Driving from St Louis to Disney World

[CaerDallben]

Hello fellow Disney fans,

My family and I are seriously considering driving to Disney World sometime in August, coming from St Louis, and I am wondering if you have some tips for us, specially considering the current environment and health safety concerns. Should we try to drive straight until we get there or do you recommend us to spend the night somewhere? If so, where can we stay? What is good, clean hotel where we could spend a night on our way down there?

I appreciate all your help. We already have hotel reservations (it is our trip that we've been rescheduling throughout this year), and park reservations. It's the logistics about getting to Orlando that we are devating. We do have credits that we could use to fly Southwest, but the prices to fly aren't that low, and I am not sure I feel comfortable with going through an airport right now.

I appreciate any advice you could through my way.

 

[macraven]

I have driven twice from St Louis to Orlando.
Once straight thru and it was tiring for me.
Next time did a hotel stop and finished the drive the next day

I preferred doing an over night stop and was good to do the parks day I did arrive.

 

[tguz]

We drive from SE Iowa and have driven thru St Louis, Nashville, Atlanta.....I would suggest at least get past Atlanta before you stop so you don't have to deal with that traffic in the morning rush. On our way back last time, we tried a different way to bypass ATL and Nashville. We went up through Montgomery, Birmingham, Memphis, STL. It may have been a few more miles but was an easier drive. Everytime we went thru ATL, we were stopped multiple times on the interstate because of traffic except when we went through at midnight.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Since July 4th, I've stayed twice in hotels. I would not worry about staying in a hotel. Hotel employees have been much more diligent in cleaning. Many rooms stay vacant for a day or two before being occupied. And the virus does not stay too long on surfaces. If you want, take bleach and wipe down surfaces.

Try to get a room on a lower floor. First floor would be great. Most hotels are not letting more than one party (you and your family) on an elevator at a time.

The lobbies will be shut down. No free breakfast buffets anymore. Most front desks now have plexiglass between you and the clerk.

As everyone else said, try to get below Atlanta before stopping. And if you don't want to go out to eat, try to find a place with good pizza delivery close by. Good luck.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We drive from KCMO to Orlando, we have driven stright through before but we like staying in Chattanooga in the Chattanooga choo choo hotel. Then its only 8 hours to Disney the next day.
We also like to stop in Metropolis in IL to see Superman .. sometimes stop in KY for burbon on the way back. When you plan out your trip watch the time you pass through Atlanta if you are going through during rush hour then stop and have dinner etc.

 

[SteveH]

We leave Haloween evening and drove through the night, finally got to the GA/FL boarder and I was done. I crashed hard that night, but the great thing was we got up early and it was an easy drive in to Disney World.

 

[CaerDallben]

Thank you all so much for your insights. We are still planning, and your recommendations help a lot.

 

[EACarlson]

I've stayed in Hilton Doubletrees and Holiday Inn Express twice each in the last two months. The Doubletree was far and away better set up and a more pleasant stay. I used the digital key and the only time I even saw anyone else was when I had to go down to the lobby to find a fork for my takeout dinner.

I would plan to go really hard the first day, stop just a few hours out from Orlando, get a decent nights sleep and enjoy the parks as soon as you get there.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’m in StL and have done that drive several times - DH ALWAYS wants to do it straight thru - we sometimes take turns driving - if it was up to me - well I’d fly - but if you are driving - stop and get some sleep well worth it!! Have a great time !,

 

[Blondie58]

A thought about Atlanta.................. Recently I needed to go to downtown Cleveland. I was planning on leaving the house an hour and 45 minutes early as always due to traffic and parking etc. However, I made a call prior to the business I needed to visit. They told me the traffic is minimal due to Covid and so many folks working from home. I was in Cleveland and parked in 63 minutes. It was very odd to see so little traffic at eight thirty in the morning. An inquiry about traffic in the Atlanta area may help to inform decisions on driving that way. PS. Have a great time!

 

[JennaMcClain]

If you choose to drive straight through, split the driving between 2 or 3 people if possible. That way whoever isn’t driving can sleep/rest until it’s their turn to drive again. As far as stopping, my family tends to stop in Valdosta Georgia if we do choose to split up the drive. There’s some good clean hotels there, and Valdosta shouldn’t be too far out of the way to Orlando, if at all