Mountain Free Drive?

[Disneyboundgirl]

Hello all!

I have no idea if anyone can help me or not but I will give it a shot. I am driving from Cleveland to WDW next week and I was wondering if anyone knew of a mountain free route. One of the passengers are worried that the mountains may make her lightheaded or dizzy which is why we are not flying.

Right now I know of I-77 and I-75. I was trying to avoid adding lots of time onto the already 18 hour drive if possible. I just want to make the trip as drama free as possible.

Also, we are looking to drive about 12 hours the first day. Anyone have a good idea of where to stay about 12 hours in from Ohio? It looks like that would be about Savannah if we take I-77.

Any help would be great as we are first timers. Thanks so much!!

Christina

 

[ncc1701]

Unless you plan to drive west to Indiana and the south to Alabama then over to Florida you are going to have to deal with the Appalachian Mtns. Even heading east you will have to cross them.Altho I don't think they are as high in western PA. but that would add a lot of time to you trip.

 

[Alesia]

Hello all!

I have no idea if anyone can help me or not but I will give it a shot. I am driving from Cleveland to WDW next week and I was wondering if anyone knew of a mountain free route. One of the passengers are worried that the mountains may make her lightheaded or dizzy which is why we are not flying.

Flying won't make you dizzy or lightheaded like driving in the mountains will - the cabins are pressurized.

 

[dis_guy]

Flying won't make you dizzy or lightheaded like driving in the mountains will - the cabins are pressurized.

Yes, but not to sea level. More like 6000-7000 feet for most of them.

 

[minnierocks]

Hmmm...can't think of any way to avoid mountains unless you want to significantly increase your drive time. We drive from the Akron/Canton area and I will tell you that I-77 is the route you should take. The mountain portion isn't bad at all and I believe that I-75 is still closed around Chattanooga, TN due to the rock slide. Give whoever might have an issue with it a dramamine and they can sleep through that portion. You are only in the mountains for a couple of hours.

As for a stop...you are correct-Savannah area is about 12 hours. The Pooler exit has plenty of places to stay although we have driven a little further and stayed around Brunswick. We found a Sleep Inn there for under $60/night. We just needed clean, safe and a free breakfast. My recommendation is that you not stop between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC...we have not had good luck with exits and there are some bad areas there.

 

[Chelley00]

Unless you plan to drive west to Indiana and the south to Alabama then over to Florida you are going to have to deal with the Appalachian Mtns. Even heading east you will have to cross them.Altho I don't think they are as high in western PA. but that would add a lot of time to you trip.

We are in Indiana. And we have to drive through mountains taking 65 to 24. They'd have to drive way out of the way to avoid mountains coming this way.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Hmmm...can't think of any way to avoid mountains unless you want to significantly increase your drive time. We drive from the Akron/Canton area and I will tell you that I-77 is the route you should take. The mountain portion isn't bad at all and I believe that I-75 is still closed around Chattanooga, TN due to the rock slide. Give whoever might have an issue with it a dramamine and they can sleep through that portion. You are only in the mountains for a couple of hours.

The rockslide portion is around Knoxville, not Chattanooga. Presently I-75 is open with one lane going each way. It should completely open sometime this month.

And you're only in the mountains for about 50 miles...about 45 minutes. A lot better than the two hours in the I-77/I-81 mountains, timewise.

You'll never bypass all mountains. But I do know a way in which you are on one mountain for about 10 minutes. It's about 60 miles longer though, going the I-75 route. Mapquest shows it as a 20 hour trip from Cleveland to Orlando going this route.

PM me if you want the directions.

 

[Disneyboundgirl]

Thank you for responding everyone.

I guess we will attempt to go through the mountains on I-77. It seems like the most striaght through shot to WDW. Hopefully the altitude changes don't affect her too much. I don't think that they are bad mountains going through there anyway. Not like out West I mean. I will keep my fingers crossed!

LadyBeBOp as soon I figure out how to PM you I will just in case we go the other route. It's telling me that I have not posted enough posts to be able to PM! Sorry!

Minnierocks, so Pooler and Brunswick are safe bets to stop? I hate being in an unknown place... Thanks for the info!

Thanks again!!

Christina

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Hello all!

I have no idea if anyone can help me or not but I will give it a shot. I am driving from Cleveland to WDW next week and I was wondering if anyone knew of a mountain free route. One of the passengers are worried that the mountains may make her lightheaded or dizzy which is why we are not flying.

now I know of I-77 and I-75. I was trying to avoid adding lots of time onto-77.

Any help would be great as we are first timers. Thanks so much!!

Has this person had problems at altitude before? There wouldn't have been any problems flying!

 

[Disneyboundgirl]

She has a heart issue called POTS.... and she was told that flying or altitude changes will affect her. She also gets vertigo quite easily so that adds into the "fun"...

LadyBeBop - Thank you for the info.. I did get it and it won't allow me to PM you back a thank you so I am doing it here!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

She has a heart issue called POTS.... and she was told that flying or altitude changes will affect her. She also gets vertigo quite easily so that adds into the "fun"...

LadyBeBop - Thank you for the info.. I did get it and it won't allow me to PM you back a thank you so I am doing it here!

That makes sense. Good luck. I hope she can take anti-nausea meds!

 

[chartle]

I did some figuring in Google Earth and in Cleveland you start out at 637' and the highest you get is 3109' in WV.

Also you in the mountains for 200 miles

 

[Disneyboundgirl]

Wow, thanks everyone.. What wonderful people there are on here... I really appreciate it!

chartle, any idea if that altitude is considered "severe"?

Lol.. I know, I know... you are a Disney expert not a mountain expert...

Just trying to get a feel for this...

You all are just wonderful!!

Thanks!

 

[chartle]

Wow, thanks everyone.. What wonderful people there are on here... I really appreciate it!

chartle, any idea if that altitude is considered "severe"?

Lol.. I know, I know... you are a Disney expert not a mountain expert...

Just trying to get a feel for this...

You all are just wonderful!!

Thanks!

Actually you would need a Dr to define severe.

A mountain expert and anyone from the west would call the Appalachian Mountains tall hills.

 

[joelkfla]

I did a Google & found a discussion about POTS & elevation change.

The consensus seemed to be that altitudes below 5000' were usually not a problem. But some were affected at lower altitudes, like the Poconos. So you can't really tell; it depends on the individual.

 

[Disneyboundgirl]

Thank you very much guys!

I guess we will just have to see!! I really appreciate all the info!

What a great resource!!

Have a great night!!

Christina

 

[Alesia]

I would have your friend ask her doctor exactly what is acceptable.

 

[minnierocks]

Yes...the Pooler exit and the Brunswick area in GA is fine. We personally preferred the Brunswick area because it was further south (closer to Disney) and the hotel prices were lower.
As for the drive, I agree with asking the doctor. If you know the elevation and can specifically ask about it, the doctor may be able to reassure her that it won't be a problem which will alleviate some of the anxiety and make it a more pleasant trip. If the doc does think it will be a problem, then you know ahead of time and may be able to get some suggestions that will help. The mountains are not anywhere near what you would encounter out west. To us, the drive is not harrowing in any way (like in Vermont!)...just a lot of beautiful scenery and large, rolling hills. I have driven them with just my daughter, while my DH stayed home and had no issues whatsoever. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[DianeW]

Well, honestly, there are mountains and there are mountains.

I live in Salt Lake City and honestly wouldn't consider anything less than 10,000 feet to be a mountain. I really think she'll be fine in the area you're talking about. Altitude sickness (the genuine illness) generally doesn't even kick in until you're over 8,000 feet. Now, psychologically speaking, your passenger may *think* she's experiencing altitude symptoms, but they're most likely going to be all in her head. Of course, that's a whole different problem to contend with...and it sounds like it's the one you're trying to avoid, since you mentioned drama. LOL

Honestly, I think she'll be fine physically, but maybe she could get something from her doctor if it'll make her (and the rest of her traveling companions) feel better.

 

[chartle]

Well, honestly, there are mountains and there are mountains.

I live in Salt Lake City and honestly wouldn't consider anything less than 10,000 feet to be a mountain. I really think she'll be fine in the area you're talking about. Altitude sickness (the genuine illness) generally doesn't even kick in until you're over 8,000 feet. Now, psychologically speaking, your passenger may *think* she's experiencing altitude symptoms, but they're most likely going to be all in her head. Of course, that's a whole different problem to contend with...and it sounds like it's the one you're trying to avoid, since you mentioned drama. LOL

Honestly, I think she'll be fine physically, but maybe she could get something from her doctor if it'll make her (and the rest of her traveling companions) feel better.

If you read a little about POTS its not altitude sickness, but has to do with change in pressure even small ones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome

Some have issues standing up, some just going from inside to outside.