Has anyone driven from Chicago?

[Minnie824]

I tried the Search, but it wasn't working, so I apologize if this has been asked before.

Has anyone driven from Chicago? How long does it take, and do you stop over night? If so, where? At the time of our trip, our kids will be 4yo and 18mo. Do you think it would be easier to drive or fly with 2 small kids? We're leaning towards driving, not trying to save money, or for a fear, but because we think there would be less hassle...everything would be in the car. We wouldn't need to lug strollers and everything around, and sit at the airports. We figured we'd stay over night one night down and one night back. We also have a DVD player for the car which should help. So, what do you think? Any advice and time estimates? Thanks!

 

[Laz]

I live 30 minutes south of Fort Wayne, so you have about an extra 2-3 hours more drive than I do. It takes me a little over 16 hours without traffic problems. Having said that, I have driven when DD was 4 (only child) with non problems. I am sure you are working out rest breaks so they can run and stretch. I personally wouldn't try to do it in one day. We take I-75 and my goal is to get thru Atlanta (about 11 hours). Then I usually stay overnight just south of the city. When DD was younger, I would leave early enough so that there would be pool time at the hotel. It helps get that excess energy out of the young system. The second day we get to WDW early enough to hit the parks even though the room isn't ready. The Luggage just sits in the trunk without the storage worry.

What else can I answer?

 

[jeffreyml]

We just drove down in April 2003 and are returning this August. We drove straight through from the south suburbs without any problems.

We left our home Friday night at 4:30 pm and arrived at Disney and checked into our room at 1pm Florida time. DW and I took 4 hour turns until we needed to fill up. We took 57 south to 24, to 75. Our original plans were to stop overnight but the kids were so excited and they slept through most the night anyways.

We stopped for dinner in southern Illinois around 8 pm, departed, put a movie in for the kids and off we were. After a few fill-ups and rest stops we stopped in Georgia in the morning for breakfast.

Traffic was minimal since we hit most of the hot spots either late at night or early in the morning. There was some construction in Georgia, but it never slowed us down...

 

[tinaluis]

We drove down in January and total driving time was about 23 hours. We stopped just before Atlanta on the way down and in Nashville on the way back. We drove 57 to 24 to 75 as others have suggested and prefer that route over driving through Indiana anyday. We drove as a cost-saving measure (because there are 5 of us and we stay for just over 2 weeks so car rental and airfare make it a whole lot more expensive) and really enjoyed the vacation -- so much so that we're planning to drive again in October.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I guess I am standing alone on this, but I would say fly. Of course, my kids think driving to St. Louis is a long way (1.5 hrs from Springfield).

We are going to WDW for a cruise in November and I just booked flights. Including all airport time, it should take us 6 hours from arriving at our airport to landing at MCO. I always traveled with car seats, stroller, etc and I never found it to be overly difficult with 2 kids (4.5 years apart). (The thought of 18 hours of non-stop driving is not appealing to me. I also want to be refreshed and ready when we hit the parks, not exhausted from the drive and need 2 days to recouperate.)

Usually let 1 sit in stroller as I pushed it through airport while car seat sat on top of luggage rack. DH pushed that. Oldest usually ran through airport (got rid of excess energy). they take stroller for you at end of jetway and it is there for you when you land. I always took car seat because I have always bought seats for my kids when they flew, no matter what age they were. Car seat goes on with me and we normally preboard so we have time to hook up carseat.

That way, we always had our own carseat when we got rental car.

We also have a DVD player in new car and it is a God-send. We are actually thinking about a driving trip to Mt. Rushmore next year. We'll have to see how that goes.

I am sure you will make the right choice for your family.

 

[FloridaCat]

I am from Illinois, now live in Deltona. I have made the drive many times and twice last summer.
Your most likley looking at 20-22 hours driving time. If you need to stop in TN for the night get below Clarksville as a lot of problems in that area. I usualy got south of Nashville because I headed out late in the morning. I like to be on the road no later the 6:00 AM and I like to put most of the trip behind me the first day. You are most likely arrive mid afternoon and that is a good time before Orlando rush hour kicks in. If your from Chicago you know what I mean.
A good stop over is Tifton GA, there is a Masters Inn and Cracker Barrel right there. I have been making this trip for over 10 years and learned to stop only at Cracker Barrel or Steak & Shake.
There are a lot of other Motels and it is going to be the cheapest area along I-75. Even cheaper then Macon.

Before you cross the FL/GA line gas up, (Cigarettes) as that is the last cheap tank of gas your going to get. FL prices are close to IL. I usualy fill up just as I have crossed the KY line and prices are good until FL. Pilot, Race Trak, Race Way have the best, but start watching the billboards before you need to stop. Hope this helps some and welcome to my neck of the woods. Have the time of your life..

 

[FloridaCat]

PS A gift to my Illini Friends

http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/7840/select.htm

 

[FloridaCat]

Good WDW map

http://www.trakkermaps.com/product....ategory_name=Florida&product_id=2-8315-7171-5

 

[weluvpluto]

We have driven from Milwaukee the past two years and will be doing it again. We have never made it all the way down in one day. We really like having our own vehicle down there. My kids are 6 and 8 now, 4 & 6 when we started driving.

We usually drive through Indiana (Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville route), could someone tell me more about this other route - 57 to 24 to 75 , will it add time to the drive, what major cities do you go through?

 

[tinaluis]

We catch 57 off of I-94/I-80 and the only major city we pass in Illinois is Champaign. It is mostly a 2-lane highway (each side - for a total of 4-lanes) all the way down but it is very quiet and a much easier drive (in my opinion) than driving through Indianapolis. It may add a little time to your trip (it added about 1 hour to ours) but it will be well worth it IMO.

 

[SCCaguioa]

We live near Terre Haute, IN and our 99 trip (with only me driving) took 21 hrs. I was able to drive 13 hrs straight (besides for fuel stops), before 'crashing' at 3:30am at a Sleep Inn in Macon. The next day, we were back on the road around 11am and at WDW by 7pm.

BTW, we did the US41, Pennyrile 'Toll' road, I-24, I-75, FL turnpike, I-4 route.

IMHO, I would drive again but only if I had a co-pliot(s); otherwise I would fly. If there would have been co-pliots, we would have went straight through; only to stop and switch drivers either every 4 hours or every fuel stop.


BTW tinaluis....whats wrong with Indiana!!!

 

[tinaluis]

SCCaguioa,
The lane configurations, traffic and crazy drivers in and around Indianapolis have scared me away for good.

 

[BCV23]

We drove once years ago and I drove by myself this past December. First time we did the 65 route. Terrible traffic around Indy. This past trip I did the 57 & 24 route thanks to suggestions on this board. Liked it much better. Took me about 21 hours each way and I did stop. I'm in the western suburbs. It adds some miles but I doubt that it adds any time. Besides Indiannapolis you also avoid the traffic around the 80-94 area which always seems heavy.

weluvpluto, if you take 294 around Chicago, you would get off at the I-80 exit and go WEST a few miles to pick up 57. 57 is a four lane divided highway with limited access. Less traffic than 65 in my experience driving to colleges and camps. 24 had very little traffic when I drove it. No major cities at all until Nashville.

When our children were young we always flew. It's a hassle for a few hours but far fewer than driving. For that manner we still usually fly. Always rent a car though, too. If you don't want to do that then I would certainly drive. Don't forget the wear and tear on your car when you compare expenses.

 

[geffric]

We take the I-65 way thru Indiana. We started driving when both kids were in diapers. My routine is have the kids take baths night before, and put on clean clothes to sleep in., pick up sleeping child at 5 am and put into van with pillow and blanket. And start to drive. We get past Merrillville before the kids wake up, I have snacks and juice boxes for them. Because it is a saturday, we do not experience tranffic at INdy and we stop at the Flying J for cheap gas. We drive, changing drivers every two hours until we get past Macon, GA at about 11 PM. Up and out early, and arrive at WDW around noon.

I go to flyingj.com to get gas prices all the way along our route befoe we go, so I know where to stop. for cheap gas.

Also McDonald's has maps on their website that tells you where all the McD's are along the route.

 

[perpetualplanner]

As a misplaced Indiana girl who now lives in a town off of 57 I'd take the Indy route (65) rather than 57 anyday. 57 is a LOT of truck traffic and slower drivers. Most of these trucks think they own 57 as they constitute most of the traffic. I guess I learned to drive in Indy and I prefer that to the other.

 

[RAD]

Originally posted by perpetualplanner
As a misplaced Indiana girl who now lives in a town off of 57 I'd take the Indy route (65) rather than 57 anyday. 57 is a LOT of truck traffic and slower drivers. Most of these trucks think they own 57 as they constitute most of the traffic. I guess I learned to drive in Indy and I prefer that to the other.

I drove I-57/I-24 route to Nashville 6 weeks ago and didn't run into any of the 'slow' drivers that you mentioned (unless going slower then 75-80MPH is slow to you).

 

[weluvpluto]

Originally posted by BCV23
We drove once years ago and I drove by myself this past December. First time we did the 65 route. Terrible traffic around Indy. This past trip I did the 57 & 24 route thanks to suggestions on this board. Liked it much better. Took me about 21 hours each way and I did stop. I'm in the western suburbs. It adds some miles but I doubt that it adds any time. Besides Indiannapolis you also avoid the traffic around the 80-94 area which always seems heavy.

weluvpluto, if you take 294 around Chicago, you would get off at the I-80 exit and go WEST a few miles to pick up 57. 57 is a four lane divided highway with limited access. Less traffic than 65 in my experience driving to colleges and camps. 24 had very little traffic when I drove it. No major cities at all until Nashville.

Thanks for your excellent directions! I'm trying to convince DH that we should try this way (especially because we always seem to have problems around the I-80 - 94 area. We also seem to have problems around Louisville, I think we just usually hit there around rush hour, but the last two years there was construction in the same spot, which added time to the trip.) When I pulled up a driving route at mapquest.com it only added 30 minutes to the trip. So I think I'll get trip tiks for both ways.

Is there any constuction on 57 or 24 now, or on 75 or 65 for that matter? When they do the Trip tiks they seem to like to stamp wherever they like

 

[RAD]

Originally posted by weluvpluto
Is there any constuction on 57 or 24 now, or on 75 or 65 for that matter? When they do the Trip tiks they seem to like to stamp wherever they like

When we drove it Memorial day weekend there were a few spots on I57 that they had a bridge down to one lane for work, that was it. We didn't see anything on I-24 through Nashville, don't know about from there to Choo-Choo where you'd get I-75.

 

[geffric]

RAD

We are driving in a few weeks, where on 57 was the bridge down . Do you leave early in the am?? I have always driven the I- 65 way but I leave at 5 am.. Any helpful hints would be great..

Thanks

 

[RAD]

If you get on I-57 south of I-80 you'll miss the major reconstruction in the Chicago area. As to the areas with the one lane for the bridge work, sorry I don't remember exactly where. But it wasn't bad, 1 mile of so before the bridge work it went down to one lane in each direction then back to two lanes right after the bridge. Check out this web site for more up to date info:

http://gis.dot.state.il.us/idotgis/...epartment of Transportation Road Construction

At the time you say you're leaving you shouldn't have any problems except maybe hitting rush hour down around Nashville TN. Driving through IL the cheapest gas we got was at the Salem exit, else try to get gas in KY or TN, it was usually cheaper. Have a good trip!