Driving from Indy

[LilyWDW]

Good morning all!

So, I am planning a trip in May 2018 with my best friend to celebrate her graduation (and the fact that I will have a job that actually allows me to PLAN a Disney trip and pay for it). We have decided to drive due to flight costs and are currently planning how we will handle it.

My thinking is to leave at like 5AM. The drive should take between 14- 15 hours in total. I will drive first and can easily do 8 hours before wanting to switch (I have done 8 hours solo straight with only breaks for restroom stops and to grab fast food so I am used to it). This would get us to 1PM. Then we could do another 4ish hours with my friend driving to finish out the day. Since she works second shift (3-11), this would be perfect with her schedule. That should take us to about 5PM when we would want to stop, eat, and sleep. It would also get us within 2-3 hours of Disney. The next morning we could take our time and head out, aiming to get to Disney before about 2PM at the latest, though we will head out earlier if we feel like it.

So I have a couple questions because it has been a long time since I have driven to Disney (2007) and that was only from Tennessee so this is double the drive.

1) Does my plan sound doable?
2) Has anyone done this trip from around the same area before?
3) What is the best route? Google maps is suggesting I75 the whole way.
4) What would be a good place to stop 2-3 hours north of Disney?
5) Any other long road trip advice?

Thanks for any advice you all can give! I am super excited!

 

[dreiwhit]

1) It sounds doable to me. I've done 13+ hour drives by myself, and it would have been easier with a co-driver.

2) Not from Indy. Our drive is around 9 hours from Central Alabama.

3) I just looked it up on Bing and Google, and they are both saying I-65 from Indy to Nashville, then I-75 to Orlando, but I don't know exactly where you live in Indy. The only problem is that you will have to go through Atlanta. Google Maps isn't working too well right now for me, but if you have to go through Atlanta close to rush hour, you may want to add more time. BTW, what I have done in the past is to make a large loop around Atlanta, from Cartersville, to Villarica, Newnan, Griffin and then back on I-75. It will add time, but you will be moving and not stopped.

4) Lake City is a nice area about 2:30 north of Orlando. Gainesville is a little less than 2 hours away. I've also stayed in Warner Robbins and Perry, Georgia, which are about 5 hours away.

5) For me, by hour 7 i'm past ready to be there. As i've gotten older, my ability to make long trips has gone down. What we do is to spend the night half way and drive the rest of the way the next day.

 

[K9pal]

I live in Louisville area, and if you are planning to go I-65, I'd suggest picking up I-64 in Louisville over to Lexington, then I-75 down. It's about 20 minutes longer, but there are always problems on I-65 south of Louisville, plus you will avoid Nashville traffic.

 

[Shrfleen]

1) The last time we drove down to Florida was in September of last year. We left at 3 AM and only stopped for gas and bathroom breaks. We drove to Spring Hill, FL and then a few days later to Disney.
2) We live 45 minutes southeast of Indy
3) We took I 75 and drove through Atlanta instead of taking the Bypass...drive through!
4) Unsure as we took a few days Spring Hill visiting family.
5) Make sure everyone gets out and stretches. Bring snacks to save some money.

It is doable. You might be tired afterward but doable.

 

[justussix]

Where in Indy are you that it's suggesting I-75 the whole way? Indianapolis area should head straight south on I-65 switching to I-24 south of Nashville, then I-75 in Chattanooga.

Only hang up I see is when, exactly, will you be going through the cities? Are you in Central Time Zone Indiana or Eastern?
You might be hitting Louisville (or Cinci if you're heading over to 75 right away) at rush hour in the morning, or maybe Nashville? Atlanta could be 2 pm ish?

If you're staying on site, I'd just book another night and drive straight trough. Or book an affordable place in Lake Buena Vista. Once you're already 12 hours in, just take another shift and hit the parks the next day. Or the pool and relax for a few instead of having to drive another 3 hours.

 

[LilyWDW]

It's suggesting 465 to 74 to 275 to 75. Which I believe is how I always went from where I used to live in TN up to here so I know the drive well and it is showing to be the shortest option. We are Eastern Time Zone, just NE of Indy.

The biggest reason we wouldn't want to drive right through is the cost of POFQ for another night. We are also only doing 4 day tickets so wouldn't want to add another day there. Right now I am looking at stopping at Gainsville which would be two hours north.

 

[Shrfleen]

It's suggesting 465 to 74 to 275 to 75. Which I believe is how I always went from where I used to live in TN up to here so I know the drive well and it is showing to be the shortest option. We are Eastern Time Zone, just NE of Indy.

The biggest reason we wouldn't want to drive right through is the cost of POFQ for another night. We are also only doing 4 day tickets so wouldn't want to add another day there. Right now I am looking at stopping at Gainsville which would be two hours north.

Yes, that is the way we go minus the 465 part. When my grandparents moved to Florida we stayed the night in Valdosta, GA at the Holiday Inn. It was in a safe area, nice and close to the interstate.

 

[justussix]

It's suggesting 465 to 74 to 275 to 75. Which I believe is how I always went from where I used to live in TN up to here so I know the drive well and it is showing to be the shortest option. We are Eastern Time Zone, just NE of Indy.

The biggest reason we wouldn't want to drive right through is the cost of POFQ for another night. We are also only doing 4 day tickets so wouldn't want to add another day there. Right now I am looking at stopping at Gainsville which would be two hours north.

Google maps says it's about 28 miles farther to jump over to 74. Try dragging your route from 74 to 65 just north of Louisville and see what it says. Call me curious.

I-24 is a pretty drive and takes you right across the Smokey's. Could be nice change from boring old 75. We drive down from West Michigan. I taken I-75 from Toledo area - but don't like it as well as the other route. About the same distance from our starting point.

I'd look at Lake Buena Vista, and just stay right near the resort. We did the Holiday Inn resort. Nice pool. No driving the next day. I don't recall it being too expensive, but then with seven of us we're always getting either two rooms or a family suite, so not much difference in prices to be found.

 

[LilyWDW]

Yes, that is the way we go minus the 465 part. When my grandparents moved to Florida we stayed the night in Valdosta, GA at the Holiday Inn. It was in a safe area, nice and close to the interstate.

Valdosta, GA was the other stop point I was looking at. It's about 3 hours out so a good option as well. Thanks for the information on it!

I'd look at Lake Buena Vista, and just stay right near the resort. We did the Holiday Inn resort. Nice pool. No driving the next day. I don't recall it being too expensive, but then with seven of us we're always getting either two rooms or a family suite, so not much difference in prices to be found.

I will check into that as well. If she's willing to drive longer then it may work. We have time to decide, but I like to get my information early and get my ducks in a row.

 

[Poohs Pal]

Another vote for Valdosta. Stop there every trip at the Holiday Inn Express. Dennys next to the parking lot and Starbucks directly across the street for a quick pick me up in the morning. The front desk women are the friendliest we have run across in our many journeys back and forth from Michigan. There are several decent restaurants you can walk to from the HIE.