Looking for alternate route from Nashville to WDW

[disneydebi]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone has a different route from Nashville to WDW that does NOT add a lot of time/distance.

We recently took the trip, going 24 to 75. I have to say that going through the mountain (Mt. Eagle?) after Chattanooga was more than I could take. My DH is a bit of a lead foot (although he doesn't think so), and he went down that mountain at about 70 mph! Of course having two small dogs decide to cross the highway at the same time was not helping (seriously - it happened).

Is there a different route that would allow us avoid that mountain without adding much time or distance?

I really don't want to do that again - it's a very steep grade and made me extremely nervous.

Thanks!

 

[mgilmer]

Well if you don't want to go over Monteagle Mountain, you can go down I-65 to Birmingham and hit I-20 and go to Atlanta and then I-75 on down from there. Somewhat longer than thru Chat but mostly flat the whole way.

 

[DC7800]

You could try I-40 east from Nashville to I-75 south just west of Knoxville; Highway 27, south from I-40 at Rockwood, would be a shortcut.

Although you would still have to traverse the Cumberland Plateau, the grades may be less than I-24 over Monteagle.

 

[CarolA]

Both of these are adding at least two hours to the journey.......

 

[disneydebi]

Well, I don't think DH would go for adding 2 hours to a trip. Especially since he didn't think bombing down the mountain at 70mph was a problem (yikes!). I was hoping to find something that added no more than an hour onto the trip - I might be able to sell that one to him! If anyone has other ideas, feel free to chime in!

 

[Traveliz]

We go over Monteagle several times a year -- I know it can seem a little harrowing but honestly we love it - its beautiful and to see the streams of water trickling through the rock is gorgeous.

Maybe it won't seem so bad after you do it a few more times.

Liz

 

[disneydebi]

Traveliz,

Yes it's beautiful. I'm originally from New England and have done "mountains" of NH & VT in the past. But the steep grade is a bit unnerving, but more so by the fact that my stubborn DH drives it way too fast. It was better on the way back, but he's a bit pig headed and feels the need to go faster than I like (to stay ahead of the big trucks apparently). We know people who travel it frequently and say you shouldn't go down it more than 50mph. I could deal with that! But I can't feel confident he'll drive that slow!

 

[CarolA]

Traveliz,

Yes it's beautiful. I'm originally from New England and have done "mountains" of NH & VT in the past. But the steep grade is a bit unnerving, but more so by the fact that my stubborn DH drives it way too fast. It was better on the way back, but he's a bit pig headed and feels the need to go faster than I like (to stay ahead of the big trucks apparently). We know people who travel it frequently and say you shouldn't go down it more than 50mph. I could deal with that! But I can't feel confident he'll drive that slow!

Don't worry, If you drive it a few times the cops will get you. (they got me once and I now go the speed limit LOL!) They KNOW folks like your stubborn DH are doing this and they make a LOT of money off of them. (It's a speed trap) I go down it at almost exactly the speed limit or maybe five miles over, but when I used to do it often I saw people pulled over ALL the time. (Maybe you should warn him on that!) Even my brother (AKA as Leadfoot) drives the speed limit there and he is probably convinced he could do it at 90. (No idea how many tickets it took to slow him down but I am betting on more then one!)

 

[Traveliz]

Traveliz,

Yes it's beautiful. I'm originally from New England and have done "mountains" of NH & VT in the past. But the steep grade is a bit unnerving, but more so by the fact that my stubborn DH drives it way too fast. It was better on the way back, but he's a bit pig headed and feels the need to go faster than I like (to stay ahead of the big trucks apparently). We know people who travel it frequently and say you shouldn't go down it more than 50mph. I could deal with that! But I can't feel confident he'll drive that slow!

Sounds like you are either going to have to add a few hours to your trip or work on your husband. Or maybe you could drive the hill.

Liz

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Another popular way is to take I-65 south from Nashville to Montgomery and then US 231 south from Montgomery via Dothan to I-10 at Cottondale, Florida. From there it's I-10 east to Lake City where you pick up I-75 south.

US 231 has a lower speed limit and some traffic lights in Montgomery and Dothan (use the Bypass in Dothan) , but it is a 4-lane divided highway. This way adds at least an hour to the journey and possibly two however since you're headed directly southbound at the beginning of your trip you do feel like you're making good progress. And you do bypass Atlanta, which can be a good thing too.

You might try this route Florida-bound and the usual I-24 routing Nashville-bound. The downhill portion of I-24 when you're westbound is much more gradual; the really steep grades are on the uphill side.

BobK/Orlando

 

[5onadime]

That really is the best way (down the HILL of DEATH). I HATE that spot, truly. I close my eyes and go to my HAPPY PLACE while my husband races the trucks down. Last time I begged my husband to PLEASE slow down. He didn't even realise I had a problem with the road!!! He slowed down --Just for me--and it went soooooooo much better. Maybe you could calmly ask before he even gets to that spot in the road, if he would consider slowing down--for the sake of your nerves.

 

[manning]

Hi,



We recently took the trip, going 24 to 75. I have to say that going through the mountain (Mt. Eagle?) after Chattanooga was more than I could take. My DH is a bit of a lead foot (although he doesn't think so), and he went down that mountain at about 70 mph! Of course having two small dogs decide to cross the highway at the same time was not helping (seriously - it happened).

Is there a different route that would allow us avoid that mountain without adding much time or distance?

I really don't want to do that again - it's a very steep grade and made me extremely nervous.

Thanks!

I think the speed limit now is 55. Back around 1972 the speed limit was....70mph.

 

[Matthews4Disney]

I just searched for directions to WDW from Nashville and saw this post...so many of you seem to have perfected the fastest way of getting there. Would you care to give me your favorite directions from the Nashville area, going the fastest route via Mt. Eagle? I would really appreciate it! We leave on Friday and I am afraid of just getting directions online. Those sites have given me the long routes to destinations so many times, so I would much rather have advice from you guys who travel it often. Thank you!!!!!

 

[Marshel]

I just take my car out of overdrive and leave my foot off the gas and end up going 55-60 on the downhill part of Monteagle. Not only do you avoid the speeding ticket you can really inadvertently warm up your brakes by riding them drivng down the mountain in overdrive .I-24 to I-75S is far and away the quickest route. The key is timing your drive through Atlanta outside of rush hour; if you must go through Atlanta during rush hour use the eastern bypass, I-285,and deal with the trucks. If you have more than one person in the car you can stay on I-75 and use the HOV lane, but you're taking your chances if you do so during rush hour. AM 750 in Atlanta has traffic every ten minutes, 24 hours a day, the overhead signs on I-75 also have traffic advisorys. Take the 475S bypass at Macon, GA, south of Atlanta. Just south of Ocala Fl, you get on the FL turnpike. If you're staying in WDW, you exit the turnpike at exit 267( exit 267a if memory serves me right), rte 429S, about 15 miles short of Orlando, and follow it to the Western Way WDW exit, this will take you right into Disney by Coronado Springs resort. If your staying in Orlando, take the turnpike into Orlando and take I-4W. The turnpike and 429 are toll roads.

 

[Matthews4Disney]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your directions!!!!! We'll be all set for our trip on Friday now. Thanks again!

I just take my car out of overdrive and leave my foot off the gas and end up going 55-60 on the downhill part of Monteagle. Not only do you avoid the speeding ticket you can really inadvertently warm up your brakes by riding them drivng down the mountain in overdrive .I-24 to I-75S is far and away the quickest route. The key is timing your drive through Atlanta outside of rush hour; if you must go through Atlanta during rush hour use the eastern bypass, I-285,and deal with the trucks. If you have more than one person in the car you can stay on I-75 and use the HOV lane, but you're taking your chances if you do so during rush hour. AM 750 in Atlanta has traffic every ten minutes, 24 hours a day, the overhead signs on I-75 also have traffic advisorys. Take the 475S bypass at Macon, GA, south of Atlanta. Just south of Ocala Fl, you get on the FL turnpike. If you're staying in WDW, you exit the turnpike at exit 267( exit 267a if memory serves me right), rte 429S, about 15 miles short of Orlando, and follow it to the Western Way WDW exit, this will take you right into Disney by Coronado Springs resort. If your staying in Orlando, take the turnpike into Orlando and take I-4W. The turnpike and 429 are toll roads.