Driving from Indiana to Disney World.. Where to stop?

[mhp8982]

We are planning a trip to Disney World and we are going to be driving. We are wanting to make it approximately 12 hours into the trip and stop to stay somewhere.. so we only have 3-4 hours left the next day. I'm just not sure where to stop. I'm thinking somewhere near the Florida/Georgia line. It's just last time I did this we stopped someplace and it was pretty scary. So I'm hoping for some advice and I will plan in advance. This time we will have a 2 year old with us.. so I'd like to stay someplace clean and safe.. doesn't have to be expensive or anything. Just someplace to sleep really. Any advice?? We would be coming down I-75 from Indiana.

 

[disrev]

We're Northern Indiana and we try to make to Macon in 12 hrs, but that's pushing Orr. My guess is you're further South in the Hoosier state. Valdosta is probably your best bet. There's several hotels there that are not sketchy.

 

[DJT]

We always stay at Kennesaw, GA. Very nice, safe area. Then when we get up early the next morning, we have no problem driving on through Atlanta. Kennesaw is what I consider the outskirts of Atlanta. You may want to drive farther than Atlanta though if you want a shorter drive the next day.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Valdosta or if you can make it to Lake City Fl. About an hour seperates the 2 cities

 

[MacDalt]

Valdosta is a nice place.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

I've stated several times on the boards that I'm a big fan of stopping in Byron GA. It's just south of Macon, and easy access to the interstate. Leaves about a 5 hour drive the next morning though.

 

[wiserabbit]

We stop at Valdosta - specifically - the Hilton Garden Inn - quiet, clean - on site restaurant - easy on and off I-75 with lots of other places within a couple of blocks to grab a bite (like Starbucks and chains) - also a CVS just down the street - and right across from the Valdosta Mall.

It is on our permanent list of good stopping places for a restful night's sleep before we hit the World

 

[mhp8982]

Valdosta is probably the best bet for us.. I'd like to make it that far. It's about 12 hours away.. but we are allowing for 15 hours of driving (including all stops)... so if it's less than that then that would be great! We will look into Valdosta then! I was nervous because of our last trip we drove.. we stayed somewhere just north of Atlanta and it was super scary!! We will look into the Hilton Garden Inn there! Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[chartle]

It's just last time I did this we stopped someplace and it was pretty scary.

When you say it was scary what exactly do you mean? Did you just drive until you wanted to stop, pull off at an exit and find somewhere.

What I always do is is get my route on Google Maps and then add a destination in the middle. I then move that destination up or down the route depending on how long I want to drive that first or second day. I then find an exit with a cluster of hotels and restaurants. I then check it out with google street view.

I have never been anywhere where I felt it was "scary".

Also lately we have been staying mostly at Microtels. They all have interior hallways and 2 queen sized beds.

One criteria we never use to choose an "on the road" hotel is if they have a free breakfast. We are big breakfast eaters and would rather hit an Ihop or Cracker Barrel either near where we stay or down the road a bit.

 

[mhp8982]

We booked it in advance and I was thinking of doing the same this time. It was north of Atlanta.. It was just in a bad location.. I did not feel safe at all. We are wanting to make it to the Valdosta area this time and I think if it's right off the interstate it will be ok. I don't really remember how far off the interstate we were last time.

 

[mhp8982]

So I'm just coming back to this.. About to make a decision. So everyone thinks Valdosta is a good choice? Leaving. A shorter drive the next day? We also have to decide on a place on the way back.. This time we will probably drive less on the first day...and more on the 2nd day. Maybe 4-5 hours the first day driving back.

 

[JillyBean1899]

So I'm just coming back to this.. About to make a decision. So everyone thinks Valdosta is a good choice? Leaving. A shorter drive the next day? We also have to decide on a place on the way back.. This time we will probably drive less on the first day...and more on the 2nd day. Maybe 4-5 hours the first day driving back.

Valdosta is good, since Wild Adventures is there you'll have more hotel choices than a random exit on the interstate.

You mentioned you have a 2 year old. How well does he/she travel? Because if you have one of those kids that just has a meltdown when they're ready to get out of the car, you might want to research places a little closer, about an hour or so apart.

Then again, if your kid is like me and will sleep like a log any time the car is moving, it wouldn't matter.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Whereabouts in Indiana are you? Sounds like you're probably somewhere between Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

We're just south of Cincinnati. Last trip, we got as far as Lake City. Took us about 12 hours, including all stops. Three drivers and a four (almost five) year old. We would have stopped in Valdosta; however our park plans changed, and we wanted to make it to the MK the next day as close to rope drop as possible (got inside the park right at 11 AM).

One thing about Lake City. It doesn't have the ammenities of a Valdosta or a Gainesville (about 45 minutes south of Lake City). But if all you want is pizza for dinner and a good night's sleep, you'll do OK. One thing...if you decide on Lake City and you make reservations, make sure the motel is just off I-75, not I-10. About an hour outside of Lake City, we let DD25 make reservations. By mistake, she made reservations at a place about ten miles off of I-75 on I-10. And the place was somewhat sketchy. Not too scary. But I've stayed at much nicer places for the price.

Good luck.

 

[mhp8982]

We are going for my sons 2nd birthday.. So he will have just turned 2 when we go. He is usually very good in the car and will sleep a lot. We went on two road trips last year with him.. One was only about 7 hours.. But the other we were on the road almost 16 hours...he slept a lot and enjoyed it. At about 14 hours or so he started getting upset. So we are wanting to make it about the same.. With only a couple hours left the next day. We are doing Epcot world showcase the first day.. We did this on purpose knowing it would be a slightly shorter day. But this time.. We are thinking of making sure we find some parks and places we can get out and really let him run and play for a little while..to get some energy out. I saw on Pinterest an idea to get some cheap disney related gifts.. And give one every couple of hours on the road trip.. So I thought we might try that.

Anyway.. Yes you are right.. We are in the Muncie area.. So we are in between Indy and Cincinnati. So probably a couple hours farther than you. So I'm still leaning towards Valdosta.. And like I said we chose world showcase for the first day so we wouldn't be so crunched for time.. Of course we have reservations at like 5:30 at via Napoli... But we are hoping to get in no later than 3 that day.

 

[KrazeeK120]

We drive from Central IL...the Macon, GA area is very nice.

I think you may be a little closer than us to start with, though, so Valdosta may a good choice for you. Macon is about as far as we're willing to go in a day. It ends up being almost 11 hours the first day and around 6 the 2nd day.

On the way back, we like to stay north of Atlanta...we've stayed in Cartersville and Kennesaw. Both are nice.

We like to stay in Country Inn & Suites. They're very simple hotels, but they're inexpensive and have a hot breakfast.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Anyway.. Yes you are right.. We are in the Muncie area.. So we are in between Indy and Cincinnati. So probably a couple hours farther than you. So I'm still leaning towards Valdosta.. And like I said we chose world showcase for the first day so we wouldn't be so crunched for time.. Of course we have reservations at like 5:30 at via Napoli... But we are hoping to get in no later than 3 that day.

Assuming you leave Valdosta no later than about 9 AM, you'll get into WS no later than 3. We left Lake City at 7 AM, arrived at our resort (Wyndham Bonnet Creek) by 9:30, was driving to the MK by 10:00 and entered from the boat into the the park itself by 11. We did have a time crunch; we did MK on a MNSSHP day (we didn't have tickets), so we had to be out of the park by 7. As it turned out, we were puckered out by about 5:30. We still had 6 1/2 good hours of park time that day.

 

[mapleleaf4ever]

I am looking at an overnight in Georgia as well. Currently thinking about either Cordele or Byron. I have never stopped in this area, but it looks like there are some good choices. Anyone have a preference.

 

[Mom2Luci]

Cordele is better than Byron...

 

[amym2]

We're also from the Indy area, and Macon is about as far as we can make it in a day with kids (ours are now 12 and 10). Valdosta would really be pushing it. We like to stay in Marriott chains, and I think we stayed in a Residence Inn in Macon, but it was a ways off the highway. I seem to recall there was a Fairfield Inn closer to the highway.

We love the Smok'n Pig BBQ restaurant in Valdosta. Might be a place for dinner on your way back? On our way back we try to make it to Chattanooga, but that's probably farther than you want to go.

 

[wallskm]

We just drove through there on our way to our DCL cruise in Miami. Stayed in Macon both coming and going, we were very pleased. Valdosta is about 2 hours south of that. We didn't make reservations in advance and had no trouble getting a room. Another option if you just want to see how far you can get but decide you can't make it to Valdosta is Tifton GA. Saw all the same hotel chains there as well. It's about halfway in between Macon and Valdosta (disclaimer: we didn't stop there so I can't vouch for the area but it has all the same hotels).