Driving for the first time from SE Michigan, Any tips?

[APB513]

I forgot to post the results of our first drive from Ypsilanti to Orlando.

We had snow from the time we left Ypsi until we reached Kentucky. We saw two jack knifed semis. Kind of scary

I drove the entire way down. We stopped for the night in Atlanta and then continue to Orlando the next morning.

Here are our times:

12/21/12
5:21 am - left Ypsilanti
5:58 am - Ohio border
10:15 am - Kentucky border
1:26 pm - Tennessee border
3:56 pm - Georgia border
* I forgot to write down the time we reached the hotel

12/22/12
5:42 am - left Atlanta
10:15 am - Florida border
2:45 pm - Hilton hotel in DTD

We left WDW and stayed two nights at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. The resort is beautiful!! I would love to go back when its warmer.

We drove straight through from SC to Ypsilanti. We left about 5:00 am and got home around 9:00 pm. (I don't have the exact times. I was sick so I didn't write anything down)

The trip was great!!! The drive down wasn't bad at all. I could definitely see myself doing it again.

 

[Poohs Pal]

Thats great time especially in the winter. Susan

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

I forgot to post the results of our first drive from Ypsilanti to Orlando.

We had snow from the time we left Ypsi until we reached Kentucky. We saw two jack knifed semis. Kind of scary

I drove the entire way down. We stopped for the night in Atlanta and then continue to Orlando the next morning.

Here are our times:

12/21/12
5:21 am - left Ypsilanti
5:58 am - Ohio border
10:15 am - Kentucky border
1:26 pm - Tennessee border
3:56 pm - Georgia border
* I forgot to write down the time we reached the hotel

12/22/12
5:42 am - left Atlanta
10:15 am - Florida border
2:45 pm - Hilton hotel in DTD

We left WDW and stayed two nights at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. The resort is beautiful!! I would love to go back when its warmer.

We drove straight through from SC to Ypsilanti. We left about 5:00 am and got home around 9:00 pm. (I don't have the exact times. I was sick so I didn't write anything down)

The trip was great!!! The drive down wasn't bad at all. I could definitely see myself doing it again.

I'm in Ypsi too...and I can't imagine driving to WDW! I've driven to the Alabama Gulf Coast and I drive to Arkansas...but I'm always so tired when I leave WDW. I can't imagine driving back! We are flying down tomorrow!

 

[APB513]

I'm in Ypsi too...and I can't imagine driving to WDW! I've driven to the Alabama Gulf Coast and I drive to Arkansas...but I'm always so tired when I leave WDW. I can't imagine driving back! We are flying down tomorrow!

Wow! What a small world

It's hard to say whether or not I would normally be too tired to drive back. I got sick about 5 days into the trip. By the time we left SC I was sick as a dog. Plus I hadn't been sleeping very well the last few days of the trip.

I drove for about 3 hours until I couldn't do it anymore. My oldest son took over.

The reason we spent two days in SC was so we could rest and unwind from the trip before we drove home. This might have worked if I hadn't been sick

Have fun on your trip!!!

 

[APB513]

Thats great time especially in the winter. Susan

Yes that's what I was thinking. I was very happy once it stopped snowing.

We were supposed to leave Saturday but I got nervous because I kept hearing that there would be more people on the road than the year before. So we ended up leaving on Friday instead.

All in all it was a good experience. I would do it again.

 

[auger]

I always have to make my recommendation to people in your situation.
We drive from NW Ohio to WDW for most of our trips. Flying on points next times with SW.

Anyway, we used to do the whole drive thru the night thing. But when I started having to make the trip on my own with the kids, I found it was much easier and much less of a drain to my body if I left in the dark hours of the morning and arrived late.

For us, that equates to leaving between 5-7am and arriving between 10-12pm, as it is about a 17 hour trip from here. I know you have a bit longer than that, but it would still be doable.

Ever since my bil and sil had an accident falling asleep at the wheel while trying to drive thru the night, we always try to steer people away from that course.
They were fortunate to survive, as they ran up a wall barricade and the car was left riding on two tires and crossed the other two lanes of traffic before it fell back onto all four tires rather than flipping.

If you do choose to drive thru the night, please be careful.

 

[Poohs Pal]

I always have to make my recommendation to people in your situation.
We drive from NW Ohio to WDW for most of our trips. Flying on points next times with SW.

Anyway, we used to do the whole drive thru the night thing. But when I started having to make the trip on my own with the kids, I found it was much easier and much less of a drain to my body if I left in the dark hours of the morning and arrived late.

For us, that equates to leaving between 5-7am and arriving between 10-12pm, as it is about a 17 hour trip from here. I know you have a bit longer than that, but it would still be doable.

Ever since my bil and sil had an accident falling asleep at the wheel while trying to drive thru the night, we always try to steer people away from that course.
They were fortunate to survive, as they ran up a wall barricade and the car was left riding on two tires and crossed the other two lanes of traffic before it fell back onto all four tires rather than flipping.

If you do choose to drive thru the night, please be careful.

I completly agree with you. I think people should think twice before driving straight thru the night from Michigan. I know I have to always stop somewhere in Georgia for the night. I always feel driving straight thru ends of feeling like jet lag and I myself would need a day to recover,lol. so might as well stop for the night on the way down and arrive feeling full of energy.