For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (III)

[WI_DisneyFan]

We are going down in may but we will also be heading down in september. we will be on the road sept. 11th heading down and sept. 23rd heading home.

We'll be heading down a few days before you. The plan right now is to leave around 4:00 am Saturday the 8th and stopping over in southern Atlanta Saturday night. Then Sunday morning we'll hit the road again after breakfast and get to Orlando around dinner time. And then we'll finally be checking into the Contemporary sometime Monday morning. Sunday the 16th, we're heading to Anna Maria Island for a few days. My wife has never swam in the ocean. Technically, the gulf isn't the ocean, but it is close enough for her. Then Wednesday the 19th, we start our looong journey back to Wisconsin.

I have been reviewing this thread and most posts have a very strong east coast influence, not that there is anything wrong with that!!. Would love to hear from some posters from the midwest. I am from outside Chicago and will b, leaving on March 23, 2012. We plan on driving down to Lousiville that night and then on to Valdosta GA Saturday night. We plan on getting into WDW about 12pm on Sunday.

Roundtrip for us is about 2,300miles. Anyone else planning a similar tirp and do you have any inside information on roads and construction?

Let me know, thanks all

We're coming from eastern Wisconsin, about an hour north of Milwaukee, and an hour south of Green Bay. This'll be our first drive down, although I've been planning it for over three years. (We had planned on driving down in December 2009, but got spooked by the possiblity of bad weather so we flew instead.) We had the I57/I65 debate, but we've pretty much settled on I57. As someone else stated, it might add an hour to our drive. But my wife is very fearful of driving next to or behind semi trucks. And since she'll be sharing the driving duties (it'll probably be 80/20, with me taking the bulk of it), we'll be taking I57 since I've heard from many people that the truck traffic is lighter. I figured anything I can do to make her comfortable is worth a little extra hassle. Outside of that, I unfortunatly don't have much to share. Good luck with your drive!

 

[Camno's Mama]

I have been reviewing this thread and most posts have a very strong east coast influence, not that there is anything wrong with that!!. Would love to hear from some posters from the midwest. I am from outside Chicago and will b, leaving on March 23, 2012. We plan on driving down to Lousiville that night and then on to Valdosta GA Saturday night. We plan on getting into WDW about 12pm on Sunday.

Roundtrip for us is about 2,300miles. Anyone else planning a similar tirp and do you have any inside information on roads and construction?

Let me know, thanks all

We are also from just outside of Chicago, and leaving on the 23rd!

Our plan is the same plan that we used last year over Spring Break. We will leave at 4am (5 at the latest), and we will go all the way to Macon, GA. We got there after dark...can't remember exactly when, but it was close to bedtime because we went right to sleep.

We left the next morning after breakfast (7-8), and go to WDW in the mid afternoon. It worked out great for us. I don't think we could do three days of driving.

On the way home, our plan is to stay in Lexington as we have family there that we would like to visit. Last year, we didn't make it out of GA on the way home the first day as traffic was bad. Our plan had been to stay in Chattanooga or thereabouts.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[dvczerfs]

Jumping in to ask if there is any advice as to avoiding Charlotte? I believe that is where the hairy left exit that drops suddenly to 25 is.

I hit Charlotte sat. Morning around 8am and hit it on a Sunday around 10am. I've never hit char. At rush hour.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Joining in as well... I have to potential trips coming...
The first is not actually to Disney, but we will be going by Disney. My grandparents live in Cape Coral, FL and the kids and I are planning on visiting them during our April break. (4/13 - 4/22) Trouble is, now that I can afford regular priced air fare, it has skyrocketed to about $650 per person! So, I am strongly considering driving down as I don't want to disappoint to 81 year olds. (or the kids) DH is unable to take the time off so I will be the only driver with the 3 kids.
I'm very interested to know if anyone has any suggestions for places to stop for the night about half way there or so. (We're pretty close to Boston) Or, if anyone has places they recommend avoiding. We'll be driving on the weekends; we could leave Fri. afternoon or Sat. AM.

The other trip is hopefully to WDW in August. Won't know for sure on this one for a couple more months, but keeping my fingers crossed.

Any advice is appreciated and I will be keeping an eye on the thread for reports/ updates.

 

[dvczerfs]

Hi everyone that has been following Tammys health problem.Just a quick update. I had her to philly today. she had an mri at 7am and two dr. appointments after that. We got out of the last dr. office at 3:30 and she is now on a bus to New york city till thursday night for work.
Her mri has come back with very little to no swelling on her brain at all anymore. The tumor, which was sterotactic radiated (if that makes sence, sorry, long day ) in September of 2010 has got smaller. They did not think it would get as small as its getting and there is no signs of anything brewing. We were going everry three months for mris and drs. and now we are evey six months!!! we are both very happy and thank everyone for there thoughts, prayers and yes, even pixie dust today!!! (thanks sharon!)

 

[labfan]

Have any idea which way you want to drive? Going 81-77-26-95 is a good way to go to avoid alot of the cities. Just have to watch the weather going this way if your going this way in the winter. i95 straight down is the shortest miles wise but there are alot of cities you have to go though, philly, washington, balt. etc... give us some of your thoughts and we can try to help you from there. Time of year your going, days of the week you will be on the road etc..... we are here to help!!

We will be driving from Albany, NY to WDW in May. Not sure what route to take. Looking at all options as never did this before. Actually it will be my son and his girlfriend driving. I'll actually be on Amtrak with my daughter.
Any help on the best route to take and time to leave to avoid major rush hour traffic. He will definitely want to stop somewhere to sleep for the night and arrive WDW the next day.

dvczerfs - Congrats on the good news with Tammy.

 

[BC1836]

Hi everyone that has been following Tammys health problem.Just a quick update. I had her to philly today. she had an mri at 7am and two dr. appointments after that. We got out of the last dr. office at 3:30 and she is now on a bus to New york city till thursday night for work.
Her mri has come back with very little to no swelling on her brain at all anymore. The tumor, which was sterotactic radiated (if that makes sence, sorry, long day ) in September of 2010 has got smaller. They did not think it would get as small as its getting and there is no signs of anything brewing. We were going everry three months for mris and drs. and now we are evey six months!!! we are both very happy and thank everyone for there thoughts, prayers and yes, even pixie dust today!!! (thanks sharon!)

May she continue to improve!

All the best....the very best!

 

[dvczerfs]

May she continue to improve!

All the best....the very best!

thanks bc!

 

[dvczerfs]

We will be driving from Albany, NY to WDW in May. Not sure what route to take. Looking at all options as never did this before. Actually it will be my son and his girlfriend driving. I'll actually be on Amtrak with my daughter.
Any help on the best route to take and time to leave to avoid major rush hour traffic. He will definitely want to stop somewhere to sleep for the night and arrive WDW the next day.

dvczerfs - Congrats on the good news with Tammy.

thanks!!
i will be going may 11th if he wants to follow. if he goes i95, i would leave 9pm and drive till you get south of richmond va. there is another way i like going but its a little trickier. i also have been going i81-i77-i26. going this way, you are able to "open it up" a bit more. when time is a factor, i take 81-77-26. im not sure anything north of harrisburg pa. of i81 but for the most part, the only place to avoid is charlotte nc at a rush hour.
i use to go i81-i77-i26 years ago and stopped. years ago, there wasnt to much along i81 in the shen. mtn range but trees, hills and trucks. now, i fined its the fastest way for me to go.
remember, anything can happen anytime. there can be a wreck anytime that can hold you up for hours. there is no easy way that you will walk in with no traffic, slow downs or anything.

 

[BC1836]

Flying to Texas soon.

Air fare costs and fees, baggage limitations, baggage fees, carry-on bag's content restrictions, getting to the airport, the TSA experience, hoping flight is on time, the overhead bin battle, the stagnant cabin air, hoping for a smooth flight, hoping bags don't get damaged or lost, securing ground transportation to the hotel.

One month until our next drive to WDW!

All the best.

 

[Disneyholic]

Flying to Texas soon.

Air fare costs and fees, baggage limitations, baggage fees, carry-on bag's content restrictions, getting to the airport, the TSA experience, hoping flight is on time, the overhead bin battle, the stagnant cabin air, hoping for a smooth flight, hoping bags don't get damaged or lost, securing ground transportation to the hotel.

One month until our next drive to WDW!

All the best.

Adding to that - someone (possibly not anyone in your party but someone else ) passing gas. At least in the car you can open the windows to air it out.We had an older couple & their grandson in front of us on a trip on a plane once and someone in their group tooted the whole way home.

 

[pwdebbie]

I hit Charlotte sat. Morning around 8am and hit it on a Sunday around 10am. I've never hit char. At rush hour.

We hit it around 7:00 p.m. on a Sunday and you would think it WAS rush hour -- not that the traffic is backed up, rather they are moving fast. White knuckle all the way with me shouting, "Left exit, left exit! Slow down, 25, sharp curve, slow down, 25, slow down!"

 

[pwdebbie]

Hi everyone that has been following Tammys health problem.Just a quick update. I had her to philly today. she had an mri at 7am and two dr. appointments after that. We got out of the last dr. office at 3:30 and she is now on a bus to New york city till thursday night for work.
Her mri has come back with very little to no swelling on her brain at all anymore. The tumor, which was sterotactic radiated (if that makes sence, sorry, long day ) in September of 2010 has got smaller. They did not think it would get as small as its getting and there is no signs of anything brewing. We were going everry three months for mris and drs. and now we are evey six months!!! we are both very happy and thank everyone for there thoughts, prayers and yes, even pixie dust today!!! (thanks sharon!)

Wonderful news!

 

[dvczerfs]

We hit it around 7:00 p.m. on a Sunday and you would think it WAS rush hour -- not that the traffic is backed up, rather they are moving fast. White knuckle all the way with me shouting, "Left exit, left exit! Slow down, 25, sharp curve, slow down, 25, slow down!"

Wonderful news!

thank you!
i just cant think where there is a left exit thats only 25mph.

 

[pwdebbie]

thank you!
i just cant think where there is a left exit thats only 25mph.

Well, we've only gone that way twice and I'm pretty sure it was in Charlotte. It was in an area of road construction and wasn't well marked at all. Ran into in both Oct. 2007 and April 2009. All of a sudden, boom, there it was, with big signs "25" to tell you to slow down. Sharp curve off to the left, very narrow. That was why we tried 95 for our Oct. 2010 trip, and we hit the road construction on the west side of DC and remembered why we never visit DC.

 

[sharadoc]

I drove down from Boston last summer and went that route. Never again. I have never hit enough traffic to justify the extra time spent on this route. Never mind all the trucks. My Father always told me - 95, 95, 95. Now I believe him. But I did figure out one thing - I alway's worried about traffic in NYC, Washington, DC - but in reality it is the Northern VA that's the worst. So I need to figure out when the good time is for that section.

Planning my next drive in August - taking the Autotrain home. Can't wait!!!

Janis

I am absolutely in the same place as you. We prefer 95 and we're looking at an alternate route for our trip in August, but it adds around 2 hours. Which means it's the same as sitting in traffic on 95 for 2 hours LOL. Friday and Saturday during the summer, and most of the rush hour are the worst in northern VA. Not sure what that leaves, but I'm hoping around noon to 1 in the afternoon on a weekday would be good.

When in August are you driving? Our next trip is in August too.

 

[cruisingkat]

I have been reviewing this thread and most posts have a very strong east coast influence, not that there is anything wrong with that!!. Would love to hear from some posters from the midwest. I am from outside Chicago and will b, leaving on March 23, 2012. We plan on driving down to Lousiville that night and then on to Valdosta GA Saturday night. We plan on getting into WDW about 12pm on Sunday.

Roundtrip for us is about 2,300miles. Anyone else planning a similar tirp and do you have any inside information on roads and construction?

Let me know, thanks all

There's a number of us Midwesterners. I'm assuming you're taking 65-24-75-turnpike to WDW. There's a lot of people from Chicago who takes 57-24-75-turnpike. That's about an hour longer, but you bypass the trucks on I-65. Since I live nowhere near Chicago, I don't know the I-57 route, but I do know I-65 does have traffic. Not tremendous traffic. But enough.

What time do you plan on getting into Louisville on the 23rd. I wouldn't try to cross into Kentucky during rush hour. One of major bridges across the Ohio River. the I-64 bridge, is closed for repairs. That's one less way to cross the river. Most times, you'll be OK. I just see a lot of headaches during rush hour. You can stay just north of Louisville in Southern Indiana. That way, you can cross into Kentucky on Saturday morning.

Driving through Atlanta is always the sticking point. You'll be fine, since you're travelling on a weekend. Just stick to the carpool (far left lane), and you'll be fine. However, if you're coming home on a weekday, just make sure you avoid Atlanta during rush hour.

You'll do fine. Good luck. And if you make a side trip to Cincinnati on the way down, will you pick me up?

We drive down to Disney from the Chicago area several times a year. We have tried the 65-24-75-Turnpike route, but prefer the 57-24-75-Turnpike route. They say that the 57 route takes a little longer, but found that it really takes about the same time as the 65 route. Although IN's speed limit is higher than IL, the difference in total time is minimal. IN does have a lower speed limit for trucks unlike IL which has the same speed limit for trucks and cars. With all the truck traffic on 65, you can really get bogged down when trucks pass trucks. There doesn't seem to be as much truck traffic in IL.
We just drove back from FL and hit Atlanta at 5pm on a Mon. Traffic was very good - especially if you stay in the HOV lanes. We were expecting the worse and were really surprised by how fast we got through. To us Nashville is the worst part of the trip - there are several interstates that merge and separate in a short period and you have to switch from left lanes and right lanes. Doing this in rush hour can be a bit of a challenge.

 

[dvczerfs]

Well, we've only gone that way twice and I'm pretty sure it was in Charlotte. It was in an area of road construction and wasn't well marked at all. Ran into in both Oct. 2007 and April 2009. All of a sudden, boom, there it was, with big signs "25" to tell you to slow down. Sharp curve off to the left, very narrow. That was why we tried 95 for our Oct. 2010 trip, and we hit the road construction on the west side of DC and remembered why we never visit DC.

i was going 81-66-17-95 during that construction. i think maybe our september trip we will go down 81-66-17-95 again. you get use to avoiding richmond and it kind of grows on you.

 

[BC1836]

Adding to that - someone (possibly not anyone in your party but someone else ) passing gas. At least in the car you can open the windows to air it out.We had an older couple & their grandson in front of us on a trip on a plane once and someone in their group tooted the whole way home.

Indeed. One of the surprises associated with flying.

We look forward to our next DRIVE!

All the best.

 

[LadyBeBop]

We just drove back from FL and hit Atlanta at 5pm on a Mon. Traffic was very good - especially if you stay in the HOV lanes. We were expecting the worse and were really surprised by how fast we got through. To us Nashville is the worst part of the trip - there are several interstates that merge and separate in a short period and you have to switch from left lanes and right lanes. Doing this in rush hour can be a bit of a challenge.

I agree with you. We've never had any problems going through Atlanta (although we never go through during rush hour). But I hate going through Nashville. Too much switching lanes in a short period of time.

Although I think part of it (for me) is that we stay on I-75 while going through Atlanta. That's a straight shot. Going through Nashville, we switch interstates from I-65 to I-40 west (we take it to visit my daughter in Louisiana). And I think I-24 sneaks in somewhere as well. That's too many interstates in just a few miles.