Driving from chicago

[sz9144]

I'm sorry, I know this has been discussed to death but did a search and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.


We are driving from the north suburbs of Chicago to Florida starting tomorrow night. I have read here that people recommend 57 instead of 65.

I am wondering:

1. What time to start driving in the evening (have to work till 3)- 5 or 7:30/8?
2. Where to stop, or drive straight through since we're leaving late?
3. Best route to take- 294 or 94? 57 or 65?

Thanks!!!

 

[siskaren]

This thread didn't have what you're looking for?

 

[sz9144]

This thread didn't have what you're looking for?

I appreciate the link, but also since its older I'm hoping someone might have recent experiences also

 

[grimley1968]

Since you're going to end up on I-75 anyway, why not get on I-75 sooner than later. It may be seem slightly out of the way versus I-65. but I-75 in Kentucky and Tennessee is much nicer than I-65 (more 3-lane road and less construction), and I think would more than save time versus the few extra miles this involves. Basically, in this scenario, you'd take I-65 to Indy, then I-74 to Cincy, then get on I-75 south of Cincy in northern Ky. The jog eastward occurs further north than going down I-57 or I-65.

I don't know how far you'd make it, depending on when you leave from the Chicago area. But I bet you could make it into Tennessee before stopping for the night. Knoxville isn't that far into Tennessee on I-75. Plenty of places to stop near there.

 

[cruisingkat]

Just drove down and back in Dec. We are from the western burbs, so we take 355 to 80 to 57. We don't drive straight thru and leave in the morning. We only have 1 driver so we have to do it in two days. From 355 & 55, it usually takes us about 7.5 hours to reach Nashville taking 57.

 

[tlkgt76]

I'm sorry, I know this has been discussed to death but did a search and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.


We are driving from the north suburbs of Chicago to Florida starting tomorrow night. I have read here that people recommend 57 instead of 65.

I am wondering:

1. What time to start driving in the evening (have to work till 3)- 5 or 7:30/8?
2. Where to stop, or drive straight through since we're leaving late?
3. Best route to take- 294 or 94? 57 or 65?

Thanks!!!

I'm curious how different the path will be for us next week as we're from the Peoria area and Mapquest/Google maps tell us to take 55 to St. Louis. I can't figure this one out because that will take us west for quite awhile before heading east. It seems out of the way.

 

[cruisingkat]

Since you're going to end up on I-75 anyway, why not get on I-75 sooner than later. It may be seem slightly out of the way versus I-65. but I-75 in Kentucky and Tennessee is much nicer than I-65 (more 3-lane road and less construction), and I think would more than save time versus the few extra miles this involves. Basically, in this scenario, you'd take I-65 to Indy, then I-74 to Cincy, then get on I-75 south of Cincy in northern Ky. The jog eastward occurs further north than going down I-57 or I-65.

I don't know how far you'd make it, depending on when you leave from the Chicago area. But I bet you could make it into Tennessee before stopping for the night. Knoxville isn't that far into Tennessee on I-75. Plenty of places to stop near there.

That way actually takes longer than either 65 or 57 as the mileage is greater about 60 miles more.

 

[Moparlar]

I'm curious how different the path will be for us next week as we're from the Peoria area and Mapquest/Google maps tell us to take 55 to St. Louis. I can't figure this one out because that will take us west for quite awhile before heading east. It seems out of the way.

From Peoria I would take 74 to indy and take 65 south from there. We are from Chicago and take the 65 route every time. Just watch the 55 speed limit zone about 7 miles from the south end of Indiana. Dont ask me how I know

Larry

 

[kldownunder]

From Peoria I would take 74 to indy and take 65 south from there. We are from Chicago and take the 65 route every time. Just watch the 55 speed limit zone about 7 miles from the south end of Indiana. Dont ask me how I know

Larry

Yes...if you are taking 65 into Kentucky, do not go over 55mph from mile marker 9 in Indiana until you get to the river and into Kentucky.

If you drive even 60 mph, 9 times out of 10 you will end up with a ticket. I live in Louisville and drive there frequently.

 

[Moparlar]

Yes...if you are taking 65 into Kentucky, do not go over 55mph from mile marker 9 in Indiana until you get to the river and into Kentucky.

If you drive even 60 mph, 9 times out of 10 you will end up with a ticket. I live in Louisville and drive there frequently.

And if you get a ticket they don't offer internet classes you have to go back there to take the class to keep it off your record. Trust me I know.

Larry

 

[cruisingkat]

Another place to watch speed is on I75 in GA around Turner county. It is only a 10 mile stretch around mile marker 75 but we have seen as many as 4 sheriffs' cars in that 10 miles. Tickets can be quite expensive running into the hundreds of dollars plus if you are 15 or more over the limit, an extra $200 is tacked on by the state due to the super speeder law (the super speeder law covers the whole state).

 

[catho72]

We live in the south suburbs and leave between 8-10pm. We drive straight through and it take us 18 hours door to door. I pack breakfast and lunch to eat in the car and the only time we go to the bathroom is if we stop for gas. We take 80/94 to I-65. A few years ago, we took I-57 home and it seemed to take forever once we got into Illinois to get home. I prefer I-65 over I-57.

It really isn't that bad of a drive although driving there is always better than driving home.

Leaving at the time we do, the kids sleep until we get to Nashville at 6am and we avoid rush hour traffic in all the major metropolitan areas...Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta....

One time, we stopped in Chattanooga on the way home to spend the night and it was almost exactly the halfway point for us.

Hope this helps!

 

[tlkgt76]

From Peoria I would take 74 to indy and take 65 south from there. We are from Chicago and take the 65 route every time. Just watch the 55 speed limit zone about 7 miles from the south end of Indiana. Dont ask me how I know

Larry

THANKS!!! We definitely don't need a ticket, that's for SURE! lol

 

[Funwith4kids]

I'm curious how different the path will be for us next week as we're from the Peoria area and Mapquest/Google maps tell us to take 55 to St. Louis. I can't figure this one out because that will take us west for quite awhile before heading east. It seems out of the way.

We have driven from Peoria many times.

Driven the below options many times each:
74 -> 57 -> 24 -> 75
155 -> 55 -> 4 (state route) -> 64 -> 57 -> 24 -> 75
74 -> 65 -> .....

We prefer the 55 / rt 4 / 64 option as the 74 to 57 option just seems so long since it is all open farm land and there are more options for rest areas, gas stations, and eats.

 

[grimley1968]

Yes...if you are taking 65 into Kentucky, do not go over 55mph from mile marker 9 in Indiana until you get to the river and into Kentucky.

If you drive even 60 mph, 9 times out of 10 you will end up with a ticket. I live in Louisville and drive there frequently.

Which is why I keep recommending going on I-75 through Kentucky. Yes, it's a longer route, but it will most likely be faster, as you can drive the speed limit (rarely below 65 or 70 unless there is construction in some areas) from the Cincy suburbs and then all the way down through Kentucky and Tennessee, on 3-lane, rather than 2-lane roads. I-65 is mostly 2-lane each way; I-75 is almost entirely 3-lane each way. Big difference in stress levels, chances of getting tickets, and probably a little quicker once you factor in driving through fewer metropolitan areas on I-75 versus I-65, at least between Cincy and Chattanooga. There are plenty of trucks on both roads, but that third lane on I-75 makes them much less of a hassle to get around.

I sometimes have to drive west of where I live (between I-75 and I-65), and the ease of I-75 versus the headache of I-65 cannot be stated strongly enough, IMO. I'll even take state highways, if possible, over getting on I-65. I-75 has been continually improved in Kentucky and Tennessee, while I-65 seems to be the "forgotten highway" in both states, for some reason. Getting on that road is like going back 30 years in time, in my experience.

 

[AaronInWI]

Another place to watch speed is on I75 in GA around Turner county. It is only a 10 mile stretch around mile marker 75 but we have seen as many as 4 sheriffs' cars in that 10 miles. Tickets can be quite expensive running into the hundreds of dollars plus if you are 15 or more over the limit, an extra $200 is tacked on by the state due to the super speeder law (the super speeder law covers the whole state).

This is the one tip that I was so happy I remembered on our drive down last year. In fact, I just played it safe and pretty much stayed within 2-3 miles of the speed limit all the way through Georgia. It slowed us down, but I think I more than made up for it the rest of the trip...

 

[LadyBeBop]

Which is why I keep recommending going on I-75 through Kentucky. Yes, it's a longer route, but it will most likely be faster, as you can drive the speed limit (rarely below 65 or 70 unless there is construction in some areas) from the Cincy suburbs and then all the way down through Kentucky and Tennessee, on 3-lane, rather than 2-lane roads.

Actually, if you go the 74/75 route into Kentucky, I'd exit I-74 at I-275 in the western Cincinnati suburbs. I-275 will take you south into Northern Kentucky, where you pick up I-75. Bypasses Downtown Cincinnati, and it's 65 MPH all the way around I-275 (except if there's construction).

One quirk. Even though you enter I-275 in Ohio, it brings you back into Indiana for a couple of miles before entering Kentucky at the Ohio River. Don't freak out.

I-65 is mostly 2-lane each way; I-75 is almost entirely 3-lane each way. Big difference in stress levels, chances of getting tickets, and probably a little quicker once you factor in driving through fewer metropolitan areas on I-75 versus I-65, at least between Cincy and Chattanooga. There are plenty of trucks on both roads, but that third lane on I-75 makes them much less of a hassle to get around.

Taking the 74/275/75 route, the only major city you come across between Indy and Chattanooga is Knoxville. And that's smaller than Indy and Louisville. You bypass Cincinnati by taking I-275, and I-75 doesn't exactly go into Lexington. It bypasses Lexington by about five miles.

One other quirk about Knoxville. I-75 south cosigns with I-40 west for about 30 miles. That's why the I-75 route is about 60 miles longer...you go due west on I-40 for about 30 miles before continuing south on I-75.

I live in the Cincinnati area, so I take I-75 to Orlando. But I travel south on I-65 many times. To me, going through Nashville on I-65 is worst than going through Atlanta on I-75.

 

[dzneelvr]

From NW Illinois we make Knoxville area @12 hours and WDW resort in slightly under 24. DH wanted to "drive through" so that's how we knowSince Allegient came into Rockford, we will never drive again

 

[grimley1968]

Actually, if you go the 74/75 route into Kentucky, I'd exit I-74 at I-275 in the western Cincinnati suburbs. I-275 will take you south into Northern Kentucky, where you pick up I-75. Bypasses Downtown Cincinnati, and it's 65 MPH all the way around I-275 (except if there's construction).

One quirk. Even though you enter I-275 in Ohio, it brings you back into Indiana for a couple of miles before entering Kentucky at the Ohio River. Don't freak out.

I should have mentioned using 275. That is definitely better than going all the way into Cincy. Yes, that Indiana/Ohio border crossing has vexed me multiple times.

And I detest driving through Nashville.

 

[catho72]

Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for the 465-74-275-75 tip! We are on 75 now and it's WAAAAY better than I-65! We've been cruising at 80 mph since getting in it. There's barely any traffic and having three lanes is so much better than two. There's been a little construction but it hasn't affected our drive time at all.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!