I-75 vs. I-90/79/77 advice needed!

[riu girl]

First time driving to WDW (only one driver, DH) in December and are starting to research our routing!

Love Paul Hunter's I-75 book but have also heard positive things about I-90 etc. route.

What is your preference and why????

Please keep in mind that we will be travelling with two young kids, DH hates distance driving and we get lost frequently on short trips in Ontario.

Will be away at Girl Guide camp for a week with the kids starting tomorrow but will check this thread when we return.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Riu Girl

 

[OntFamily]

Where are you starting your drive? This will affect the recommendation (ie if you live in Windsor, I would take the I-75, Niagara Falls I-77/79).


Also, if DH does not like distance driving, it doesn't matter what route you take -- both are over 20 hours of drive time.

 

[riu girl]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that. We are starting from the Peterborough area (Omemee). We are about a 1.5 hour NE of Toronto.

 

[Susan--Ontario]

Having driven both routes I do have some observations. If it's snowing (or freezing rain as in was in early December 2002 when we went) I-75 is a better bet. I-75 has more hotels, gas stations, restaurants, etc. but the other way is a bit shorter and much more beautiful scenery. The mountains on 75 in Tennesee are also beautiful but just not near as high. We used less gas going 75 because there were less mountains. Both my DS and I get car sick. The 77-79 route is very curvy and I was very ill. Needless to say we won't be going that way again any time soon. The scenery isn't important to me and I now know I-75 better than I know the 401.

When we did go the other way we didn't book a hotel for our stop over night and we spent a little more than an hour stopping at various exits looking for a hotel for the night. That doesn't happen on 75 unless you're travelling over Easter/Spring Break. Coming from Peterborough though it is a bit shorter going through the Virginias/Carolinas.

Happy planning!

 

[NancyK]

I prefer the I-77/79 route. Far less truck traffic and a much more relaxing drive. You can run into hotel problems no matter which way you go. I've never had a problem on I-77, but can remember at least 2 occasions travelling I-75 where we couldn't get a hotel due to conventions and had to travel an hour to get one (both times were in March). Although I strongly dislike I-75, it is by far the safer route in the winter. I would advise taking I-75 this time, and if you ever go between April and October, try the more scenic (and shorter) route.
Nancy

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I would say go for the I-75 route especially since you'll be driving in December. It's a very easy route if you are prone to getting lost. You join the I-75 in Detroit and don't get off it until you hit the Florida turnpike. I've done both ways over the years and prefer the I-75 route. We've never had a problem getting a hotel on the I-75 while we have had this problem on the other route. We've also never had a problem with truck traffic either on I-75. The best reason to drive I-75 is Dave Hunter's book.

Have fun.

 

[hockey mom]

In December go with I-75.

 

[kellyla]

We went 77-79 this past December(a week before Christmas)and the only place we ran into anything was Fort Erie to Pittsburgh.It took us an extra 30-45 minutes to go through the snow.No problems in the mountains and no problems on the way home.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Drove 77/79 to Toronto December 02.
Never again!
We had rain throughout the mountains, then freezing rain and luckily we stayed just ahead of a major snowstorm!
DH and I are very seasoned drivers and it was very stressful!
77/79 is the way to go during summer and fall, but I'd be safe and go I-75 in December.
Besides, Dave Hunters book is great!