Driving Time from Atlanta to WDW

[mcever4]

Can someone please advise me on the driving time from Atlanta to WDW? I have always flown, but DH is saying NOOOOOOO for our May trip . He thinks it will be to expensive. He hasn't traveled with our DD who will be 3 at the time and I think he is crazy to want to drive, but we shall see! Also anyone know of a decent hotel about half way in case I can't convince him to fly? Maybe I could convince him to leave the night before and stop half way. I hate losing a whole day at WDW by having to drive!

Thanks for any help!
Robin

 

[stargazertechie]

You might want to also post this on the transportation board- they have a bunch of drivers.

I'd honestly have dinner, leave around 5PM, the kiddo will fall asleep in the car, and you'll get to your Disney hotel around midnight.

Conversely, you can slip the sleeping kiddo into the car around 1AM, and you'll arrive around 8AM.

No need to stop after just over 3 hours in the car for the night. That's silly

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would recommend staying in Valdosta, Georgia at the Hampton Inn & Suites located off exit 16 on Interstate 75. If you stayed there then it's about another 4 hours until you arrive in Walt Disney World.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Can someone please advise me on the driving time from Atlanta to WDW? I have always flown, but DH is saying NOOOOOOO for our May trip . He thinks it will be to expensive. He hasn't traveled with our DD who will be 3 at the time and I think he is crazy to want to drive, but we shall see! Also anyone know of a decent hotel about half way in case I can't convince him to fly? Maybe I could convince him to leave the night before and stop half way. I hate losing a whole day at WDW by having to drive!

Thanks for any help!
Robin

I want to say about a 8-10 hour drive? It'll take a good day....or driving all night. I'd look on a map and eyeball it to see what 1/2 way would be...but to me, that's a relatively "short" drive and don't think it'd be worth stopping after driving just 4-5 hours....I'd be to itchy to get there!!

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We made the drive several times from Marietta. If you are south of ATL you can subtract maybe 30 minutes, but I would plan on close to a solid 8 hours, depending on how you or your husband drive (I tend to go a bit over the speed limit) and how much you stop. If you are going halfway and stopping then maybe Valdosta area would be a good stopping point, though we just make the drive. We usually leave early and then spend a half day somewhere. Last visit we got to the resort around 2:00, checked in, then spent the afternoon/evening at Epcot (a half day park for us). I would make the drive in one day and not worry about splitting it up. Depending on how many plane tickets you have to buy it will definitely be less expensive to drive (plus you have a car -- it was nice to be able to drive to Animal Kingdom).

 

[stargazertechie]

I want to say about a 8-10 hour drive? It'll take a good day....or driving all night. I'd look on a map and eyeball it to see what 1/2 way would be...but to me, that's a relatively "short" drive and don't think it'd be worth stopping after driving just 4-5 hours....I'd be to itchy to get there!!

We have friends who live in ATL, and we always stop on our way down to Disney. It's never taken more than 8 hours from Atlanta, and that was with rush hour. It's normally closer to 7 hours.

 

[Lehuaann]

It takes approx 7 hrs.

It takes us approx 11 hrs to get to WDW from Nashville ...or 4 hrs to Atlanta.

 

[foxtrotter]

We've driven several times from Michigan to WDW and I'd say it's about 7-8 hours to WDW once we hit Atlanta, depending on traffic and how fast you drive. Since we drive straight through most of the time (about 22 hours when you factor in stopping for eating and rest areas and gas), I can't fathom stopping halfway during such a relatively short trip! As the previous poster mentioned, you could leave home in the afternoon and be there before midnight.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

We have friends who live in ATL, and we always stop on our way down to Disney. It's never taken more than 8 hours from Atlanta, and that was with rush hour. It's normally closer to 7 hours.

We always drove from Missouri, so I was guesstimating....I'll tell you what though....sometimes it felt like it would take 8 hours just to get through Atlanta!! I don't care how we timed it, we always hit traffic!!

 

[stargazertechie]

We always drove from Missouri, so I was guesstimating....I'll tell you what though....sometimes it felt like it would take 8 hours just to get through Atlanta!! I don't care how we timed it, we always hit traffic!!

We always shoot to be passing through Atlanta at 1AM or so. Luckily our friend is more than happy to meet us at Chick-fil-a for a midnight snack!

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Can someone please advise me on the driving time from Atlanta to WDW? I have always flown, but DH is saying NOOOOOOO for our May trip . He thinks it will be to expensive. He hasn't traveled with our DD who will be 3 at the time and I think he is crazy to want to drive, but we shall see! Also anyone know of a decent hotel about half way in case I can't convince him to fly? Maybe I could convince him to leave the night before and stop half way. I hate losing a whole day at WDW by having to drive!

Thanks for any help!
Robin

It takes 7 hours from Atlanta to WDW. Here's the link on Mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com/#fb28c05cb75ddd5d7dc23cb1

Mapquest also shows you hotels, restaurants, and shops as well. Then, it even factors it into your length and time of travel! HTH!

 

[mcever4]

Thanks for the replies! My thought was to get up and leave at 5:00am the morning we go. We would miss rush hour and as long as we didn't make many stops it sounds like we should arrive no later than 2:00pm. I can make our dining reservations next week, so that was one reason I was curious on how long the trip would take. I had no idea how late/early I should make our dinner reservation on our arrival day! I really don't want to stop half way and now seeing as it really isn't THAT far (we drive 6 hours to Panama City Beach and I can deal with that!) I think driving may be doable. Although I REALLY want to fly! I was thinking it would be like a 10 hour drive.

Robin

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Considering the 7-8 hour estimates, I'd suggest getting up super early and driving straight through. I just couldn't imagine stopping after 3 1/2 or 4 hours for the night. If you timed it right, you could leave early enough to get there in time for check-in and a nap for DD (If she doesn't sleep in the car all the way) and then hitting a park in the evening.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Thanks for the replies! My thought was to get up and leave at 5:00am the morning we go. We would miss rush hour and as long as we didn't make many stops it sounds like we should arrive no later than 2:00pm. I can make our dining reservations next week, so that was one reason I was curious on how long the trip would take. I had no idea how late/early I should make our dinner reservation on our arrival day! I really don't want to stop half way and now seeing as it really isn't THAT far (we drive 6 hours to Panama City Beach and I can deal with that!) I think driving may be doable. Although I REALLY want to fly! I was thinking it would be like a 10 hour drive.

Robin

Well, it seems like you could be having lunch at Disney World! Have fun!

 

[nurse27]

We live 20 minutes south of Atlanta and it take us 6 hours with stopping to get gas once and then stopping for something to eat usually through the drive thru. We have done the drive atleast 7 or 8 times now. Thats driving 75 mph on the interstate.

 

[Phatoomch]

We live 20 minutes south of Atlanta and it take us 6 hours with stopping to get gas once and then stopping for something to eat usually through the drive thru. We have done the drive atleast 7 or 8 times now. Thats driving 75 mph on the interstate.

do you drive fast

LOL just joking

We live 20mins nw of atlanta and it takes us about 8-8.5hrs with a stop for gas and 20-30min stop to eat, stretch etc.

To the OP, I know you are used to flying but, for the money you save, the drive really isn't that bad. Boring maybe, but take some good music cd's and have some Disney questions prepared similar to ones you find on here like if you could do only one ride/attraction etc etc.

Enjoy!

 

[si-am]

It takes us 8-9 hours, but we also stop a lot for drinks/bathroom/stretching.

We stop in: Macon (Zebulon exit on I-475), Tifton (Starbucks), Florida Welcome Center, Ocala or Gainesville for lunch, then Okahumpka service station on the toll road (last stop!) for Starbucks, gas, and bathroom.

 

[Phatoomch]

It takes us 8-9 hours, but we also stop a lot for drinks/bathroom/stretching.

We stop in: Macon (Zebulon exit on I-475), Tifton (Starbucks), Florida Welcome Center, Ocala or Gainesville for lunch, then Okahumpka service station on the toll road (last stop!) for Starbucks, gas, and bathroom.

AWESOME! Thanks for that - my only complaint about the drive was that we didn't see a Starbucks sign-posted and I was desperate for a tall Caramel Macchiato with whipped cream Will be putting that on my trip planner .... seriously, you don't know how happy that has made me

 

[si-am]

AWESOME! Thanks for that - my only complaint about the drive was that we didn't see a Starbucks sign-posted and I was desperate for a tall Caramel Macchiato with whipped cream Will be putting that on my trip planner .... seriously, you don't know how happy that has made me

Glad to help! I can't remember the exact exit number (I think it's 62?), but it's attached to a Holiday Inn.

There is also a Starbucks at the Okahumpka plaza on the toll road on the way to Disney.

 

[arwood82]

You might be surpirsed at how well your DD travels. We live in the Pigeon Forge, TN area and we made the drive to WDW just a couple of weeks ago. We left home around 10 PM and drove straight through and arrived at our resort at 730 AM. We were traveling with my son who just turned 2 and my nephew who just turned 1. Our original plan was to travel halfway and stop to get a room, but the boys slept for the whole trip and were traveling so well that we ended up just going straight through. I was shocked at how well both of the kids traveled. We also wanted to fly but 1. It was cheaper on us to drive and 2. Due to recent surgery my doctor would not clear me to fly. Honestly driving worked out great for us. When we arrive we checked in and of course our room was not ready so we went right outside of Disney property and ate breakfast at McDonalds and then we made a quick run by walmart to get the few food items we wanted for the refrigerator in or room for the kids (fruit, milk, yogurt). Before we were even done checking out at WalMart I got a text on my phone saying our room was ready. We went back to the room, showered, changed clothes and took off for Epcot. My mom and I took the kids while DH slept for a few hours since he drove all night and when he was up and refreshed he met us at Epcot. The kids traveled just as well on the way home. I was completely prepared for a lot of stops and a lot of meltdowns, but they surprised me at how well they traveled. Good Luck and I hope you have a great trip.