HOw far outside orlando to stay the night before going to Epcot

[Cassbrooks2010]

Not sure if this was the best place for this but it seemed close!

We will be driving in from Atlanta but not leaving til 4pm Thursday. Knowing me I will get sleepy far before reaching orlando. Is staying in Gainesville reasonable for a drive in to be at Epcot at opening on Friday morning? I wasn’t sure how rush hour would be although we would leave Gainesville by 5 am at the latest.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[HopperFan]

I drive down from St. Augustine often but have found that rush hour can be bad ... but I'm coming in via I-4 the whole way through downtown ORL. Turnpike is likely not that bad and you would only have a short stint on I-4.

I've done ATL to Ocala a few times leaving in the afternoon, then straight to a park in the morning. It can make for a very long day but doable.

 

[writerguyfl]

The major mapping software lets you put in a "Leave At" time and date. It will give you times based on historical traffic data. Selecting a random Friday in April, I'm getting 2 hours and 5 minutes travel time with Light Traffic. Bing Maps also provides the time if traffic didn't exist. Here, it's 1 hour 48 minutes. Effectively, the traffic will only slow you down about 17 minutes for that 120 mile drive.

Link to Bing Maps with the above settings: https://binged.it/2oCeIiY

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I think you'd be fine; take 75 to the Turnpike to the 429. Google Maps estimates it would take anywhere from 1 hour and 50 minutes to 2 hours and 20 minutes... you could probably stop for breakfast with that kind of time!

 

[Willow1213]

We drive in from Atlanta, and I would recommend Ocala. Gainesville is about 5 hours for us, and another 2:30 from there. Ocala gets us most of the way, with about another 1 - 1:15 remaining.