Driving From Michigan

[tawasdave]

Anyone have any thoughts on which way is best to drive from Michigan..all the way on I-75 or since we are leaving from Lansing we could go 69 to 65 to 24 S to I 75? Anyone know how bad the construction is either way? We leave on Thursday..couple days at DW then on the Wonder...YEE HAAA!!!!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Microsoft Streets & Trips recommends the I-69, I-65, I-24 route, picking up I-75 at Chattanooga. It's aware of seven miles of construction on I-65 in Kentucky.

An alternate route would be to take I-74 from Indy and pick up I-75 at Cincy. It's aware of six miles of construction on I-75 in Tennessee.

Another alternate would be to take I-69 and I-65 to Louisville, then take I-64 to I-75 at Lexington. You'd run into the aforementioned six miles of construction on I-75 in Tennessee.

With any of these three routes you'll still encounter construction on I-75 in South Georgia.

 

[sparty]

I leave from howell so I take 23 or 75 South to I-80 Turnpike toward Cleveland. At Cleveland I take I-77 down through West Virginia and South Carolina. South of Columbia I take I-95 South right down to Port Canaveral. I checked the distance and it is about the same as the I-75 way. I enjoy this route because it is more scenic and there are fewer trucks on the road. My family and I are leaving on April 8 for the four night wonder and will be taking this route. Hope this helps!

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Hey there fellow Michiganders,

We are leaving April 29th for the May 1st magic cruise, and am still trying to figure our which way we should take. In Feb. over Presidents week we drove to Orlando and took 96 to 23 to 75 all the way, and made it in just over 17 hours from the Lansing area.

I don't know at what time you are looking at leaving, but we left at 3:30 p.m. and drove through the night. It was perfect, made it south of Toledo before 5, and was in Kentucky by 7:45 with no traffic, through Atlanta at 2:15 (8 lanes and 4 cars) and into Orlando at 8:45 a.m.

The kids went to sleep about 9 and woke up when we turned onto the Ronald Reagan tollroad, it worked so well that we decided to drive for the cruise also, but now I think going through Cleveland might be better.

Sorry to ramble, but Sparty (by the way love the name GO STATE ) let us know how your trip goes.

 

[MarkRG]

Originally posted by Belle and Rella's Dad

Hey there fellow Michiganders,

I'm not one, is that ok?

We are leaving April 29th for the May 1st magic cruise, and am still trying to figure our which way we should take. In Feb. over Presidents week we drove to Orlando and took 96 to 23 to 75 all the way, and made it in just over 17 hours from the Lansing area.

WOW. Do you drive a Top Fuel Yukon?

I'm budgeting 21 hours from Chicago, and DW wdwlvr is thinking I'm being short on that amount of time. I now feel a little better.

Some useful links for planning that I've been gathering for our impending road trip:

Indiana Dept of Transportation

Kentucky DOT

Tennesse DOT

Georgia DOT

Florida DOT

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Dave, I'd take Brian's suggestion. The Tennessee traffic is horrible. We were down that was just a few months ago, my SIL's, and inched on I-75 most of an hour. And friends were just by a few weeks ago, ran into the same thing. Unless, maybe, if you hit it at night like B&R's Dad did.
Good luck.

 

[tawasdave]

Thanks for all the great comments...I have driven both ways...and really liked the scenery down the 69 to 65 to 24 way...and since we are going to Disneyworld for a couple days before the cruise I think the Cleveland way would be out of our way some. I think I will take my chances down the 69 way..wish me luck..driving straight through leaving Lansing about 1pm..hope it all works out so I can be at Studios in time for it to open on Friday... Now if the waether will just cooperate....

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Belle and Rella's Dad

The kids went to sleep about 9 and woke up when we turned onto the Ronald Reagan tollroad...

I assume you're talking about Florida's Turnpike. There are signs when you first enter the Turnpike from I-75 that it's been dedicated to honor R.R., but it's still better to refer to it as "Florida's Turnpike". That's how it's referred to on all maps and signs.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

i know there is limited constuction on i75 in KY. and some in the knowville area. if i were you and i do lots of driving(about 3000 miles a week) try to drive at night. limited number of vechicals on the road. have 2 drivers and make sure both drivers are rested before they drivethe route you are taking is a good one.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

MarkRG,

It is O.K. that you are not from Michigan, I actually used to have an apartment out in Oakbrook and worked out of it during the week for about 18 months.

As far as making time as I call it (the queen of course has a different name for it), we averaged 71 miles per hour for the trip and that included all stops. By traveling at night we avoided both stops for construction and bathroom breaks by the kids. The first stop was in Kentucky after about 4 hours and fifteen minutes, it included Mcdonalds to order food (me) and bathroom break for the queen and princesses, than to the Shell next door for gas and a bathroom break for myself. This stop was completed and we were back on the road in 18 minutes, not bad but I think there is room for improvement.

The only construction that we had a delay with was south of Macon to Valdousta, but that was mainly because of the down pour of rain.

We actually made it back to the Lansing area from Ft. Meyers in 18.5 hours, that time we left at 8 at night and got in at 2:30 the next day. If you can do it driving at night is the way to go, of course there is no way I could have made it without the Queen (in case she is reading).

 

[Rock'n Robin]

All I can say is I admire you guys. We drove for the first time over Christmas. We went through Raleigh NC on the way down to see my SIL, but mostly up 75 home (we live south of Toledo). WHAT A BORING DRIVE! Georgia never ends! We stopped for the night in Chattanooga to break up the trip. EVen with a DVD player and 3 game boys I don't think we will be driving in the near future.
Plus on my diet I wasn't happy to see a "Russel Stover outlet" every other exit!
Robin M.

 

[fridayfun]

We drove from Detroit down to Orlando last Sept, made it in 18 hours (stopped in Georgia, 50 miles from Florida, for night) taking highway 75 the whole way. Drive wasn't exciting, but went quick, nothing to slow us down! We intend to drive again this Sept. 18 hours or less to Port Canaveral! Will keep an eye out for more driving info!