Help! Driving from Michigan

[jksgrammy]

My DH and me (just the two of us) are driving from Michigan to Florida this coming January for a three week trip (two weeks in Sarasota, one week in Orlando to visit WDW).

Has anyone else driven from Michigan, and if so, any suggestions on where to stop for night on way down and way back? According to mapquest, it's 19 hours and 49 minutes from our house to Sarasota. We'll break it up into two days of driving each way, or maybe even three for trip down and back.

As much as I hate driving that distance, it's much cheaper than flying and renting a car for 3 weeks.

If anyone has done this trip and cares to share travel tips, would greatly appreciate them!

 

[MidgeD79]

HI! We usually drive from MI to WDW and love it. I strongly recommend "Dave Hunter Along I-75". It is full of information and has a unique map set up. We never make reservations for along the way, because we never know how far we're going to get. We only drive in the summer, so i don't have any hints for winter driving. Have fun

 

[rojo]

We've driven from Michigan quite a few times, but never in the winter. You may need to allow for extra driving time depending on the weather. We usually try to make it to Macon Ga on the first day, then it only leaves about 5-6 hours driving the next day. It would be alittle longer for you since your going to Sarasota. Have a safe and great trip!

 

[bgirl29]

We too have driven from Michigan and depending on when we leave we stop around Nashville or I think it is Dalton, GA. Be sure and pick up one of the flyers available in the rest stops that have coupons or discounts listed for hotels. Pick one up just before you are ready to stop and it will list by highway exits the hotels available at that exit. If you cannot follow what I meant just let me know. Have a great trip

 

[jksgrammy]

Thanks everyone! I'm a little concerned about driving in January, but we'll monitor weather reports (that's the first thing DH turns on in the morning when he gets up - are other DH's like that?!?!). Anyway, appreciate your suggestions about the book and stopping at rest stops and getting hotel coupons.

We're not going to make hotel reservations before leaving, as we'll just drive until we're tired and then stop, so getting those rest stop coupons will work for us. Also hoping our friends who are AAA members will get us triptiks.

Does anyone know if there is a website you can go to that will provide up to date road construction areas?

 

[d-r]

Are you going down 65 through Indiana or 75 through ohio?

Northern Ohio can have some pretty bad weather. Give yourself some extra time just in case. We spent an unexpected night in Lima, OH once.

There are motels at most every exit, basically, so you'll be fine if you just want to see how far you get and stop when you feel like it.

You might want to think about timing for rush hours. If you are on 75:
Toledo- depends on if you are coming down 75 or connect on 23
Dayton not too bad
Cincy can get bad during rush hour
Lexington not too bad
Knoxville can be a real pain during rush hour
Chattanooga not too bad
Atlanta you might want to avoid this during rush hour

After that it is mostly just Macon, Valdosta, pretty smooth sailing.

If you are on 65. Ft. Wayne - hasn't been a problem for us really
Indianapolis - you mostly by-pass, but it can be bad
Louisville - you go right through this one, can be bad
Nashville - can be bad
Huntsville- not too bad
Birmingham - can be bad

JUST IMHO, YMMV!

 

[Yzerbear19]

Be careful driving in the mountains.

Are you going down 65 through Indiana or 75 through ohio?

Northern Ohio can have some pretty bad weather. Give yourself some extra time just in case. We spent an unexpected night in Lima, OH once.

When we drove to Florida in 2005 we left from the metro Detroit area and went through Ohio to W. Virginia. I think it was I-77 to I-95 in the Carolinas. It was a nice drive, but it was spring. I don't think I would drive in the mountains of WV in January. EEK!

Thanks everyone! I'm a little concerned about driving in January, but we'll monitor weather reports (that's the first thing DH turns on in the morning when he gets up - are other DH's like that?!?!).

I check the weather channel's website starting 10 days before our trip since they have the 10 day forecast and will check it everyday before we leave.

We're not going to make hotel reservations before leaving, as we'll just drive until we're tired and then stop, so getting those rest stop coupons will work for us. Also hoping our friends who are AAA members will get us triptiks.

I usually get some for our trips, but don't ever really end up using them. The only good part of them is that AAA will sometimes highlight areas of construction.

Does anyone know if there is a website you can go to that will provide up to date road construction areas?

AAA website lists construction and closures for MI I know.

http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/autos/traffic/index.asp

Hopefully it won't be too bad of a drive for you.

 

[jksgrammy]

We'll be taking the I-96 to South 23 to I-75 route. We're hoping that the Farmers' Almanac is correct in it's prediction of a warmer than normal winter, which hopefully means less snow! Hey, I can dream can't I?!?!

Anyway, appreciate your tips/suggestions for our January trip.

 

[jodifla]

Just food for thought: In February, I drove a car down to Florida. But I didn't want to drive the whole way, so I went from Metro Detroit to Lorton, VA, and took the autotrain the rest of the way. It was a lot of fun. DS, 4, was estatic. It was great to wake up in the morning and be in Orlando!

 

[jksgrammy]

Just food for thought: In February, I drove a car down to Florida. But I didn't want to drive the whole way, so I went from Metro Detroit to Lorton, VA, and took the autotrain the rest of the way. It was a lot of fun. DS, 4, was estatic. It was great to wake up in the morning and be in Orlando!

Jodi: What is the "autotrain" you refer to in your message? And where do I find information on it?

 

[Sandy22]

Jodi: What is the "autotrain" you refer to in your message? And where do I find information on it?

The autotrain is run by Amtrak. Your car is loaded onto the train and you travel in coach or private bedrooms from Lorton, VA to Sanford, Florida.

Here's a link to the FAQ thread on the autotrain: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=402667

 

[bgirl29]

If your friend with AAA gets you a triptick road construction will be shown on that too.

 

[d-r]

one other thing about winter weather - Jellico (SIC?) MT. - which is right about the line between kentucky and tennessee - can be rough in winter weather.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Any part of the southern half of KY can be a nightmare on I75 at night in the winter. I have been stuck for hours in the mountains-the rough terrain and lack of snow removal equipment make this a tough haul in the snow and ice. I agree with the above poster regarding rush hour-Cincinnati can be a bear, Lexington isn't even a tap on the brakes, Knoxville is a mess, Chattanooga is clear, and Atlanta can be a mess.

If planning on driving through KY, especially on a Friday night, I would book a cancellable room and make a decision whether to stay during the trip. Lexington and Georgetown were booked solid last Friday night. There are some decent hotels in the London/Corbin areas of southern KY, about 11 1/2 hours from Orlando. Exits can get few and far between in KY, and not every exit has a decent hotel or even clean restrooms.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I-75 is clearly the preferred route but it doesn't hurt to have backup routings such as using I-65 or even I-95. That way if there is ice or snow forcasted for eastern Kentucky/eastern Tennessee you divert earlier to your backup plan such as I-65 which takes longer but is generally out of the mountains in more northern latitudes. If both areas are forcasted to be in the middle of a cold front with bad weather/snow/ice you get yourself over to I-95 as direct as you can and come down ahead of the front and generally along the coast where temps stay a bit warmer.

BobK/Orlando

 

[disneydiz]

One great on-line resource is: www.i75exitguide.com
It lists the gas stations, hotels, restaurants, etc. at every exit on I-75 from Michigan to Florida. There are also links to each State for construction info, the weather in each area. I copied the info listed and then pasted it in a Word document.

Just be careful about when you hit Atlanta. Traffic can be incredible!!! Do not take the by-pass around Atlanta, stay on I-75 -- as long as you have two people in the car, you are eligible for their HOV lanes during rush hour!