Looking for a campground halfway

[Bens mom]

We're headed for FW January 29th from Birmingham, AL. Estimating 12 hr drive. Don't think the 3yr old can handle the straight ride. So we're looking for a campground to stay the night. Thinking about maybe stopping in Tallahassee at Jellystone. Has anyone ever stayed there? Or does anyone have anyother suggestions?
Thanks,
Debbie

 

[docbrown]

If you can make it almost to Lake City, we like to stop at this state park:
Stephen Foster Folk Cc SP
P.O. DRAWER G US 41 NORTH
White Springs FL 32096
It near where I10 and I75 meet.
Nice facilities and you can't beat the $16 rate.
Happy travel.

 

[DaveInTN]

The only campground around there we've overnighted in is the Chattahoochee KOA, a little west of where you are talking. Might not be far enough along for you, as we made it there from about 3 hours north of you. Anyways, it was fine for an overnight. We stopped on our way to FW last Thanksgiving so it was spooky quiet at the KOA, but the facility was ok.

The other problem I have with the KOA which is probably also the case with the Jellystone, is that for an overnight stop it is pricey. I think I paid $45 at the KOA to basically park and use a bit of electricity. But, we felt secure which isn't always the case when we've overnighted at Walmart, so I guess it was worth it.

 

[clkelley]

I much prefer to go through Atlanta, then down I-75S, rather than down I-65/231/I-10.

(I'm from Huntsville/Madison).

If you leave Birmingham in the evening and get through Atlanta in the evening, then you avoid the bad Atlanta traffic due to the time, then it's smooth sailing the rest of the way, and it gets you to Fort Wilderness about check-in time.

Then there are several campgrounds along I-75 that are good.

There is a KOA at Forsyth that I really like. There is also a KOA at Cordele, GA, and one at Valdosta, GA (Haven't stayed at either of those, but usually KOAs are pretty good.)

Amy's South Georgia RV park in Tifton is decent for an overnighter and Eagle's Roost RV Resort at exit 5 just North of the Georgia line is really good for an overnighter.

 

[tcmsu]

For those around Birmingham, is it really a 12 hour drive from there?
And if you do go I-65, 231, I-10, how long is it to the Fort from Dothan, AL?

We're coming down for our first trip in June, and I've had people recommend both routes (I 65 through AL, and the I75 Atlanta route).
Just trying to judge times, and see where we might end up each night.

Thanks.

 

[clkelley]

For those around Birmingham, is it really a 12 hour drive from there?
And if you do go I-65, 231, I-10, how long is it to the Fort from Dothan, AL?

We're coming down for our first trip in June, and I've had people recommend both routes (I 65 through AL, and the I75 Atlanta route).
Just trying to judge times, and see where we might end up each night.

Thanks.

I drive from Huntsville, and for us it's 12 hours from Huntsville, so from B'ham, I would say 10.5 - 11 hours. We take the Atlanta route.

We leave Huntsville usually anywhere from 2pm - 5pm depending on when we can spring from work. If we leave at 2pm we get to I-20 about 3:30pm (Central) - we get to I-75 (through downtown) about 8:00pm (Eastern), after stopping for dinner somewhere along I-20, then we stop for the night at Tifton, (either in a hotel) or at Amy's South Georgia RV Park, getting there about 11:00 pm. The next morning we pull out about 8:00 am and get Disney by noon. We usually have to stop for lunch and on our October trip, we also washed the camper as it rained almost the whole way down, so we actually got to the Fort about 3pm.

 

[DaveInTN]

For those around Birmingham, is it really a 12 hour drive from there?
And if you do go I-65, 231, I-10, how long is it to the Fort from Dothan, AL?

We're coming down for our first trip in June, and I've had people recommend both routes (I 65 through AL, and the I75 Atlanta route).
Just trying to judge times, and see where we might end up each night.

Thanks.

I live about 20 miles south of Nashville, and have done both the Alabama route and the one through Atlanta. I think I prefer the Atlanta route, as it is a bit shorter and does offer more overnight options in south GA compared to the panhandle along I-10. In any case, the trip takes us 14 hours, but we don't push it as we have 4 kids and a dog, and I drive a 35' gas MH that has a "sweet spot" around 65mph. With kids, the drive from Birmingham could easily take 12 hours, but also could be less depending on stops and speed.

For us, from Dothan to the Fort takes about 6 or 6.5 hours IIRC.

 

[vick]

We always go I65 to 231 through Dothan from Decatur. We overnighted in Dothan on our last trip in August. I think it took us around 6 hours from Dothan. That was with us pulling a 5er and taking plenty of pit stops for me and our dog. We took the Atlanta route once, but dh likes the other route better.

 

[Tnbob]

I live about another 20 miles south of Nashville than Daveintn and we like the 65/231/10/75 route, just our prefrence. Its more of a laid back drive, less traffic, trucks and nice scenery compared to the interstate and 10 has been redone in the last couple years so its smother now, it was a mess for a while. We have been traveling with 2 of our grandchildren for the past few years and boy do I know how it is. Did you ever think that a 2 and 3 yr old could mess with each other, just to agrivate each other for fun? They are 4 and 5 now and its gotten better but the bathroom stops haven't. We usually get to Ozark or Dothan the first day (we aren't early risers and in no hurry)and both have very nice campgrounds but those are more of a good spot for your return. We have stayed at the Jellystone before and it was nice and actully quite reasonable, it was January and there were only 4 or 5 other people there. Jellystone has all kinds of stuff for kids but in winter its mostly the swings etc. There is a Loves at the same exit that is new in the last year. Just my two cents.

 

[LuckyinGa]

We have stayed at Eagle's Roost and Lake Park KOA. They are both located off of I-75 at Exit 5 (five miles north of the Georgia/Florida border) with easy on and off access. We prefer Eagle's Roost as we found the sites to be more level.

https://www.eaglesroostresort.com/
http://www.koa.com/where/ga/10151/

 

[2goofycampers]

We like the Forsyth KOA off I-75 in Ga, easy in and out and nice people.

 

[bama_ed]

We're headed for FW January 29th from Birmingham, AL. Estimating 12 hr drive. Don't think the 3yr old can handle the straight ride. So we're looking for a campground to stay the night. Thinking about maybe stopping in Tallahassee at Jellystone. Has anyone ever stayed there? Or does anyone have anyother suggestions?
Thanks,
Debbie

Debbie,

Howdie from Hoover, AL! We are in the same "neck of the woods". You can see by my signature that I've driven from Birmingham to WDW many times over the last 10 years. Some have been towing my pop-up; most have not been. In those early years my DD was your child's age so I can sympathize plus I had two olders (kids now 15/13/10).

First, I get to the Fort in 9.5 hours either way (down to Dothan and south to I-10) or going through Atlanta. That includes all stops for bathroom breaks, gas purchases, and a drive-through fast food lunch (breakfast before we leave and try to combine as many stops as possible). The most recent trip was 604 miles via Dothan door-to-door. We've always done it in one day unless we left out at 5 p.m. after a full workday (ugh ). I also might suggest an early departure (like 5 a.m.) so your child will likely fall back asleep while it's dark in early in the morning and you can get 2-3 hours in before they wake up. I've pulled that one before. So I'd suggest trying to get there in one day, really.

I prefer the Dothan route over Atlanta although I've used both. The plus to the Atlanta route is it's all interstate which means easier towing, fewer brakes being applied, more opportunities for gas/food/breaks. The downside to the Atlanta route is towing/pulling the camper up and down the hills east of Birmingham (which you are probably familiar with), it's 50 miles further to go through Atlanta, and you need to schedule your time through Atlanta to avoid morning/afternoon commuting times. Coming home (northbound) through Atlanta, I nearly always encounter a slow-down at the I-75/I-675 interchange south of town. No wrecks, no one pulled over for us rubber-neckers, but I hate sitting in traffic or crawling for miles.

The Dothan route is shorter but you will encounter a few more stops/red lights on Hwy 231 and in the Dothan area (more breaking, wear/tear on the transmission). I-10 is fairly empty (there was reconstruction through Tallahassee).

My driving advice: either way you choose, DON'T buy gas in Lake City, FL. Prices are high because it's the only town for about 50 miles in any direction. I bought in Dothan then Gainesville on the way down. That last exit before you get to the Turnpike also has cheap gas. Be aware that Florida extended Hwy 429 south of the Turnpike on the west side of Disney a few years ago (which may not be on older maps) which is WONDERFUL since you can avoid the I-4/Turnpike interchange and I-4 traffic. You pay one cheap toll and get off at the Western Way exit of 429 and you come into Disney property by Cornado Springs and Blizzard Beach (beware, Western Way is a speed trap). Also a speed trap is I-75 in Valdosta, GA if coming that way.

Good luck with whatever you decide and let us have a trip report. Since you're looking for a campground, I assume you're towing a trailer (or tent camping). If towing, what kind of trailer do you have and what's your tow vehicle?

Bama ED

 

[PrincessNana]

In reference to the Jellystone Park (I think in Madison,FL) we stayed there for one night with our grandkids. There were plenty of things for the kids to do and they enjoyed the break in our travel. The sites are all gravel and dirt which was bad because it was raining when we got there . Other than that we enjoyed the stay there and will probably stay there again on our trip this summer.

 

[Bens mom]

Hey Bama Ed. Hoover huh? Wow small world. We're in McCalla. Thanks for all the info. I think we're gonna try the Dothan route. Since you said it only took you 9.5 hours my husband thinks we should drive straight through. We're trying to figure out the best time to leave. 5am (son usually wakes up at 6:00) not sure if we would be lucky enough that he might go back to sleep.
Or 10pm the night before so he might just sleep the whole ride.(truck knocks him out)
We've got a Chevy 3500 Crew Cab
2007 36 ft FW Montana Mountaineer Bunk house
This will be our first time to pull it this far. And our first time to Disney.
VERY excited. Count downs on.

Thanks again,
Debbie

 

[bradisgoofy]

For tcmsu - I have done the 69/65/24/75 route for many years, the last time with my 36' fifth wheel, never again. I did the 69/65/231/75 route the last two trips in our 38' motorhome. I found this trip to be much more relaxed and we arrived at FW ready to go. We stop at the Jellystone Park in Nashvillehttp://www.nashvillejellystone.com/?, the first night then the Tallahassee RV Park just east of town, the second. This puts us at FW around 1pm.

For Bens mom - The Tallahassee RV is a beautiful park with great hosts.