driving from Iowa

[2plus2]

we will be driving (all 6 of us) from Iowa in the spring. How long does this trip take? Any guess on how mush $$ for gas? I am thinking it will be substantially lower then all of us flying. Down we hope to drive straight through, we will have 3 drivers. We will probably spend a night part way on the way back.

 

[TeresaMc]

Depends on where in Iowa and what kind of vehicle you are driving....

I can't imagine, I would be so pooped when I got there I'd need another day to rest up, but if you are young and have lots of energy...go for it!

 

[2plus2]

will be driving our mini van, and we live near cedar rapids.

 

[powellrj]

I checked mapquest using Des Moins airport as your starting point to Orlando airport and its 22 hours and over 1400 miles ( you would need to plus or minus how far you are from there). Thats a lot of driving to do staight through without being wiped out when you get there. Do you have more than a week? I MAY consider driving if I had a few days to make the drive there and back, but if I were just going for a week, I would fly.

We figure its cheaper for us to fly, but we figure it differently than other people might.

For a weeks vacation driving we would leave on Saturday morning, drive until Saturday evening and spend the night. You have gas, snacks, meals, and room for Saturday so I would budget $200 for that day. You will have the same expenses for Sunday. Add the drive home on, and you are looking at $800 to drive not counting wear and tear on your car.

For a weeks vacation flying we leave early Monday morning, get there before lunch
and spend the rest of the day in Orlando. Going home, we leave late friday night. We use the weekend before getting ready and relaxing and the weekend we get back unpacking and relaxing so we don't start back to work tired.

Both ways you have 5 days in Orlando for a weeks vacation. If your plane tickets are less than $800 for all of you, I would say its cheaper to fly.

 

[Jimdamedic]

I live right on the dot 1 hour south of the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids. I can drive to/from the Animal Kingdom Lodge in 19 hours. That includes reasonable stops for gas and two meals.