Driving from Houson,TX (help!)

[jenypooh]

In an effort to save $$ (and because I've never been a good airline person) we're driving from Houston to Orlando for my first trip to Disney World.

Anyone ever do this trip? Any suggestions on a good 1/2 way place? Any trip tips? I've contacted AAA for a trip tik but sometimes only someone who's "been there" can help out!

Thanks
Jeny

 

[madelyn]

We have never driven to Disney although my husband's family drove from Houston for our wedding at Disney as well as friends of ours. I think they all made the trip without stopping to sleep. There were enough drivers to switch off. I believe they had a long stop in New Orleans. We have some time to possibly make a car trip now (but no money since my husband lost his job) and figured we would spend the night in New Orleans. It looks like it is about a 5-6 hour drive from Houston to New Orleans, then another 10 or so hours to Disney from there.

 

[beansmom]

we drove from dallas in 2000 and we spent the night in Pensacola...if I was leaving from houston, i might even drive a little farther than that---shorter time the next day to Orlando.
AND about 50-70 miles out of Orlando there is an official Disneyworld Welcome Center....it's a pretty neat little place to take a potty break. And it starts that Disneymagic for you. AND after you stop, on the way back to the highway, grab a shake from STeak and shake (I could swear there's one on that corner)...best darn shakes in the world.

As for tips, we packed a cooler with sandwiches, juice, water, etc and made minimal stops. We checked in as soon as we hit Disneyworld. We don't care for flying so we got the kid a new book or two to keep her quiet, got audio books for us and hit the road. We like being able to take side trips and our time. The Spanish moss hanging from the trees in Louisiana was totally eerie at midnight...something flying won't let you see!

 

[travelitis]

Jennypooh, we're driving from Orange, TX which is along hwy 10, 90 miles east of you. I've driven from Dallas to Orlando and on to Miami. Really, there's no trick to it. It's very simple. Take I-10 (wave at me as you go past the 16 St. exit in Orange) to I-75 to the Florida Turnpike to I-4. There are many good stopping points, and we're just going to drive until about 11:00 p.m. or midnight the first night or until we're tired.

Just do the same thing you do for any other road trip making sure your car has an oil change, tires in good condition, etc. Then follow basic safety rules. For instance, when I stop for gas at night first I drive through the lot looking inside and around at the patrons so I know who is there and what they are doing. Sometimes I don't stop, and I look for well lit places always. Obviously there is much more to say on the points of car maintenance and safety, but that doesn't seem to be your question.

 

[beansmom]

jenypooh,

You definitely want to pass New Orleans by...I would stop in whatever the next big city is after Pensacola...I think it's around Jacksonville.

 

[onceuponadream]

We are thinking about driving in March. My husband was thinking of making it all the was to Tallahassee and having a short second day. We live in Clear Lake so we are on the East side already. We drive to Destin in about 9 hours, Panama City in about 10 1/2. We think Tallahassee would be about 12 hours and then about 4 hours the second day?? There weren't really any other "big" cities between Pensacola and Tallahassee that we could find. Hoping for decent rates at a Holiday Inn there. Hope this helps!

 

[melomouse]

Hi - Just HAD to tell you my mom lives in Webster for over 20 years now. She flew into Orlando just this past summer for her first trip to WDW!

I give you credit for driving - God Bless. There doesn't seem to be any direct flight from Hobby to MCO anyway - she had a stopover in New Orleans.

Some of the Epcot stuff so much reminded me of the new Space Center - we were down last spring for a visit.

Enjoy and be safe - WDW is worth the trip no matter how you get there!

 

[simonmunro]

We drove from Tx last time and spent the night in Pensacola. I'm so bad at directions, etc. my family won't even let me look at the map, HOWEVER I do know that the exit numbers were all changed recently so don't panic if your map and the exits don't look identical. Someone map saavy here will have the facts about this, like I said it's not my "thing". I know we were supposed to stay at the LaQuinta on exit 5 or 13 and they were now opposite or the same or something. We asked at a local store and they just told us where to exit. It was clean and nice. Hope someone can give you more information.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We left from my mom's house on the NW side of Houston at about 7:30 - 8 AM - took the Sam Houston Parkway north loop around to I-10. We got to Tallahassee late that evening - about 8 or 9 Eastern Time. There are a bunch of hotels at the Tallahassee exits. They recently renumbered all the Florida exits on the interstates, so make sure you have to correct one for your hotel. There are LaQuintas, Comfort Inns, a few more at one or other exit at Tallahassee. We stayed at a Comfort Suite over by the University since we wanted the queen sized beds instead of doubles. If you think you will be staying at hotels a few times a year, sign up for their "frequent flyer" cards. When you stay about 10 nights, you get a free night. We have the card for Choice Hotels (Comfort, Quality, etc), Hilton Honors (Hilton, Hampton, etc) and Holiday Inn. When you make your reservation, give your card number.

When you leave Tallahassee in the AM, you will only be about 4 hours away.

If you only want to drive halfway, stop in Daphne AL, on the east side of Mobile Bay. There is a Comfort Suites and Hampton Inn at that exit. Both are very nice and new. We have stayed at both several times. You have about 8 hours to go from there. Pensacola is about an hour away from Daphne.

If you stay at Pensacola, there aren't as many right on the interstate if I recall correctly. After Pensacola, you won't find much until Tallahassee.

Make sure you take I-12 in Baton Rouge and don't go to NO. You will add at least an hour to your trip if you do. You pick up I-10 again at Slidell, just before you get to MS.

 

[Terry B]

Hello Jenypooh, we made the drive fairly easily with two 5 year old girls. We left Houston very early and made it to Tallahasse around dinner time, enough time for a swim and dinner, then a moderate drive the next morning. Good Luck....

 

[beansmom]

It was Tallahassee I was thinking of, not Jacksonville. If I was driving from Houston, that's where I'd stay. Unfortunately for us, being In Dallas adds another 4-6 hours to the trip.

 

[ZooMommy]

I've seen a bunch of posts recommending you stop in Tallahassee and I have to agree! We stopped in Mobile once and that was ok, too, but I'm all for getting as far as possible before stopping for the night. Definitely bypass New Orleans and take I12 for the "detour"

Waving to all the Houstonians out there - I wanna come HOME! Please...someone come rescue me!

 

[onceuponadream]

ZooMommy

I had to laugh at your "come rescue me line"..it's priceless. Coincidence is my next door neighbor is from Chicago and was transferred to Houston. I am from St Louis and my husband was transferred to Houston. As we LOVE Houston (especially the warm weather).. We both would also love to be rescued and brought back "home". If it's any consolation it is as muggy as ever and lots of mosquitos this week!

 

[kindredspirit]

We have also driven from Houston, we stopped in Pensacola as well. It only took about 7 hours so next time we will drive further than that. We had family there so we stopped. The drive was very easy however I don't have dirctions to give you. We have 3 kids so with potty breaks, etc. it took about 16-17 hours. This Christmas we will be driving to TN first then Disney. Does anyone have any idea about taking that route from Kingsport, TN to Orlando? About how long it will take? Thanks!

 

[Debbie7452]

We drove from Houston (NW side) last summer, but we DIDN'T stop except for gas/potty/rotate driver. It sounds crazy but was not nearly the disaster I was kind of expecting. It was me, DH and DD,10, DD,8 and DS,3. The worst thing is that we were in a regular car...no van, no TV. We left at 7pm and drove all night while the kids slept. If you have the modern conveniences of a TV/VCR or the space of a van it would be an easy trip!

The trip home was harder because we didn't have WDW to look forward to.

 

[jenypooh]

Thank you all for tips, etc! This board is great (this was my first post) Glad to hear there are some fellow "road-trippers" out there!

Since we're leaving around 4 p.m. (due to work) we'll probably get to Pensacola or AL and do two 7-8 hour days.

Thanks again!
Jeny

 

[Deb & Bill]

Jennypooh, we live in Shreveport and have often left right after school or work. Those are the times we stop in Daphne. A good place to stop for the night. If we can leave early in the AM, we can get to Tallahassee or drive right on through (we have a van and only one son, so it is easy to do).

If you decide on the Comfort Suites in Daphne, AL, getting to the hotel is a bit tricky. It's on the east side of the intersection (and a bit past the intersection). If you can't figure out how to get to it, stop at the Shell Station right next to the Hampton Inn and get directions. You have to cut through the Exxon station if you get off the feeder too early.

 

[Grog]

Some of the Epcot stuff so much reminded me of the new Space Center

If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that WDI had a hand in designing Space Center Houston.

I don't usually come over to the trip planning boards if I don't have a trip in the works, but I was just browsing and saw this thread. I'm in Clear Lake area myself. Hopefully some of you newer Houston DISers can come to the next DIS meet (whenever someone plans another one. I've had to miss the last two myself). Nice to see all of you here

P.S. I've never made the drive myself, but my parents have and I recall my Dad saying it was around 16 hours as well.

 

[Fridye]

I'm glad you asked the question, jennypooh. There are some great responses here.

Mapquest.com can give you driving directions, mileage and time for your from/to destination. It's a great tool.

It took us about 24 hours total driving from Houston -- approx. 17 hours driving/eating/potty breaks, and 7 hours at a hotel. I filled a backpack of toys and books for each of our DD's, and we used a laptop computer to play DVD movies. We also played a Disney music CD to get us in the mood. The time went by easily.

BTW, nice to see Clear Lake City and Webster mentioned. I grew up in Nassau Bay!

 

[okaydokay]

I wish you could pick me up on your way to WDW, I am in Lake Charles just in Louisiana and I agree, take I-12 instead of I-10 and try to drive as far as you can the first day.......but a word of warning, if you are tired by the time you hit Pennscola, STOP!! The drive between there and Tallahassee is a killer esp. at night, so if you are tired, find you a place and crash for the night. We have always driven, and the drive is better during the day but we kill ourselves to get to orlando before we crash!!!

It can be fun, and I cant wait until we get to go again!!

Judy