Need advice on the loooong trip from Tulsa

[audeodream]

I just moved from NC (I am really missing that straight-shot down the 95) to OK (Tulsa) and I am contemplating driving to the world. Can anyone tell me what the shortest routes would be that are four lane highways? I hate/loathe/despise two lane back-highways especially at night as a single-mom. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[WizardLarz]

MapQuest or Gas Buddy are the 2 sites I use planning trips.
I did a general one using MapQuest and it looks like you can take major highways the whole route. You're looking at 2400+ miles round trip, 18hrs drive time, so I would suggest 2 day for each way.

As far as 4 Lanes in each direction, those are really very few and far between outside of most major Cities, at least in the states that you'll be traveling through. I believe that you would not find them until you hit I-75 in Georgia.

If you really don't like driving the 2 lane Interstates maybe you should look into possibly Flying down instead.

 

[rlduvall]

I just moved from NC (I am really missing that straight-shot down the 95) to OK (Tulsa) and I am contemplating driving to the world. Can anyone tell me what the shortest routes would be that are four lane highways? I hate/loathe/despise two lane back-highways especially at night as a single-mom. Thanks in advance for any advice.

As a lifelong Tulsan who goes multiple times a year

. . . I can't help you.

Airfare has become pretty pricey from here, but I just can't stand the thought of driving 18-20 hours to WDW. Remember, also add Oklahoma City and Tampa to your search for airfare. Either airport is only 90 minutes from your original destination.

Welcome to Tulsa! And stay safe tonight.

 

[OklahomaTourist]

I'm a four-trip WDW road warrior from Oklahoma, so I'll give you my two cents

First, I'll qualify this by offering that I love the drive (and driving in general). So that's my bias. And that its gobs cheaper than flying, esp. for a crew of five.

We divvy up the drive into a longer first day, then a short second day. We head I-40 E to Memphis, then take I-22/US78 SE through Mississippi all the way to Birmingham, AL. We then loop around to I-20 E through Atlanta, then pick up I-75 south to Macon which is the end of our first day and roughly 14-15 hours time allowing for gas, food, and bathroom breaks. The second day is simply Macon into WDW, which is about 6 hours total. Don't forget to account for the time change (to EDT) once you hit Georgia (which is also why I make sure to get to Georgia the first day rather than the second - I spend that hour on the "long" drive day).

I've toyed several times routing around Atlanta through the "back roads," but I've simply never had the nerve to test any backwoods speed traps. I drive a bit conservatively by most standards, saying the limit + maybe 5 mph, and that keeps me from worrying about police.

Never charted it from Tulsa, but I believe you could head east to pick up I-40 along the Muskogee Turnpike, which I believe is a nice, divided, limited access highway most of the way. May not be four lanes both ways, but should be only moderately busy, and only about, what, 40 miles to I-40 (give or take)?

I-22/US78 is now almost 100% interstate grade all the way to Birmingham, but the last stretch to connect into I-69 is not yet complete. Once I-22 ends, you simply take a service road over to the existing I-69 entrance, head south and loop around to merge with I-20E.

Exiting Memphis on US78 puts you on a somewhat industrial part of the road that I'm going to avoid this time by staying on I-40 all the way to I-69, then taking I-69 South into Miss, then cutting across one of several brief suburban stretches (about 3-4 mi) that link back into the "highway-quality" portion of I-22/US78.

The trip is great fun for us, and I hope you have a great time, too. Be glad to answer any other questions you might have.

 

[grimley1968]

I've toyed several times routing around Atlanta through the "back roads," but I've simply never had the nerve to test any backwoods speed traps. I drive a bit conservatively by most standards, saying the limit + maybe 5 mph, and that keeps me from worrying about police.

I just wanted to respond to this portion (I have nothing useful to add to your routing information). You had the right notion to stick with I-75 through Atlanta. a) There is the speed trap problem you mention on some of those other roads, b) they are mostly chock full of stoplights and c) some of those roads are not good at all or go through residential areas that will slow you down. It would significantly add to your drive time to do this, and the scenery isn't any better than you'd get just by staying on I-75 and seeing the heart of the city. Most of the truly nice scenery is further north in Georgia (it's pretty nice even from I-75), but that is much further north than where you'd be getting on I-75.

 

[audeodream]

Thank you all so much for your replies-I really appreciate it!