Driving from Texas

[Mainsail Minnie]

We're from central Texas and have always flown to Orlando, but due to a problem with my ears I'll need to drive there for our next few trips.

Does anyone have tips for the drive? Which roads to avoid, which cities to go through & which to avoid?

It will be my 15 year-old son and me, so I'll have to do the driving myself, and he'll need some form of diversion. Suggestions?

 

[Wild4Walt]

I haven't driven from Texas so no specific recommendations from that route - just some general one:

• Do your homework before you leave. Research stops along the way for food. There will be lots of road signs but I always like to look into the areas I want to stop to make sure they are safe.
• Determine how many hours the trip is ( google - driving distance between xxx and Lake Buena Vista, FL or the address of the hotel ), then determine what the maximum amount of hours you want to drive each day is.
• Get a cooler so you can store road snacks and drinks.

For your son, maybe an Orlando travel guide or two to get him excited about the destination. Then there is the usual hand held games, phone, music, etc.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Are you a AAA member?
They still print the old fashion TRIPTIKS with advance request. It would give him a way to track your tripwith old fashion maps and guidebooks.
. What part of TX ? It takes a long time to drive thru that State!

 

[shocker]

I've driven from KS before with me as only driver. I warned 2 kids that I may need nap breaks & I did. They did sit quiet while I took Snoozers as needed at rest stops. Amazing how drowsy you can get with no switch off option available.

ETA: for long trips with only one driver I recommend you price out Greyhound or similar & let someone else do the driving...you do the movie watching & game playing.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Are you a AAA member?
They still print the old fashion TRIPTIKS with advance request. It would give him a way to track your tripwith old fashion maps and guidebooks.
. What part of TX ? It takes a long time to drive thru that State!

We're from Austin, and yes, we're AAA members. I'll take your advice and get a TRIPTIK, thanks.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I've driven from KS before with me as only driver. I warned 2 kids that I may need nap breaks & I did. They did sit quiet while I took Snoozers as needed at rest stops. Amazing how drowsy you can get with no switch off option available.

ETA: for long trips with only one driver I recommend you price out Greyhound or similar & let someone else do the driving...you do the movie watching & game playing.

Thanks, but I think that would be less comfortable for us than driving. It would be about a 30 hour bus trip including several stops, with us having no control over where & when we stop, and no hotel overnight, just sleeping sitting up on the bus amongst strangers. There would also be luggage limitations, etc. I'd much rather drive.

 

[fairygagamother]

I drive from central Texas several times a year, mostly by myself. And I’m old!
The trip for me is approximately 18 hours, not including stops , so I break it down into three 6 hour segments. I used to drive 9 hours the first day & 9 the next, but have discovered the 3 day drive is much less stressful for me.
I’m not sure of your route from Austin, but the best advice I can give you is to avoid Houston! I go through Bryan, to Navasota, through Montgomery/Conroe to Beaumont. I think 105 is the road I take after Hwy 6.
When I did the 9 hour split, I would stop in Biloxi, staying at Beau Rivage. If you do the 2 day drive, you’ll get into Disney late, especially since it’ll be an hour later there.
The way I go now, I stop in Lake Charles ( stay at Lauberge), Crestview Fl ( either Country Inn, Holiday Inn Express or the brand new one-whose name is escaping me right now!)
The only hard driving is through Baton Rouge. Lots of traffic, semis, merges, & lane changes. It’s not so bad traveling east, but much worse going back west. So bad, in fact, that I’ve found a different route that skirts around Baton Rouge. Takes about an hour longer, but worth it to me!
I just returned from Disney & had my 11 year old grands with me. They spent the travel time playing on their iPads, snacking, sleeping & listening to music. There’s a great pool at Lauberge where they spent a few hours swimming. They complained very little & they’re very used to flying most of the time.
Just be sure you’re a member of AAA or the like & don’t let your gas tank go below half empty & it will be a great road trip!

 

[magicaldisney]

Are you a AAA member?
They still print the old fashion TRIPTIKS with advance request. It would give him a way to track your tripwith old fashion maps and guidebooks.
. What part of TX ? It takes a long time to drive thru that State!

We are also from Texas and considering if driving is feasible. I haven't done TRIPTIKS in many many years. Do you still need to go into a local AAA office to get one? Do they still even have local AAA offices?

 

[Simba's Mom]

We drive from about 6 hours south of Austin, in the Rio Grande Valley. The one big tip I have regards the bridge over the Mississippi, and the town right after it (I can't remember the name) where, I think it's the University of Louisiana, plays football. Check the schedule, and do NOT time your trip so that you're any where near the stadium on the day they play. And make sure you cross the bridge very early in the morning. When DH travels by himself, he ends the first day just west of the bridge, then gets up early to cross the bridge by 6:00 am. However, that gets you in to WDW about 4:00-5:00, and I prefer earlier, so we "overnight" on the main highway by Gulfport.

 

[fairygagamother]

We drive from about 6 hours south of Austin, in the Rio Grande Valley. The one big tip I have regards the bridge over the Mississippi, and the town right after it (I can't remember the name) where, I think it's the University of Louisiana, plays football. Check the schedule, and do NOT time your trip so that you're any where near the stadium on the day they play. And make sure you cross the bridge very early in the morning. When DH travels by himself, he ends the first day just west of the bridge, then gets up early to cross the bridge by 6:00 am. However, that gets you in to WDW about 4:00-5:00, and I prefer earlier, so we "overnight" on the main highway by Gulfport.

Yep, that’s Baton Rouge. My most stressful part of the drive!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yep, that’s Baton Rouge. My most stressful part of the drive!

And the school is Louisianna State, not the University of Louisianna. I asked DH last night.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

We are also from Texas and considering if driving is feasible. I haven't done TRIPTIKS in many many years. Do you still need to go into a local AAA office to get one? Do they still even have local AAA offices?

You can get paper ones from local offices & electronic ones online.

 

[saturn5]

From NE houston, wife and I drive sometimes as it can be just easier. So it really depends on where you plan to stop. Stay away from Downtown Houston between 6 and 9am, traffic just sucks. You can also take the 610 around downtown too, and meet I10 on the other side, that sometimes does help. Best bet is find how long you can drive for, then find a city you want to stay in, then see how long it takes form Austin to places like Lafayette, Baton Rouge (make sure to take I12, not I10 at BTR), and Mobile.

When we go, we either start early in the AM, or start driving after evening rush hour and drive through the night. We find that the best as most the cops are sleeping on graveyard, and you can do 90mph!

Also stay away from Tally at AM rush hour.

Try getting online and see if you can buy and set up a sunpass. Then when you see the exit for the FL turnpike, its a hop and a skip to WDW. We still have ours when we were FL residents, and it is just easier.

Side note, I10 sucks, the drive from Pensacola to Tally sucks, it just goes on forever!!

Best of luck driving!

 

[OKW Lover]

It will be my 15 year-old son and me, so I'll have to do the driving myself, and he'll need some form of diversion. Suggestions?

Put your son in charge of plotting out stops for food/gas/bathrooms. Using the Waze application and the Interstate Exit Guide application will allow him to be an active participant. Also, ask him to keep track of times and miles each time you start/stop and how much gas you get.