Just Back/ Fires!

[goofy & sleepy]

jUST BACK last night....FOR THOSE OF YOU going soon, you may want to make sure you are prepared for alternate ways around the fires. We left Disney@8 am yesterday traveling North toward Atlanta. While we were aware of the fires (didn't have too much smoke on trip), we were not aware of the interstate closings until we were upon them. After 9 days at Disney, we weren't watching too much news, so we were totally unprepared for I-75 (& I-10) being closed until we came to a stop at Lake City. Had to detour & get back on at Valdosta (approx 70 miles?).

Turned a 9.5-10 hr trip w/stops into a 12 hour trip.

You have to feel horrible for those people living w/it every day. Talked w/someone in McD's in Lake city, while trying to decide best route (went w/troopers advice), who had just driven thru I75 before they closed it & he was literally shaking. He said you couldn't see past front of your car hood.

 

[KathyRN137]

Scary. Thanks for posting.

Kathy

 

[beanjean]

Thanks for posting as we live in Cleveland and will be traveling the same direction this Friday going to Disney World. Trying to decide whether to cancer trip or just make the best of it. If we cancel we will lose money so kind of on the fence. Not looking forward to a longer drive with detours. Hopefully rain will come and clear up a bit. Anyone know a good rain dance?

 

[CCIntrigue]

Here's a site to check on Florida road conditions: http://www.fl511.com. Or dial 511 on your cell phone while in the state. Happy traveling!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

Thanks for letting us know-we're leaving in 9 days. We're from the Atlanta area, so we'll probably go 75 to middle GA, then get on I-16 which will take us to 95, then go down that way.

 

[Eeyores Pal]

We leave on Friday and I am worrying about alternate routes. We are from the Atlanta area also. I think I would prefer to take 16 from Macon to Savannah and take I-95 south. I-75 from GA to FL is typically very busy anyway, and if you re-route all of those folks on 2-lane highways, it's going to be awful I am sure!

I feel bad for the people who live in the midst of all of the fires! Here I am worrying about the amount of time this is going to add to my travel time for a vacation and they may not have homes to go back to! But, it's Disney and i haven't been since 2004 and my family hasn't been since 1997. (I am going with my parents and sister this time)

I am praying the winds will die down and they will get some rain and be able to control the fires better.

 

[Jamie77]

I live in Charleston, SC and today we are getting a lot of smoke from that way.

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Everyone needs to just keep checking on the road conditions. I don't know which direction the smoke is blowing today, but Savannah was socked in for the last two days. (But it was clear this morning.) I drove Savannah to Macon today and it was clear the entire way, so I think the smoke must have shifted back south.

If you want Georgia Road conditions - use Georgia Navigator

 

[loonytoony]

I did not see where I-75 was closed anywhere? DId someone actually see that on a website

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

I-75 was open today everywhere except for one interchange in Florida. But it is definitely intermittent depending on the winds and smoke. If you are actually driving in Georgia and want to make a decision before hitting Macon (when heading south), there is a number on the Navigator website that you can call to find out road conditions (I don't think it is *GSP, but it might be. That number will pull up the nearest State Trooper post, which should also have the information.)

 

[DisneyBarlans]

We are leaving Thursday-it looks like things are a little better on I-75 now but we'll probably still avoid it. We smelled (and saw) the smoke in Atlanta a couple of days ago-it was very scary. I feel so bad for those people that are living through this and being evacuated and here I am worrying about my route.

 

[loonytoony]

Any more fire updates for I-75 between GA & FLA?