9]

We are also driving the same direction and leaving from the IL Wi border w a motor home. I'm actually trying to route us as to avoid any steep grades as I hate those while in the motor home and some of the hills near Tenn freak me out. In a car I'm fine but something about sitting up front with a huge "view" of the hill and thoughts of the brakes going out run through my mind.

It doesn't help when I see the runaway truck ramps

MY goal is to get there as fast as I can but my DH thinks we should "stretch" it out over three days which feels like torture with a 2 yr old.

 

[4mickey2]

i would say keep an eye on the temps. if it is going to be above freezing (which right now it looks like it may) then go ahead with the water. we are heading down in dec and will not put water in the tanks until we are in warmer weather.

and the mh will be winterized before we head back home, too.

 

[storyteller]

Yes Tenn MT's can be overwhelming,

Take the big hills during daylite, stay to the right, go slow, put your four ways on, stay in a lower gear.
don't worry about taking a bit longer. We want to see you arrive safe.

2 yr old, well been there done that. 3 times. Sing songs, play games, sleep a lot..

 

[campinfamof4]

we cant check in till fridayn anyways and with a 5 yr old and 3yr old that ask on ever trip if we are thier yet i figure i would split it up and take our time getting down. plus i dont want to tired and wiped out before we even get thier. so we will stop at the koa in bowling green ky and the koa in valdosta ga.

 

[storyteller]

tell the kiddies, yes we are there, see ya.

 

[genealle]

.... I'm actually trying to route us as to avoid any steep grades as I hate those while in the motor home and some of the hills near Tenn freak me out......

XANAX!

And use low gears as mentioned. Even in my van I take it slowww through the mountains. I get freaked by the truckers going 70mph downhill.

 

[5stljayhawks]

From stl - we take 64 to 57 to 24 through Nashville and Chattanooga, then hit 75 south through Atlanta to Orlando.

On the way down we stay south of Atlanta at the KOA in foryth, GA. Nice and easy in and out and don't have to worry about rush hour in the morning in Atlanta. On the way back, we have stayed at the KOA in north Chattanooga.

We cover about 650 miles the first FULL day(about 14 hours) and 450 the next day on the way down and about 550/550 on the way back. Given good weather this year, I think I may be able to knock an hour or more off.

Let us know how far you plan on driving and people can let you know