For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[Mrs. Nesbit]

Sorry, not sure why it re-posted. Thank you! I will look into the hotel you mentioned

 

[BC1836]

Any 2,000+ mile round trip trip drivers on the road right now besides Mrs. Nesbit and family? (Actually those folks are already at WDW!).

 

[dantedisney]

Any 2,000+ mile round trip trip drivers on the road right now besides Mrs. Nesbit and family? (Actually those folks are already at WDW!).

Not on the road yet! We will be driving from MA to Orlando Friday night with a stopover in Savannah Saturday night. The kids are excited to get there and the wife's worried about the long drive (overnight).

We will be taking the I-95 route.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Any 2,000+ mile round trip trip drivers on the road right now besides Mrs. Nesbit and family? (Actually those folks are already at WDW!).

My Dsis and her kids and my Dmom are on their way down right now! They left at 4:00am and said she hit a little bit of rush hour traffic in DC around 6:50 - only about 15 minutes in traffic. Right now in VA -stopping tonight in SC. We do the overnight drive - we'll be leaving in (wait I have to check the calendar).....oooh - exactly 4 weeks from today! We will be leaving around 6:00 and driving straight through to Vero Beach for 3 nights and then to Pop for free dining!

 

[BC1836]

We booked a Microtel Inn in Kingsland GA, which is the last GA exit. With a small AAA discount, it is 59.00 a night, with breakfast. It is a newer hotel from what I have read.

All the best on your drive!
Keep us posted on your arrival at Exit #67 on I-4!

 

[cruisingkat]

We're planning a drive to Orlando this upcoming August coming from the Chicago area. Last year we drove also. I actually enjoyed the ride more than I thought. It was nice to see the scenery, and just take it easy. Lately flying just seems to be such a difficult way to travel, expecially with kids. What with weighing luggage, charging for each peice of luggage, security hassels, tacked on charges, etc. That said, if we found really cheap airfare I may reconsider, but so far it looks like driving is it, especially since we need the car when we are in Orlando.

Anyway, last year we took 65 down through Indiana. Lots of construction around northern Indiana then, but was ok. I hear there is more this year. We will be travelling on the weekends both ways... Anyone from the midwest have any opinions on using 57 vs 65. It just seems like 57 is going to be further distance wise. Does it really save that much time than going through Indiana on 65. Anyone who made the drive on either road have any opinions to share?

We live in the Chicago area and have driven down to Disney world and Florida about 5-6 different times in the past year. We take I-355 to I-80 to I-57 to I-24 to I-75 to the Florida's Turnpike. We live right off I-355.
One time we followed our Nuvi and took 65 and based on our experience that time, we found that it actually takes less time going down 57 than 65. It seems that there are a lot less trucks on 57 than on 65. Also, there is always constuction on in Indiana. So we now we only turn on the Nuvi after we are past Champaign-Urbana so we don't have to listen to her tell us to get off at the next exit and go back. We start out around 9am and we usually stop outside Atlanta (around 8 or 9pm) and get a good night's rest and a good breakfast and then start driving around 9 or 10 am, and arrive at Disney around 3pm.
Even with the new constuction in Illinois, it still seems to be quicker to go down 57.

 

[MudEJeep]

I am planning a trip to WDW next year and also live near I-355. I am trying to figure out where to stop the first night, and where to stop on the return trip. Willing to drive 11-12 hours the first day. Thinking somewhere a little past Atlanta on the way down, not sure where on the way back. Any good places to stay close to the highway with decent places to eat? I also have AAA.


TIA MudEJeep

 

[caitlinsdad]

So we now we only turn on the Nuvi after we are past Champaign-Urbana so we don't have to listen to her tell us to get off at the next exit and go back. .

Yep we piss of Jill too ( voice for our Nuvi) lol

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am planning a trip to WDW next year and also live near I-355. I am trying to figure out where to stop the first night, and where to stop on the return trip. Willing to drive 11-12 hours the first day. Thinking somewhere a little past Atlanta on the way down, not sure where on the way back. Any good places to stay close to the highway with decent places to eat? I also have AAA.


TIA MudEJeep

On your drive down have you thought about staying in Valdosta, Georgia? It's about 3 - 4 hours past Atlanta and is 15 minutes from the Florida State line. As for your drive back home I would recommend staying in Dalton, Georgia.

 

[MudEJeep]

Thanks for the info, but I think Valdosta is too far ....It's probably going to take 12 hours to get to Atlanta alone, and I dont want to drive too far past Atlanta.

MudEJeep

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for the info, but I think Valdosta is too far ....It's probably going to take 12 hours to get to Atlanta alone, and I dont want to drive too far past Atlanta.

MudEJeep

You're welcome and good luck with your travel planning.

 

[sgtdisney]

We live in the Chicago area and have driven down to Disney world and Florida about 5-6 different times in the past year. We take I-355 to I-80 to I-57 to I-24 to I-75 to the Florida's Turnpike. We live right off I-355.
One time we followed our Nuvi and took 65 and based on our experience that time, we found that it actually takes less time going down 57 than 65. It seems that there are a lot less trucks on 57 than on 65. Also, there is always constuction on in Indiana. So we now we only turn on the Nuvi after we are past Champaign-Urbana so we don't have to listen to her tell us to get off at the next exit and go back. We start out around 9am and we usually stop outside Atlanta (around 8 or 9pm) and get a good night's rest and a good breakfast and then start driving around 9 or 10 am, and arrive at Disney around 3pm.
Even with the new constuction in Illinois, it still seems to be quicker to go down 57.

Thanks for the info. I keep hearing good things about going right down thru Illinois. I just keep thinking about the extra 30 or so miles (according to Google maps) and the amount of miles before hitting a major city.

 

[BC1836]

The drive to WDW on I-95 has a built-in anticipation factor: the highway mile markers. Unexpected traffic notwithstanding, every drive minute (or less) translates to the mile marker numbers getting smaller, generating a greater anticipation for the final turn off of Exit #67 on I-4. Also, the mile markers provide a convenient way of estimating drive times to state borders.

Passing into South Carolina, for us, represents a kind of "half-way" point: Georgia, the shortest south-of-the-Potomac stretch, is approximately 3 hours away...and then Florida!

Those mile markers make the drive down enjoyable; however, they have the opposite effect driving home.

To those preparing their next 2,000+ mile round trip drive: All the best!

 

[dvczerfs]

The drive to WDW on I-95 has a built-in anticipation factor: the highway mile markers. Unexpected traffic notwithstanding, every drive minute (or less) translates to the mile marker numbers getting smaller, generating a greater anticipation for the final turn off of Exit #67 on I-4. Also, the mile markers provide a convenient way of estimating drive times to state borders.

Passing into South Carolina, for us, represents a kind of "half-way" point: Georgia, the shortest south-of-the-Potomac stretch, is approximately 3 hours away...and then Florida!

Those mile markers make the drive down enjoyable; however, they have the opposite effect driving home.

To those preparing their next 2,000+ mile round trip drive: All the best!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy0Lu-QZ-kA&feature=related:thumbsup2

 

[rotlex]

The drive to WDW on I-95 has a built-in anticipation factor: the highway mile markers. Unexpected traffic notwithstanding, every drive minute (or less) translates to the mile marker numbers getting smaller, generating a greater anticipation for the final turn off of Exit #67 on I-4. Also, the mile markers provide a convenient way of estimating drive times to state borders.

Passing into South Carolina, for us, represents a kind of "half-way" point: Georgia, the shortest south-of-the-Potomac stretch, is approximately 3 hours away...and then Florida!

Those mile markers make the drive down enjoyable; however, they have the opposite effect driving home.

To those preparing their next 2,000+ mile round trip drive: All the best!

Your right regarding the anticipation on the way down! We actually enjoy it, and use markers, state borders etc. to keep the kids interested. We have our 2nd drive this year coming up the end of August, and I'm looking forward to it! However, you are correct again in stating they can make it miserable for the trip home, LOL.

Here's to another fun, hopefully uneventful drive!

 

[famsen]

Thanks for the info, but I think Valdosta is too far ....It's probably going to take 12 hours to get to Atlanta alone, and I dont want to drive too far past Atlanta.

MudEJeep

We have driven from Chicago and back eleven times.
I am flying for our next trip.
We have made stops for the night in Cartersville, GA(juest before Atlanta); there is a nice Holiday Inn Express and a decent Hamton Inn there.
Last year we stayed in Tifton. Tifton is past Atlanta but we found a great new Microtel. It was a very enjoyable stay-clean and cheap!

 

[sgtdisney]

Last year we stayed in Tifton. Tifton is past Atlanta but we found a great new Microtel. It was a very enjoyable stay-clean and cheap!

Last year we stopped in Tifton as well. Nice area. We stayed in a comfort inn and suites and were very happy there.

 

[squirrlygirl]

We leave in just over three weeks! We're driving from southern Michigan to Valdosta, Georgia our first day (we're getting up at like 3:30 am to do this). The next day we'll make a stop at The Villages to visit my aunt, and then head on to Disney.

I don't have a stop point figured out on the way back, though. We check out on a Friday morning, and need to be home by early Sunday morning at the latest. I can't seem to get myself to nail down how far we'll drive on the first day, and I'm not sure of the wisdom of leaving it to chance and calling AAA that afternoon to find us somewhere. Anyone ever do this?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We leave in just over three weeks! We're driving from southern Michigan to Valdosta, Georgia our first day (we're getting up at like 3:30 am to do this). The next day we'll make a stop at The Villages to visit my aunt, and then head on to Disney.

I don't have a stop point figured out on the way back, though. We check out on a Friday morning, and need to be home by early Sunday morning at the latest. I can't seem to get myself to nail down how far we'll drive on the first day, and I'm not sure of the wisdom of leaving it to chance and calling AAA that afternoon to find us somewhere. Anyone ever do this?

The 1st day my family and I start driving home on I-75 Northbound we always stay in Dalton, Georgia at the Hampton Inn off exit 333. So by the next day you will have no problems making it back to Southern Michigian. Anyway here is a link with all the information about that Hampton Inn location I just mentioned.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/...ionid=I2BPZGYWGFVG4CSGBJC3UKQ?ctyhocn=DNNWSHX

 

[squirrlygirl]

The 1st day my family and I start driving home on I-75 Northbound we always stay in Dalton, Georgia at the Hampton Inn off exit 333. So by the next day you will have no problems making it back to Southern Michigian. Anyway here is a link with all the information about that Hampton Inn location I just mentioned.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/...ionid=I2BPZGYWGFVG4CSGBJC3UKQ?ctyhocn=DNNWSHX

Thanks! How long does it take you to get there? It doesn't look like that hotel will work unless I get two rooms (I have 4 kids) but I'll keep it in mind.