Driving from Indianapolis to Orlando, which route is better?

[princesspaige]

I am thinking of driving to Orlando in October. I have made this drive in the past and took I65 south to Nashville then cut over to Chattanooga and picked up I75. However a friend suggested I take I74 to Cincinnati and pick up I75 south from there.

Has anyone taken the second route? Google maps shows it is a longer drive (not by much) but it is an easier ride? Meaning less construction, accidents, traffic? Any comments, suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[sam_gordon]

I am thinking of driving to Orlando in October. I have made this drive in the past and took I65 south to Nashville then cut over to Chattanooga and picked up I75. However a friend suggested I take I74 to Cincinnati and pick up I75 south from there.

Has anyone taken the second route? Google maps shows it is a longer drive (not by much) but it is an easier ride? Meaning less construction, accidents, traffic? Any comments, suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you!

Construction, accidents, and traffic levels are going to change based on when you're going. I will say I74 between Indy & Cinci is less busy than I65 between Indy & Louisville. I75 will be about the same as I65.

I'm not sure how busy I24 between Nashville & Chattanooga is. Play it by ear and look at Google maps before you go. That should highlight any slow downs (construction). Or go down one way and back the other.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'm not familiar with the part of I-65 from Indianapolis to Louisville (I'm familiar with Louisville to Nashville). But you go directly through downtown Louisville, right?

Taking the I-74 to I-75 route, you bypass Cincinnati. You'll get on I-275 heading south to Kentucky about five miles into Ohio. That loops around Cincinnati, and you'll pick up I-75 in Kentucky.

In taking I-74/75, you bypass Louisville and Nashville and you'll go around Cincinnati and Lexington. You'll hit Knoxville; however Knoxville traffic isn't nearly as bad as Louisville, Nashville or Cincinnati. (Unless you have the misfortune of being in Knoxville on a University of Tennessee home football Saturday.)

 

[NotUrsula]

Having done it two different ways recently from slightly west of you, I can tell you that the primary issue is the difficulty and safety of I24 between Nashville and Chattanooga, specifically in the Monteagle area.

The Monteagle Pass is often considered the most dangerous stretch of interstate highway in the US. (Johnny Cash even recorded a song about it. Here's a YouTube vid that plays the song behind a POV drive on I-24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNgeu7i6eOk)

This is because there is a lot of truck traffic on it, but the grade is so long and so steep and so twisty that the trucks too often run out of control, and if you happen to be in front of one on a downgrade when that happens, you may not live to tell about it. Also, the area is a magnet for fog, so on top of the road itself, you have the fog to deal with if you are going through it late at night or before about 9 am.

My advice would be to avoid the Chattanooga route if your timing would send you through Monteagle after about 8 pm or in the early morning. Otherwise it shouldn't be a problem unless there is a road construction situation (check the various states' highway dept. websites, or the AAA website to find out if those will affect your route on your dates, and also sign up for traffic alert texts from radio stations along your route.)

 

[Deb T.]

We've done both. In the end, we started basing it on the side of Indy we lived on. We usually take every opportunity to take the shorter/quicker route. For example, if you are on the west to far southside (Greenwood area) of Indy, I would go I-64.

Have a great trip!

 

[stky6]

I live on the west side of Cincy by Harrison. We take 75> Knoxville then 40 > 26> Charlotte then 95 > Cut over at Daytona to Orlando....straight thru is about 15 hours. Close to the same time and distance as going thru Atlanta, just don't have the hassle of Atlanta traffic and going this way is some nice travel thru the mountains and you can stop by the ocean on the way.

 

[grimley1968]

At least in the state of Kentucky, I-75 is a far better road than I-65.

I-65, then I-24 in Kentucky and Tennessee:
- Louisville traffic
- Nashville traffic
- Much of it still 4-lane
- Must go through Chattanooga to get to I-75

I-75 in Kentucky and Tennessee:
- Northern Kentucky traffic (not inconsiderable, but less than Louisville for sure)
- Lexington traffic (almost nonexistent since you don't go through town)
- Knoxville traffic (was bad at one time with construction, but is greatly improved now)
- Mostly bypass the worst of Chattanooga traffic while staying on I-75
- Most of I-75, in Kentucky at least, is now 6-lane

I'm not personally familiar with I-74 connecting Indy to Cincy, but I've heard it's a decent road.

It is indeed a longer route in mileage to go via I-74 to I-75 versus I-65, but it could well save time if you can avoid any Louisville or Nashville traffic jams.

 

[sam_gordon]

At least in the state of Kentucky, I-75 is a far better road than I-65.

I-65, then I-24 in Kentucky and Tennessee:
- Louisville traffic
- Nashville traffic
- Much of it still 4-lane
- Must go through Chattanooga to get to I-75

I-75 in Kentucky and Tennessee:
- Northern Kentucky traffic (not inconsiderable, but less than Louisville for sure)
- Lexington traffic (almost nonexistent since you don't go through town)
- Knoxville traffic (was bad at one time with construction, but is greatly improved now)
- Mostly bypass the worst of Chattanooga traffic while staying on I-75
- Most of I-75, in Kentucky at least, is now 6-lane

I'm not personally familiar with I-74 connecting Indy to Cincy, but I've heard it's a decent road.

It is indeed a longer route in mileage to go via I-74 to I-75 versus I-65, but it could well save time if you can avoid any Louisville or Nashville traffic jams.

I have seen traffic though from 275 around Cinci to 75 Southbound and 75 Southbound to 640 around Knoxville (construction).

 

[LadyBeBop]

I live on the west side of Cincy by Harrison. We take 75> Knoxville then 40 > 26> Charlotte then 95 > Cut over at Daytona to Orlando....straight thru is about 15 hours. Close to the same time and distance as going thru Atlanta, just don't have the hassle of Atlanta traffic and going this way is some nice travel thru the mountains and you can stop by the ocean on the way.

I've taken that route before from Florida, especially when we stop to visit relatives in East TN. It's probably around 30-45 minutes longer than going through Atlanta during a slow time. However, the time savings is tremendous if you'd otherwise end up in Atlanta traffic.

 

[princesspaige]

Construction, accidents, and traffic levels are going to change based on when you're going. I will say I74 between Indy & Cinci is less busy than I65 between Indy & Louisville. I75 will be about the same as I65.

I'm not sure how busy I24 between Nashville & Chattanooga is. Play it by ear and look at Google maps before you go. That should highlight any slow downs (construction). Or go down one way and back the other.

I didn't think about going down one way and back the other. That's a great idea!

In taking I-74/75, you bypass Louisville and Nashville and you'll go around Cincinnati and Lexington. You'll hit Knoxville; however Knoxville traffic isn't nearly as bad as Louisville, Nashville or Cincinnati. (Unless you have the misfortune of being in Knoxville on a University of Tennessee home football Saturday.)

I better take a look at football schedules before heading out. That could definitely make a difference. Thanks for the heads up.

The Monteagle Pass is often considered the most dangerous stretch of interstate highway in the US. (Johnny Cash even recorded a song about it. Here's a YouTube vid that plays the song behind a POV drive on I-24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNgeu7i6eOk)

This is because there is a lot of truck traffic on it, but the grade is so long and so steep and so twisty that the trucks too often run out of control, and if you happen to be in front of one on a downgrade when that happens, you may not live to tell about it. Also, the area is a magnet for fog, so on top of the road itself, you have the fog to deal with if you are going through it late at night or before about 9 am.

My advice would be to avoid the Chattanooga route if your timing would send you through Monteagle after about 8 pm or in the early morning. Otherwise it shouldn't be a problem unless there is a road construction situation (check the various states' highway dept. websites, or the AAA website to find out if those will affect your route on your dates, and also sign up for traffic alert texts from radio stations along your route.)

I would most likely hit that area in the evening, so will definitely take that into consideration.

At least in the state of Kentucky, I-75 is a far better road than I-65.

I-65, then I-24 in Kentucky and Tennessee:
- Louisville traffic
- Nashville traffic
- Much of it still 4-lane
- Must go through Chattanooga to get to I-75

I-75 in Kentucky and Tennessee:
- Northern Kentucky traffic (not inconsiderable, but less than Louisville for sure)
- Lexington traffic (almost nonexistent since you don't go through town)
- Knoxville traffic (was bad at one time with construction, but is greatly improved now)
- Mostly bypass the worst of Chattanooga traffic while staying on I-75
- Most of I-75, in Kentucky at least, is now 6-lane

I'm not personally familiar with I-74 connecting Indy to Cincy, but I've heard it's a decent road.

It is indeed a longer route in mileage to go via I-74 to I-75 versus I-65, but it could well save time if you can avoid any Louisville or Nashville traffic jams.

This helps tremendously!

Thanks for all the info!