Need advice on the Drive from Chicago

[Cindy's Mom]

I need some help "selling" DH on driving from Chicago to WDW on June 12th. My cousin owns a car rental company is giving us a great deal so "no wear and tear" on our cars, which was a huge plus for DH. Our kids are DD5 and DS4, and each have portable DVD players. I don't want to drive straight through. I've driven my parents car down with them a couple times, they live in South Florida. We usually stop in Marietta GA for the overnight. But WDW is closer and Marietta is 11 hours from the house and then Marietta to WDW is about 7 hours. I think I'd like to make the 2 days more even. Can anyone suggest a stop north of Marietta. OR should I just do it that way and get more time in for our first Disney day.

 

[FINFAN]

We have driven from Chicago, and usually stop just North of Marietta in Acworth. We prefer to get through Chattanooga the first day as it never fails, we always hit rain in the summer! We usually pull in to the hotel in Acworth about 8pm, giving us a great nights sleep, departing around 7 the next day. We like to stop at the Fl welcome center, get our free O.J. (tradition)...we play football, just goof off for a while and then pull into WDW about 2 or 3 p.m. If you skip the welcome center you would be there by 1 I would think, as long as the traffic around Valdosta isn't too bad. We take the IL 57/ 24/ 75 ROUTE. A bit longer geographically, but we have always done better time wise this route...we avoid 65 thru Indy like the plague...just too nervewracking. Plus, even tho Il is one LONG state and it feels like forever before you are through it, then BAM! KY nad TN are over in a few hours. We have stopped for fireworks etc., if you have the time/days...driving is not bad at all. I actually prefer it, but only if we can have 8 or more days of vacation time (not including the 4 days of driving time) I love having the freedom of our own timeline, not the airlines, and the freedom to pack what we like and not be as limited. Plus, we actually like the time together. We also hook up a DVD and game system, but last time DD made t-shirts on the ride using fabric pens, and DS did legos a lot of the way....DD video taped some things from the car and it was just a bit more enjoyable. However, we were tired from the driving and the pilot does all that on the plane! That is great that you can rent a car, ours is not reliable enough to make another trip , so we are playing the airline lotto...and boy are the prices high!


Pam

 

[Cindy's Mom]

FINFAN - thanks for all that info.....we have 2 full weeks to travel (6 days in Disney, then to my parents in Delray Beach, this will be the first time in 3 years years while going there that THEY WON'T BE THERE!!!! we will be Home Alone....how awesome is that?

I know DH's tricky mind, he will only want to spend a couple days in Delray then start the trip back home via Graceland. Which BTW is fine with me and part of the beauty of a road trip, we can really do what ever we want

I'm intrigued by your route, however, I have no idea to do that on Mapquest or any other program - I kinda just take the route they give me, any insight on that would be great

And the Florida Welcome Center is a "given", no driving trip to FL would be complete without it.

Another plus is the fireworks....we have a huge 4th of July bash every year and are always paying "scalper" prices....maybe we'll be the scalpers this year, NO FLAMES, JUST KIDDING (I think)

 

[FINFAN]

My folks live Naples, (on the other side from Delray)so I totally get the "parent" obligation on trips...my DS is so tired of only going to Fl., wants to see other places and we can only afford one trip a year both financially and vacation time . I can't even imagine a trip on our own! However, they do love seeing the kids and the kids like to see them as well, but in short doses...not for a week, but my folks want forever...it's very stressful...
Anyway, we have stopped at Big Daddy's for fireworks...kids just loved the name, the cheesier the better
We have never driven the Memphis route, I think I would like it, as I stress through Nashville. Sounds fun, it would fun to spend the afternoon at Graceland.
It sounds like a great trip for you guys...

Pam

 

[Chicago526]

The one time we drove, we overnighted in Murfreesboro TN, it made it a roughly equal drive both days (9 or 10 hours if I remember correctly). We stayed at a Comfort Inn there that I don't recomend, but then again it was 8 years ago, too.

 

[DMville]

The one time we drove, we overnighted in Murfreesboro TN, it made it a roughly equal drive both days (9 or 10 hours if I remember correctly). We stayed at a Comfort Inn there that I don't recomend, but then again it was 8 years ago, too.

I just booked a room in Murfreesboro for our trip down from NW Burbs of Chicago. We are planning on leaving on a Friday about noon and hoping to make it there by midnight and then making Orlando Saturday night and again just stay at a cheap place until the vacation officially starts Sunday.

Glad to hear it works out about the times I was hopin.

And I've also considered the 57 route instead of the dreaded Chicago/Indiana area and Indy, especially on a Friday w all kinds of Chicagoans heading to the IN/MI shores. Glad to hear someone else thinks it is quicker too.

 

[Chicago526]

I just booked a room in Murfreesboro for our trip down from NW Burbs of Chicago. We are planning on leaving on a Friday about noon and hoping to make it there by midnight and then making Orlando Saturday night and again just stay at a cheap place until the vacation officially starts Sunday.

Glad to hear it works out about the times I was hopin.

And I've also considered the 57 route instead of the dreaded Chicago/Indiana area and Indy, especially on a Friday w all kinds of Chicagoans heading to the IN/MI shores. Glad to hear someone else thinks it is quicker too.

Whatever you do, on day 2 make sure you time it so you hit the Atlanta metro area in between rush hours. You do NOT want to get caught in Atlanta traffic. That happened to my aunt and uncle once, and it wasn't pretty!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Can someone please tell the the 57 route, I said in my OP that I have no clue how to find alternate routes on Mapquest, PLEASE HELP ME!!

 

[Chicago526]

Sorry, the time I drove down my dad did all the driving so I didn't pay attention to the route, and this was 8 years ago, so I barely remember the drive down as it is!

If you're a AAA member, contact them and get a Trip Tik (or whatever they're called).

 

[DMville]

Doea ATL have rush hours on a Saturday too? We'll hopefully get through there mid-afternoon if we get an early enough start.

The 57 route would be 57 all the way to Southern ILL where you hop on 24 then take 24 to Chattanooga where you hook up w 75. That's what I am looking at at least.

Try looking at Google's Map service. Sorry can't link yet, but easy to find. Blows mapquest away as far as driving directions or even just browsing a map. You can very easily just pull the screen to follow your route and doesn't give 20 needless details for a trip (i.e. .001 mile road curves, ugh). It gives this route as the default when I put in my destinations.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i thought about it but i cannot sell my family on it

 

[FINFAN]

ok...we take 294 south to 80, then to 57. I am not sure if you can now take 294 directly to 57, if there is an on-ramp heading south, there may be, but we did the 80/57. Then just stay on 57 ALL the way until HWY 24 S.. which is past Marion, IL. Then stay on 24 through KYand TN up until Chattanooga...you will see the choice of 75 north or south, and you want south...Dalton, GA. then you are on 75S until the Orlando exit.. . Any questions, just PM me.


Pam

 

[goofy 28]

I made that drive with my family when my kid's were 3 and 5, and it wasn't that bad. I also took the I-57 route and it worked out great. by taking that route i got away from all the Indiana and michigan traffic, there's not as much traffic on 57 as opposed to 65 in Indiana, and they still have huge backups on the southern leg of 294 going into indiana.(still under major construction project). I-57 is not that crowded as opposed to I-65 in Indiana.

On the drive with the kid's though, we left at 4:00 in the morning, which was freat because by the time the kids woke up and wanted breakfast it was nearly 8:00 and we were real close to kentucy already. to get a good jump on the drive was really nice. we stopped for lunch then continued to drive, then the next thing we knew we were in Macon. Stopped there and got a hotel room so the kids could swim after being in the car allday, and have dinner. The next day it was only about a 5 drive to disney and we were there by 2:00 that afternoon, and in the pool by three. the actual halfway mark i think is just before chattanooga.

Whatever you do please try not to go through Atlanta during anything close to rush hour, i want to say it was at least 2 hours to getting through, and i hit it at 3:00pm. good luck and have a nice drive

 

[manning]

The one time we drove, we overnighted in Murfreesboro TN, it made it a roughly equal drive both days (9 or 10 hours if I remember correctly). We stayed at a Comfort Inn there that I don't recomend, but then again it was 8 years ago, too.

Ah the infamous Choice hotel chain. I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole!!!! Back in march '93 when the big storm swept thru Florida dumping massive rain and snow we were staying on the top floor of a Quality Inn in Tampa. The morning after the storm everyone was checking out due to the roof leaking. And it wasn't a minor leak. Well I made the mistake of asking for my money back. Thanks, but no thanks if you know what I mean. I had taken pictures of the leaking and sent a letter with same to headquarters. They couldn't be bothered.

So I will not stay at:

Comfort Inn
Comfort Suites
Quality Inn
Sleep Inn
Clarion
Cambria Suites
Mainstay Suites
Suburban
Econo Lodge
Rodeway Inn

I do like Hampton Inn--- I had a problem at one and they fixed it on the spot and didn't charge for the night even when we told them it was not necessary. Now that is customer service!!

 

[alicenwonder99]

We've driven twice to WDW from Chicago. We said never again. It's just too long of a drive for us, and we all hate it. We stayed in Chattanooga at some nice hotels that slept 6. If anyone is interested in more info on these hotels, let me know. I saved all of our trip planning info from all of our trips.

Oh, and we thought driving down I-57 was better than driving through Indiana, too.

Mary

 

[goofy 28]

We've driven twice to WDW from Chicago. We said never again. It's just too long of a drive for us, and we all hate it. We stayed in Chattanooga at some nice hotels that slept 6. If anyone is interested in more info on these hotels, let me know. I saved all of our trip planning info from all of our trips.

Oh, and we thought driving down I-57 was better than driving through Indiana, too.

Mary

to follow up on my earlier post about the drive. I'm with you on that , It will be a while before i do that again. We are going to WDW the first week of june, Well i figured out that with gas, food, and hotel rooms it would cost about $750.00, but i got round trip airfare for the four of us for $703.00, so it was a no brainer. There in two hours,as compared to two days, then when we got there the kid's want to go right to the parks and all i want is to chill out after that long drive. your right much better on the body and vehicle to fly. the drive downs not as bad as the drive back. good luck

 

[TyRy]

This is all great advice as my DH and I are debating whether to drive or fly. How many hours would you all say it took you? I know from Chicago to Carbondale is about 5 hours and the maps all say about 12 from there. Of course this does not take into consideration stops and the like. What I'm wondering is if we make to Carbondale (S.IL) the first night leaving after work, could we make Florida the next day?

 

[goofy 28]

This is all great advice as my DH and I are debating whether to drive or fly. How many hours would you all say it took you? I know from Chicago to Carbondale is about 5 hours and the maps all say about 12 from there. Of course this does not take into consideration stops and the like. What I'm wondering is if we make to Carbondale (S.IL) the first night leaving after work, could we make Florida the next day?

actual driving time is about 18 hours behind the wheel, Then hope you hit Atlanta when it's not rush hour, and there are not too many construction zones. anyway you look at it, Atlanta is about a 12 hour drive, and then another good 6 hour drive from there. Nashville 8 hours, chattanooga 10.

 

[Becky2005]

We just did this drive this summer....we kind of take a unusual route but my DH went to school at Southern, his best friend's Grandmother lived in Southern IL and he says it's the fastest way down south. According to DH, IF there was a faster way, his friend would have found it (and that I believe! ).

It all depends on where you *start* in the Chicagoland area though. Hee Hee. We take Route 47 down to 74 which then catches 57-24-75 way - if you look on a state map, 47 is a straight shot down. It is a boring drive though but it does go quick because there isn't much traffic (skip all the Chicago traffic stuff) I know for us it's 6 hours (more or less) to Carbondale with that route. We stop at the McDonalds in Gibson City since that's about the only place for a pit stop once we get too far south and then it doesn't seem like it's that much longer until you hit the interstate.

We stopped in Marietta on the way down and in Chattanooga on the way back. Part of my problem is that I have to make sure it's a hotel that will hold 6. We did manage to hit rain on the way down so it was difficult to figure out where our hotel was but we managed. Both of them were Holiday Inns and were fine. I wouldn't have wanted to drive any farther than we did on the first day, it was late by the time we got there. Of course, we also had longer stops with the children to let them run around.

We didn't have a set time to get up the next day to get to Disney but I think we were on the road by 9 AM or so. We have never had a problem with Atlanta traffic though, we always just used the HOV lanes since we aren't exiting anywhere and never had an issue. I have more problems in Tennesee with the exiting & entering on both the right & left sides. ACK!

We have yet to find a good airfare for a family of 6 that was cheaper than driving. We don't mind the drive though, we find it easier than being at the mercy of the airlines scheduling.

 

[Jon99]

Living in Kankakee County, we have tried a few ways and 57/24/75 seems like the best, though one time we did take Rt 41 south (which is 4 lanes the entire way) to I-74 and worked out well..