Driving from Chicago to WDW

[polkadottie]

We will be traveling to WDW over Labor Day weekend and looking to get as much driving done the first day so that when we resume driving in the morning, we will only have 4 or so hours to go. Does anyone have any recommendations in terms of good cities to spend the night once we cross the Florida state line?

 

[maxbear]

How many people are driving.
I just drove from Houston Texas to Disney. Drove 10 straight Hours before letting the Wife drive for the additional 3 hours. You're drive is maybe four more hours. If you have another driver and can wing 8 hour drives you can save some cash. Other wise I would think any descent motel 6 style type will do for some rest.

 

[polkadottie]

We will have three drivers and also 2 kids who most likely will not be able to take the straight through trip from chicago to wdw.

 

[cruisingkat]

We drive to Disney 3 or more times a year from the western Chicago burbs. We usually leave around 9:30 am and stop at Byron or Perry, GA - just south of Macon - about a 12 hour drive for the first day. We stop at a Holiday Inn Express in either location.
We take I57 to I24 to I75 (using I475 to bypass Macon) to the Florida Turnpike.

 

[baldy6060]

We drive from north central Indiana. We like to make it past Atlanta before stopping (do not stop any place NORTH of Atlanta. I have had 2 nightmare stays in that area). It will mean you have more than a few hours to go but the hardest part is behind you. It's just a long, boring drive the rest of the way. I've also driven straight through before and if you are able to do that and time the drive so it includes the kids' bed times/nap times you may be able to pull it off. However, if they'll need lots of bathroom breaks you can throw all your plans in the toilet.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Remember, the roads will be packed on Labor Day weekend. It might take you an extra hour or two to drive to the Florida border.

You have to drive at least a half hour into Florida to get to the first decent area with lodging. That's Lake City. Good stopping off point if you stay with the major chains along I-75. Unfortunately, due to no reservations, and the overflow crowd from a Florida State football game, we got stuck at a sketchy Days Inn off I-10. Ten miles round trip out of the way.

And I just checked. Yes, Florida State is at home on Labor Day weekend. Meaning overpriced rooms. If you can get a room. (I know Lake City is an hour east of Tallahassee. But that's how popular FSU football is.)

However, if you make it that far, you are less than three hours to WDW.

Another option is Valdosta, GA. That's about 15 miles north of the border. Much larger area, and all the chains are there. Under your circumstances, I'd probably stay there. Or maybe a little farther north (Tifton, Macon).

 

[polkadottie]

Yes, realizing it' s Labor Day weekend and planning for extra time. Thank you all for the good advice and to Lady BeBop for the football game tip. It appears that stopping north of the state line might be our best option.

 

[cemeb4dk]

We live in the western burbs of Chicago, Are you planning the 65-24-75 route or going thru Illinois via 57? We always prefer the 65 route, seems faster for us. Not sure of your departure time, but plan on Atlanta being about 12 hours away plus they are an hour ahead, so you want to miss rush hour traffic. We always drive straight thru, we keep saying we are going to stop, usually think Lake City, but then we are just 3 hours away so we continue on and just grab a hotel just outside of Disney usually the Fairfield Inn in Lake Buena vista. Usually its only about $25 or so more a night than a Lake City Hotel, and when we wake up we are there. We usually leave about 9-930 at night. So the kids can sleep in the car for the most part. We usually get to RUby Falls area by 8AM or so. So we stop for Breakfast, do the tour of the falls stretch our legs rest our eyes etc. Then get to ATL by about lunch time, stop at Varsity Hot Dogs then get to the DIsney area about 730 at night, grab a hotel, get dinner and sleep. It all depends on your driving abilities and how well the kids do. Our daughter has always been a great on the road traveler. She has driven with us to Disney multiple times and even driven to Disneyland and back with us. So while anyone can suggest ideas, only you know yourselves and the kids limits, don't exceed them, stay safe and have a wonderful trip

 

[lbmiller77]

I second the idea of stopping at Perry, GA especially on labor day weekend. We have a ressie for a Microtel for $51. Its relatively new and definitely clean. We stay there every time we drive to FL. I would also recommend not taking the 65 route that weekend. With all the construction near Lafayette and going southbound over the Ohio River Bridge into KY and additional traffic to boot, it will be a nightmare. I-57 will probably have less traffic and, according to my last check with gas buddy, gas prices skew slightly lower along I-57 and I-24 near Clarksville, TN. Have a great trip.

 

[polkadottie]

Yes, I read somewhere on a different thread that 65 is not recommended due to heavy construction. Was planning on going I-57. Thank you all for your great suggestions!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We prefer the 57/24/75/Turnpike route too (even without major construction on 65). But be prepared for MAJOR traffic on I75 approaching the turnpike. We drive to WDW from Chicago 3-5x a year and the traffic we encounter on I75 approaching the Turnpike gets worse and worse each trip. We're usually making good time on our trip and then we hit a standstill and it goes on for miles and miles.