I-75 Orlando to Ontario - Stopping in TN

[FrankieDplus3]

Hi Everyone,

I received a lot of help when planning my drive from Canada to Orlando, so, I'm hoping I can get some last minute feedback/tips before I head back home. I'm headed home Sunday morning (Sept 4th).

We are planning on leaving around 8 am, GPS tells me it is a 9hr drive to exit 5 on I-75, Chattanooga TN. This is where we usually stop.

If I extend my drive further along I-75, where's another good place to stop in TN?

I'm looking for hotel feedback (we have had not-so-good-luck the last 2 years staying at the Comfort Inn and Quality Inn).
We usually grab a hotel coupon book when we enter a state, but, I can't remember if there are any info centres heading north on I-75 in TN.

How's the traffic in Atlanta around 3-4pm on a Saturday of the long weekend.

I know it's last minute, but, if I do get any responses before the end of the night or early next morning that'll be great.

Thanks again for all of the help.

 

[taylor3297]

Hi Everyone,

I received a lot of help when planning my drive from Canada to Orlando, so, I'm hoping I can get some last minute feedback/tips before I head back home. I'm headed home Sunday morning (Sept 4th).

We are planning on leaving around 8 am, GPS tells me it is a 9hr drive to exit 5 on I-75, Chattanooga TN. This is where we usually stop.

If I extend my drive further along I-75, where's another good place to stop in TN?

I'm looking for hotel feedback (we have had not-so-good-luck the last 2 years staying at the Comfort Inn and Quality Inn).
We usually grab a hotel coupon book when we enter a state, but, I can't remember if there are any info centres heading north on I-75 in TN.

How's the traffic in Atlanta around 3-4pm on a Saturday of the long weekend.

I know it's last minute, but, if I do get any responses before the end of the night or early next morning that'll be great.

Thanks again for all of the help.

There is a Braves game at 1:35 PM on Sunday, Sept. 4 so depending on what time the game is over you may hit part of that traffic.

There is also a Nascar race at 7:30 PM Sunday and I am not sure what time people start arriving for that race.

I am not sure where you would stay in Chattanooga. My parents live 45 minutes away so I stay at their house. The only place I have ever stayed at in Chattanooga was at the Choo-Choo downtown.

 

[kydisneyfans]

About every 20 minutes from Chattanooga to Knoxville you will find an exit with decent hotels. Make sure you stop before or in Knoxville though, there is not much north of Knoxville into KY.

I stay away from the entire Choice hotel chain anymore. It may sound petty but they no longer offer USA Today, my newspaper of choice. The offer the Wall Street Journal instead, which I have no interest in. We have stayed at Comfort Suites and Sleep Inns before which were OK, but there are many others out there that offer more at comparable prices.

 

[FrankieDplus3]

Update:
Made it through downtown Atlanta with no traffic problems. Baseball and Nascar had no impact at around 3:30.

Ended up making it to Lenoir, TN (exit 81) by about 6:45. Nice location. Plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Thanks for all feedback, especially with my short notice post.

 

[TreesyB]

Update:
Made it through downtown Atlanta with no traffic problems. Baseball and Nascar had no impact at around 3:30.

Ended up making it to Lenoir, TN (exit 81) by about 6:45. Nice location. Plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Thanks for all feedback, especially with my short notice post.

I just stayed there last week on my trip home from FL. Nice little town with lots of nice roadside hotel/motels. I stayed at Holiday Inn Express Suites - not as nice as north of knoxville, but adequate. Where did you end up and did you like it?

 

[Syrreal]

Whatever you do, do NOT stay at La Quinta in Chattanooga. The room was dirty (except for the beds). It looked like they had been trying to remodel the place but mainly it was just lipstick on a pig.

 

[FrankieDplus3]

I just stayed there last week on my trip home from FL. Nice little town with lots of nice roadside hotel/motels. I stayed at Holiday Inn Express Suites - not as nice as north of knoxville, but adequate. Where did you end up and did you like it?

We used the Hotel Coupon book as our guide. We ended up picking the Hampton Inn, $74/night. The Holiday Inn Express was our back up; it was in the book for $79/night.

Hampton was very nice, very quiet. Clean rooms and beds. The breakfeast was good, with cold and hot items to choose from.

This was a nice spot to stop. There were a lot of options for restaurants. Also, as a bonus (not sure if it was exclusive to the Hampton Inn) a lot of the restaurants gave you a special deal if you showed your hotel key card.

We ate at the Chili's next door a received a free order of nachos and salsa.

 

[sammielynn]

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I live within 30 minutes of Lenori City and the Hampton Inn Lenoir City 585 Ft Loudon Medical Ctr, Lenoir City, TN 37772 is theplace to stay. They even bake cookies for the guest. Nice stop between Knoxville and Chattanooga.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would highly recommend trying the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cleveland, Tennessee which is located off exit 25. It had to have the best continental breakfast I ever had in my lifetime.