Driving From Chicago

[BethanyF]

This will be our first attempt at driving to WDW, however we are experienced road-trippers (New England, Dallas, Atlanta, and more).
I know this trip will be at least 19 or 20 hours of driving time.

What I would like to know is

1...the best route

2....where would be a good (clean, safe, cheap) place to spend the night, but yet leave us within 4 hours of WDW? We dont mind long days, but I really want the second day to be quick. So we can do 15 or so hours on day 1.

3...anything cool to see along the way? More likely we would do that stuff on the way home, I dont want to waste any time getting there.

Thanks for any and all tips / advice.

 

[Jon99]

We always take the 57-24-75 route....And you can find some decent hotels at the Lake Cities area in Florida...

 

[Padre Disney]

We drove from Des Moines Iowa straight through leaving at 6p.m and arrived in Orlando around 6:30 pm the next day. 80 to 57 to 24 to 75. All I can say is watch out in Georgia. On the way down and on the way back this is the only state that we experienced TERRIBLE traffic. On the way back we left Orlando at 10:00 a.m and did not arrive in Mufreesboro until 1 am because of trouble in Georgia. We are flying in March

The view in Chattanooga TN is wonderful.

Get a DVD player and head phones for the kids. When our four kids put in movies and put on the head phones it was great listening to them laugh at the movies.

Have change for the tolls.

Have a safe drive.

 

[BethanyF]

Originally posted by Padre Disney
We are flying in March


Have change for the tolls.

Have a safe drive.

Thanks for the info....looks like we will be there at the same time. I just couldnt find good air fare...although there is still hope. In the meantime, we are leaning toward driving and I want to be prepared.
Thanks again

 

[scal]

Have you tried Rockford for cheap airfare? Trans Meridian Airlines (iflytma.com) now offers service from Rockford to Orlando (Sanford Airport). We're paying around $160 round trip for January.
Just a thought.

 

[FINFAN]

Hi, we are trying to decide fly/drive for this X-mas, but going 4 hours further than Orlando. We just decided to make the trip so airfare for 4 is pretty high(DHdoes not want me to do priceline etc., so I currently have 260 each for 4) the airfare is o.k. for last minute I guess, but the rental car is killer. EST $ 560 for our stay. That's 1600 total, and we figure driving is 1/2 of that, easy. BUT....I am concerned about weather, being wiped out upon arrival and shot for the actual holiday I just don't know. It will not be hassle free to fly either....but the drive back....uuuuggghhhhh....and we are not even getting to see WDW, just not in the budget..... All I can say is we are NOT looking foreward to the Chattanooga leg of the trip, and there is not much to see from Atlanta to Orlando, except for sppotting the first palm tree!

 

[marn913]

BethanyF -
If you are considering flying, try ATA and Southwest's sites. We always fly because I hate driving and get car sick. We always fly out of Midway via one of these carriers and are always able to get direct flights $200 and under round trip. We tried Delta last year with a layover in Atlanta because we got a deal of $150 round trip (tax included), but the connection times were too close, we almost missed our connecting flights in both directions, and Delta lost our luggage coming home. Also, my parents flew non-stop from O'Hare on Spirit for our wedding this summer for $175 round trip, if you prefer O'Hare, Spirit usually offers better fares than the larger carriers.

Marne

 

[geffric]

Bethany... we drive from Chicago every year..since 1993.you can pm me if you want any tips.

places to stop along the way -

Stones MT battlefield - outside of Nashville
Ruby falls before Chattenooga

We stop in Gainesville Ga.. lots of places to stay..then a quick trip to Orlando.

 

[cgcw]

Hi Bethany,

We have driven all of our trips up to the last one in October (I think now we are going to convert to be flyers ). We made the trip in 2 days. The last trip we drove down (Dec, 2002) we had problems with our van so it made for a long trip home. We have since decided we are going to give flying a try for a while.

We flew Spirit out of O'Hare in October. Non-stop, direct flight. Could not beat it for the price. I booked online and found a price I could live with. Booked it. Then the price went down and they gave us a credit voucher good to be used within one years time (which is how we ended up flying out next March again).

When we drove, we would head down through Indiana (the longest drive). Last December, we staying in a very nice Red Roof Inn in Elizabethtown, (KY??). It was relatively new and very clean.

A TV/VCR/DVD player for the van helped pass the time for the kids.

See you at WDW (I know we'll be there the same week) .

 

[BethanyF]

Originally posted by cgcw
Hi Bethany,


A TV/VCR/DVD player for the van helped pass the time for the kids.

See you at WDW (I know we'll be there the same week) .

We are planning to buy a portable DVD player....I think dh wants it more than Sam does, LOL.
We should try to hook up at some point. We are checking in on Friday, and out the following Friday.
As far as the drive, my researching has led me to believe we can make it to some point between Macon and Valdosta on the first day. Leaving us a much shorter drive on Friday.
I havent done much research for the return trip....I dont want to think about that part yet,

 

[geffric]

On the drive back, we leave about 5:30 pm and drive to just south of Macon, getting there about 11.. The next day, we drive home straight thru; we get back to Palatine at about 11 PM.