Driving from Chicago to Disney World?

[preschoolmom]

I've mapquested it... I think we're going to need to stop for the night along the way.

Any suggestions for hotels/locations?

We tend to leave obscenely early, to get through the city - so if we leave at 4:00am, where can we be by dinner time?



Thank you!

 

[Jon99]

I think you should be down in the Macon area by dinner time..

 

[Minnie824]

We've driven from Chicago twice...once thru IL on I-57 and the other thru IN on I-65. We much preferred going thru Indiana. It seemed to make the time pass quicker, with more cities to pass along the way. We left around last time at 2:52am. I can give you approximately where we got, when. We stopped for breakfast at Mcdonalds in Kentucky, don't remember exactly which town. I want to say it was around 8:45. It took us around 5 hrs to get thru IN. We had packed sandwiches, so we ate lunch in the car, just made a few more gas/bathroom stops along the way. We got to Atlanta around 2pm (the outskirts) then before the 75/474 split, after Atlanta, theres a nice welcome center/rest stop we stop at. We always get dinner in Tifton, GA, around 5:30/6pm. Our 2nd trip we stayed over in Gainesville, FL, and we arrived there around 8pm (CST). The trouble spots we always seem to hit is traffic around Chattanooga, thru the mountains. If you have any questions, let me know!

 

[tinaluis]

We've driven from Chicago several times and prefer the I-57 route. It is boring, but a lot less congested IMO. We usually leave around 6am and arrive in Atlanta about 8pm, but that is with several bathroom stops and stopping for lunch (we have 3DDs who never have to pee at the same time ) . We stop overnight just before metro Atlanta and we usually grab dinner as we're getting to the hotel.

 

[Jeninindy]

We've driven from Chicago twice...once thru IL on I-57 and the other thru IN on I-65. We much preferred going thru Indiana. It seemed to make the time pass quicker, with more cities to pass along the way. We left around last time at 2:52am. I can give you approximately where we got, when. We stopped for breakfast at Mcdonalds in Kentucky, don't remember exactly which town. I want to say it was around 8:45. It took us around 5 hrs to get thru IN. We had packed sandwiches, so we ate lunch in the car, just made a few more gas/bathroom stops along the way. We got to Atlanta around 2pm (the outskirts) then before the 75/474 split, after Atlanta, theres a nice welcome center/rest stop we stop at. We always get dinner in Tifton, GA, around 5:30/6pm. Our 2nd trip we stayed over in Gainesville, FL, and we arrived there around 8pm (CST). The trouble spots we always seem to hit is traffic around Chattanooga, thru the mountains. If you have any questions, let me know!

How long did it take you from Gainesville to WDW? We are driving from central indiana and are trying to stop about the 12 hour mark of a 15 hour trip....

TIA

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Depending on your speed of course, Gainvesville to WDW is about 2 hours.

When you get to the Winter Garden area outside Orlando, exit Florida's Turnpike at Exit#267A and head south on the new Western Expressway, TOLL 429. Use Exit# 8 Disney World/Hartzog Road (to Western Way), the new western entrance road into WDW. This knocks about 15-minutes off your trip, depending on where in the World you're headed.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Funwith4kids]

I've mapquested it... I think we're going to need to stop for the night along the way.

Any suggestions for hotels/locations?

We tend to leave obscenely early, to get through the city - so if we leave at 4:00am, where can we be by dinner time?



Thank you!

Depends when dinner time is. How many stops. How long the stops. How fast you drive. Traffic situation. Time you will hit metro areas of Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta.

With all the variables that can affect us, we are leaving @ 4 am (I'm pushing for 3) and will be stopping in Valdosta, Ga for dinner and the night. We prefer I-57/I-24 route to avoid Indy, Louisville, and I-65 traffic.

Also, check out Freetrip.com for travel directions with estimated times of hitting metro areas along your route that may affect traffic.

 

[manning]

Mileage wise Chattanooga is about the half way point.

 

[WOODY13]

Mapquest says it is 60 miles farther if you go down I-57. We always go I-65 and have not had trouble with Indy or Louisville. It all depends on what time you hit the bigger towns. Atlanta is the one I would worry about the most.

 

[disneyfan67]

I've mapquested it... I think we're going to need to stop for the night along the way.

Any suggestions for hotels/locations?

We tend to leave obscenely early, to get through the city - so if we leave at 4:00am, where can we be by dinner time?



Thank you!

I did the exact same trip you're planning on in October 2002. I was on the road by 4am and was in the heart of Chicago in 20 minutes. I took I 65 to 24 to I 75 route. It's amazing how fast I made time through Chicago. I got into Chattanooga by 4pm or so and we already had a hotel booked. It was the halfway point and a lot of people recommended it. Looking back, I wish I had driven further and made it past Atlanta. The traffic was nuts in the morning and I lost a lot of time getting through it and I thought Chicago had gridlock! I could have easily drove until 8pm or so, but I had 3 other adults beside me and two 5 year old boys. I should have pushed it until we got a couple hours past Atlanta. I would definitely drive farther next time if I ever decide to go the car route again.

 

[preschoolmom]

I appreciate all of your input.

I think we'll make reservations in Chattanooga And somewhere after Atlanta. We can see how well we are doing - and how we feel - and then just cancel one.

We are going in February - so I realize the Mountains may give us some trouble...

 

[JuneBugg]

The last two times we took 57/24/75 route. Tried 65 Indy way once, to much traffic on 80/94 going into Indiana. We stayed in Lake Park GA, woke up and were on our way by 8am and were at the POP by 11:30am, with a stop at the Disney Welcome Center. Only bad thing was the trip thru GA seemed like it took forever!

 

[WOODY13]

Like Disneyfan 67 said I would definitely get past Atlanta. Atlanta is only about two hours past Chattanooga. We always stay at the Hampton Inns, they cost a little more then some of the others but it worth it for very clean rooms and good service. Like Junbugg said Lake Park is a good place to stop it is right by the border to Florida. That leaves only about 200 miles the next day. We like to get most of the driving out of the way the first day.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Have fun! we drove from Rockford last year and made it all the way through no stops

 

[Minnie824]

Another input...my parents did this drive and they stopped in Perry. It was a nice area, just past Atlanta, but not too far past, so you may want to check into that. I would definitely try to get thru Atlanta the first day...just going thru GA was a long drive for us.

 

[RAD]

I'm another vote for taking I57 to I24 vs. I65. Yea, it's a bit longer but much less traffic then I65, especially in NW Indiana.

 

[SpecialK]

Anyone with any experience with the 57-24-65-231-10-75 route? I've read that it's a much more pleasant drive and avoids Atlanta (obviously), but I'd love to hear from any one who's actually driven it. Longer than traditional route? Any input? Everything I'm reading about Atlanta is freaking me out, and I grew up driving the Ryan!

 

[Funwith4kids]

Don't have experience with that route, but have heard others mention it. However, if you can do Chicago traffic, you can do Atlanta. No different, IMO.

 

[tinaluis]

Anyone with any experience with the 57-24-65-231-10-75 route? I've read that it's a much more pleasant drive and avoids Atlanta (obviously), but I'd love to hear from any one who's actually driven it. Longer than traditional route? Any input? Everything I'm reading about Atlanta is freaking me out, and I grew up driving the Ryan!

We've never taken the specific route you mention, only 57/24/75. If you've driven the Dan Ryan, Atlanta shouldn't be a problem, just try to get through there either very early or very late. By the time we get the the area just outside of Atlanta metro, DH is ready for a break so we stop overnight. The next morning we take our time getting up, showered and getting our DDs ready because we know that rush hour traffic is going to be bad. This way we have a leisurely morning and avoid most of the traffic.

 

[jkfreeman33]

Good luck and be careful. We live in the south suburbs of Chicago and fly Southwest to orlando. Usually it's fairly inexpensive, althought that is changing lately.
It's s long deive - someone told me they did it in 24 hours straight thru. No thank - that's not for me.
Be careful!