Ohio to WDW I-75 or I-77????

[snowball22]

To all in the know. We wil be driving next year to WDW and would like to know everyone's opinions on which route to take. Should we go straight down I-75 or head towards the coast and take I-77? Three years ago we took the I-75 route and drove 11 hours the first day and 7 the next. Was just wondering if I-77 is quicker and where would be a good midway stopping point for the night? Thanks everyone.

 

[mgrebenc]

Hello,

DH says you should take 70 East to Cambridge. Take 77 South. We usually stop in Rock Hill, SC. If you feel like driving about an hour or so more, then Columbia, SC is a good place to stop.

It normally takes us 16-17 hours from Mentor. Hubby says you should easily be an hour or more closer.

Mary

 

[ncligs]

snowball22,

Are you sure you wouldn'r rather fly?? You can check the internet for some really low fares, you can always drive if you don't get a fare under $200

 

[cindym]

I am about 90 miles east of you. I always take 77. It's about 12 hours from Cambridge to Brunswick, Ga. There are many places to stay there. Then you only have about 5-6 hours to WDW. We took 75 home once for a change of scenery. It was a much longer drive for us.

 

[MelodyTime]

We also take I-77 when we drive to WDW. It seems like a more direct route and is shorter than I-75 for us.

 

[judi]

We also take I-77. From the Cleveland area it is about 2 hours shorter than taking 75. There are more hotels/motels on 75 but if you plan your hotel stay ahead of time you should have no problem. We have even driven straight through many times.

 

[CoraJack]

The I-77 route does not go through as many big cities and is MUCH faster and less stressful!!! I have driven it about 6 times in the past few years. 1-75--Atlanta!!!!! Need I say more?????

 

[DebbieW]

From a Hilliard, Ohio resident

My vote is to take I-77. We've driven both I-77 and I-75, and while I can't really speak to the actual amount of time saved -- if you take I-77, you are in and out of a different state every few hours. For some reason, that just makes a huge difference to me (mentally). The other thing is that long drive through Georgia on I-75. You feel like you're never going to get out of there.

Debbie

 

[snowball22]

Thank you everyone!!!!!! I-77 it is!!!

 

[albiats]

I lived in Ohio for many years before moving to NE Florida and I prefer I-77 too. I drive back to Ohio at least a couple times a year to visit relatives there and we still use I-77.

Besides being a shorter route, it seems that there are fewer large cities, and it seems like there are less large trucks than on I-75. The West Virginia Turnpike is no longer an issue, unless it is during icy conditions.

In Jacksonville, Florida along I-95, I would recommend staying on I-95 and not taking the I-295 bypass around the city unless it is between 3pm and 7pm on a weekday, when traffic can be difficult.

They eliminated the drawbridge over the St Johns River (the second river in Jacksonville on I-95 as you travel south) so there is less chance of a backup.

For informational purposes - outside of the major cities like Jacksonville on I-95, there are motorist call boxes on the side of the Interstates, including SR 528 (the Beeline Xway), placed one every mile. If you have a problem and do not have a cell phone, you shouldn't have to walk more than one mile in either direction to find one.

Another point - gasoline is several cents higher per gallon in Florida due to more state taxes here. If you can, fill up in Georgia before entering Florida. It's about 200 miles from the Georgia border to WDW.

hope that helps

 

[buckeye]

How about from Cincinnati? We leave in a couple weeks and I just assumed I75 was the way to go. Shopuld we re-think or would 75 be better since we are farther south?

Thanks!

 

[bweagle]

We also took I-77......

I also liked the idea of being out of states within a few hours at the most....progress. I felt like South Carolina took forever to get through, but it had been a long travel day.

We stayed just south of Savannah in a town called Darien. The motels in that area don't seem to be the best, but if all you are looking for is a place for a night, I guess they aren't that bad.

 

[albiats]

Originally posted by buckeye
How about from Cincinnati? We leave in a couple weeks and I just assumed I75 was the way to go. Shopuld we re-think or would 75 be better since we are farther south?

Thanks!

My Rand McNally Tripmaker software shows about 930 miles from Cincinnati to WDW and the shortest route is I-75.

If I tell it to go thru Charlotte, NC (which is on I-77) it shows 1056 miles. It uses I-40 in Knoxville to cut over to I-26 in Spartanburg and then to Charlotte and I-77.

So the shortest route from Cincinnati is on I-75.

hope that helps

 

[bobcat]

From the Newark area we take I-77 and I drive this solo with no problems. I stop in Brunswick GA for the night, lots of hotels and the cheapest gas. The only traffic I have ever run into is through Charlotte and Jacksonville. Not bad but slower. We always seem to run into a bad accident just south of Jacksonville as well.