Driving from Cincinnati(ish) area

Momma of 4

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jun 2, 2018
Messages
191
We are driving down in November, me and DH and four kids, 10, 8, and just turned 5 twins. We love about 45-60 minutes north of Cincinnati, and will take 75 nearly the whole way. I'm debating splitting the trip into three drive days, to try to get to the resort early and make sluse if arrival day, and also to make the driving a bit more.... enjoyable if possible 😂 we usually average about 4 hours on the road to get 3 hours down the highway, if that makes sense, after factoring in stops (food, potty, discovered carsick kids on a few trips 🤦‍♀️).
Does that seem like a good plan? Bad plan? Anything I'm not thinking of? We usually like to leave at about 4-5am and drive until 4 or so to stop at the hotel and get dinner and have plenty of run around time after the day in the car, but this is the longest trip we've done since the twins were born, we usually go about 8 hours away (did it once in one day, next drives were split into two days).
 
We are driving down in November, me and DH and four kids, 10, 8, and just turned 5 twins. We love about 45-60 minutes north of Cincinnati, and will take 75 nearly the whole way. I'm debating splitting the trip into three drive days, to try to get to the resort early and make sluse if arrival day, and also to make the driving a bit more.... enjoyable if possible 😂 we usually average about 4 hours on the road to get 3 hours down the highway, if that makes sense, after factoring in stops (food, potty, discovered carsick kids on a few trips 🤦‍♀️).
Does that seem like a good plan? Bad plan? Anything I'm not thinking of? We usually like to leave at about 4-5am and drive until 4 or so to stop at the hotel and get dinner and have plenty of run around time after the day in the car, but this is the longest trip we've done since the twins were born, we usually go about 8 hours away (did it once in one day, next drives were split into two days).
It should be about a 15-16 hour trip for you. We're about 3 hours south of you and it takes us 12-13.

BUT, if you're going to do three drive days, then assuming three drive days back, that's 6. That's almost a week of travel only.

ETA: For me, I'd try to get to Macon the first day, then finish off the second day. If things go bad, stop for the night in Kennesaw or Marietta.
 
I hadn't really thought of it that way 😂 I was thinking of it more like extending our park days by getting to the resort before 10am and bring able to leave at 3pm or so on the last day, vs arrive late evening and departing early am to make up time. We usually try to prebook our hotels because there are six of us, but maybe just driving until we are done then stopping and finding a place is an idea.
 
As an FYI traffic in Atlanta can be lousy anytime but especially during rush hour so be sure to avoid those times. From your area that's around 8 hours (with out stops) so if you leave at 4a it should put you through mid-day even with a quick stop or two for the bathroom and gas. If you plan on a table service and not quick service for lunch you would want to wait until you are south of ATL IMO. If you stop for the night in Macon as @sam_gordon mentioned that would put you about 5 1/2 to 6 hours from Disney for what should be an easy drive before you are ready to start your Disney time.
 

So, I probably live near you if you are along I-75, maybe a bit south since I can usually make the KY boarder in 45-60 minutes outside of rush hour. I have made the drive to Florida, usually WDW, at least 10 times as a driver and usually the only driver, also at least 4 as a passenger as a kid.

I normally leave about 3-4 am and stop around 4-6 pm as close to the GA/FL border so the next day is about 3-5 hours. I rarely make a hotel room reservation until I am on the road and know about where I will actually stop. Since you are 6, I can see where booking in advance might be best.

My trips did not include kids, but my sister that had developmental disabilities so she needed to stop frequently some trips. I tended to stop every 2.5-3 hours and each stop was about 15-30 minutes with lunch usually 45-60 minutes.
 














Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top