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

[DenLo]

Any multiple 2009 2,000+ mile round trip drivers out there?

Yes, we did it twice in 2009 (April and June)--would you count that as multiple?

 

[BrightScouter]

From Michigan also. Have driven straight though over 20 times. Last time was in June. But, the other two trips this year we had to fly. Short trips and the drive time would have taken away half the trip.

We used to drive an rv. Either a trailer, or a motorhome. When gas prices started going up, we went back to a car/suv. But, we are thnking next year will be a return trip to Ft. Wilderness, so the rv is coming back out on the road.

Atlanta has rarely been a problem and then only during rush hour. The mountains,,,, well, my wife does not enjoy them. Mostly because of the truckers that seem to be able to fly. Only once has ice kept us from going over them. They closed the road once about half an hour before we got there.

 

[cruisingkat]

Looks like we might be driving for our second time as we have as DH would really like to this time. Our trip is next week and we are driving down from the Chicago area. We are already having our 57-24-75 or hitting 57-24-65 (something like that) and going through Alabama. 65 through Alabama was how we went last time and it was actually great.

We'll be driving overnight (leaving around 3pm) and my question is about I24 in Tennessee and the "mountains." If we go 57-24-75, how far into Tennessee would we hit the mountains I've heard about. I'm a little nervous about driving through those, so I'm hoping that's it's still fairly early in the trip and DH will be driving.

If we take 75 we should miss Atlanta's rush hour and be able to stop after we get out of the city if we need to for some sleep.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Ty

We do 57-24-75 route many times a year for the past 3 years. You won't hit the mountains until you are past Nashville. We live in the Chicago area and leave around 9 or 10am (to avoid the rush hour traffic) and reach Atlanta around 8 or 9 pm. I don't drive so hubby does all the driving so we do break it into two days.
Those mountains aren't bad (of course we did live in Colorado Springs for a while and have driven up Pikes Peak) and the drive through them isn't that long.
We tried 65 through Indiana once (following our Nuvi instructions) and never again. There was more truck traffic on 65 than on any other route we have taken.

 

[cruisingkat]

Any multiple 2009 2,000+ mile round trip drivers out there?

We have done a multi-leg trip earlier this year. Chicago to Disneyworld to Ft Myers, FL to Disneyworld to Houston, TX to Chicago.
We are also planning a Chicago to Disneyworld to Ft Myers to Chicago in October and Chicago to Disneyworld to Ft Myers to Disneyworld to Chicago in November about 5 times.

 

[TyRy]

Thank you all for the replies and reassurances. Hopefully it won't be too bad. I drive to work everyday in Chicago and the have merges and lanes going every which way.

How long are you in the mountains with the crazy runaway truck ramps..an hour or so?

I'm still thinking we'll stop on the other side of Atlanta to grab just a few hours of sleep before we get on the road again...any recommendations? We won't make an advance ressie cause we thought we'd stop last time as well and ended up driving straight through.

Ty

 

[Flyerfan]

Any multiple 2009 2,000+ mile round trip drivers out there?

Yep. First time this year...September and November.

 

[rotlex]

Any multiple 2009 2,000+ mile round trip drivers out there?

Here! We did a 2k plus trip back in June and we are currently on the return leg of our second drive right now! . Left Orlando earlier tonight and are staying over in Savannah before the drive back to PA tomorrow.

Already booked a bounce back for next year, and yep, driving again!

 

[cruisingkat]

How long are you in the mountains with the crazy runaway truck ramps..an hour or so?

Ty

The drive from Nashville to Chattanooga is about 2 hours - 3 hours at the most - and you don't hit the mountains until you are past Nashville. Once you leave Chattanooga you are out of the mountains - it is a little hilly in Georgia right south of Chattanooga. The stretch with runaway truck ramps isn't very long. You only have them on the way down to Florida. Coming back I guess the grade isn't as steep - the road is divided and the westbound and eastbound lanes are quite separated.
I think that Nashville is actually the worst part of the drive - several interstates connect and join together and then split apart in very short distance so you really have to watch your signs.

 

[BC1836]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BC1836
Any multiple 2009 2,000+ mile round trip drivers out there?

Yes, we did it twice in 2009 (April and June)--would you count that as multiple?

Of course! Two or more 2,000+ mile round-trip drives in a year (calendar or fiscal) qualifies. We qualified in June!

All the best.

 

[FINFAN]

I agree, ( drive from Chicago) Nashville is the most unerving part of the drive for me too...I was almost going to try the drive myself and have Have DH/DS fly out later ( DS has finals for HS, and it is totally messing with our schedule) anyway, once I remembered my Nashcille phobia, that plan went RIGHT out the window. I am not good with merges from both sides, just freaks me out.

 

[patclairesmom]

We're planning on leaving around 11am thrus May 6th and stopping over in St Geaorge SC at a Comfort Inn. Has anyone ever stopped here?

Also, which online map is best to use? AAA triptiks est travel time less than mapquest, so I'm not sure which to go by.

 

[TyRy]

Thanks everyone for the help. Looks like instead of trying to go straight through and be useless once we get to Disney we're going to leave Chicago around 3pm and get to just outside Nashville in Brentwood. I only know that cause the city is south of Nashville. Anyone else have any good recommedations to stay?

This should put us through Atlanta just after 10 or 11am missing rush hour and into Disney (hopefully!) around 6pm.

Thanks!

Ty

 

[Leni-J]

We always stop at South of the Border going in one direction or the other. The elevator ride ($1.00 per person) to the top of the sombrero is well worth it. The kids think it is "cool".

I have to say we do to. I remember always stopping there as a kid going to Disney with my parents and now my family always stops there as well. Sure, it's tacky and all that but it's still a fun little stop along the way. Not sure why everyone here seems to slam it so much. It is was it is.

 

[BC1836]

For us, South of the Border represents a kind of unofficial half-way mark to WDW.

The final cluster of Pedro-related signs heading south means that SC is up ahead! WDW conversations increase. Disney CDs play more frequently. GA follows. Then FL...and finally: Exit #65 in I-4!

 

[Fwd Facing Tentacles]

We're leaving this week from north central NJ, taking the 81/77/26 route. We'll be following our usual routine which is - an early stop at Dunkin Donuts to get us going, a late breakfast at IHOP in MD, dinner at Olive Garden in northern SC, and spend the night in southern SC. Then on the road early the next morning with as few stops as possible except of course for free orange/grapefruit juice. This will get us to WDW by early afternoon. If our room isn't ready, no problem. We just head off to the park for an hour or 2. The 10 day forecast is pretty good, upper 80s with a chance of showers every day. Looking at what's in some of the titles of the other transportation threads - luggage and DME, what's going on with rental rates, afraid to fly, canceled flights, I'm in shock over airfares - makes me glad we're driving. Between XM radio and plenty of Disney CDs we find the day and a half goes by pretty quickly.

 

[BC1836]

We're leaving this week from north central NJ, taking the 81/77/26 route. We'll be following our usual routine which is - an early stop at Dunkin Donuts to get us going, a late breakfast at IHOP in MD, dinner at Olive Garden in northern SC, and spend the night in southern SC. Then on the road early the next morning with as few stops as possible except of course for free orange/grapefruit juice. This will get us to WDW by early afternoon. If our room isn't ready, no problem. We just head off to the park for an hour or 2. The 10 day forecast is pretty good, upper 80s with a chance of showers every day. Looking at what's in some of the titles of the other transportation threads - luggage and DME, what's going on with rental rates, afraid to fly, canceled flights, I'm in shock over airfares - makes me glad we're driving. Between XM radio and plenty of Disney CDs we find the day and a half goes by pretty quickly.

We appreciate all informative replies by FWD Facing Tentacles, especiallly since we have had the pleasure to cross paths on more than one occasion.

Have a safe drive and keep us posted!

All the best.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I'm back on this thread again I haven't been here I think since last spring! Well, Spring 2008 anyway...

Anyhow...we are going on a Disney Cruise next April and then staying in a condo the following week doing Disney/Sea World...

We are thinking of driving straight through...Between renting cars, paying port parking fees and trying to figure out if airfare will come out cheaper, driving seems to be winning (much to my sons dismay). There will be my husband and I switching off drivers. From the White Mtns. of NH to Port Canaveral to Orlando and back to the White Mtns.

My only serious issue is traveling with two 13 year old kids that I cannot seem to keep occupied and like to pick on each other which makes for a very aggravating car ride...anyone that have early teens that have suggestions? I would appreciate any and all suggestions

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm back on this thread again I haven't been here I think since last spring! Well, Spring 2008 anyway...

Anyhow...we are going on a Disney Cruise next April and then staying in a condo the following week doing Disney/Sea World...

We are thinking of driving straight through...Between renting cars, paying port parking fees and trying to figure out if airfare will come out cheaper, driving seems to be winning (much to my sons dismay). There will be my husband and I switching off drivers. From the White Mtns. of NH to Port Canaveral to Orlando and back to the White Mtns.

My only serious issue is traveling with two 13 year old kids that I cannot seem to keep occupied and like to pick on each other which makes for a very aggravating car ride...anyone that have early teens that have suggestions? I would appreciate any and all suggestions

Hmm, do they have Nintendo DSs or similar? My 12 year old nephew could play his constantly.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Hmm, do they have Nintendo DSs or similar? My 12 year old nephew could play his constantly.

Oh they do, along with ipods and such...but that only lasts for so long...I might have to break down and get a dvd player for the car...that might work..for awhile, lol..it doesn't take much for them to get bored...especially my son.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

subbing for our June 2010 trip... planning on driving from PA to save some money.