Questions about driving from the Chicago area to Disney

[Surfinpiratee]

We will be making the drive January 2nd. Problem #1 right there. lol. Now, I'm not so worried about Illinois snow..but driving through the "mountains" in TN. Now, I'm probably just worrying about it too much. But are there any other alternate routes I should take? Or am I probably fine driving through that little part of TN? I'll probably be taking I65 to I75.

Also, we're kinda stuck on when to leave. We were kinda planning on leaving between noon and 6pm. I know, big time span lol. But leaving anywhere in there gets us there between the morning hours and early afternoon, which i'm okay with either. But then that puts us driving over night. Which I thought would be cool, but my mom keeps saying we should leave in the EARLY morning, like 3am, but that will get us to Disney at night..and I don't know how I feel about that..

Suggestions?!

 

[grimley1968]

I can't help you with IL snow, but as for I-75 in TN it goes a little to the west around the Smokies. If you look on a map, you'll see I-75 goes southwest from Knoxville to Chattanooga, then resumes more of a southeast track from Chattanooga south. The really mountainous parts of TN are south and east of this track. I wouldn't bother with an alternate route for I-75. If I-75 is closed down in that portion of TN, you can take US Hwy. 27 from Harriman, TN (a little west of Knoxville on I-40) to Chattanooga. 27 is a 4-lane, nice road on that stretch and could serve as a workable detour, but I really don't think you'd ever need it. I-65 comes nowhere close to the Smokies.

I don't know where you plan to cut over from I-65 to I-75, but I'd do it as far north as possible. I-65 in Kentucky and Tennessee is not nearly as nice as I-75.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

I can't help you with IL snow, but as for I-75 in TN it goes a little to the west around the Smokies. If you look on a map, you'll see I-75 goes southwest from Knoxville to Chattanooga, then resumes more of a southeast track from Chattanooga south. The really mountainous parts of TN are south and east of this track. I wouldn't bother with an alternate route for I-75. If I-75 is closed down in that portion of TN, you can take US Hwy. 27 from Harriman, TN (a little west of Knoxville on I-40) to Chattanooga. 27 is a 4-lane, nice road on that stretch and could serve as a workable detour, but I really don't think you'd ever need it. I-65 comes nowhere close to the Smokies.

I don't know where you plan to cut over from I-65 to I-75, but I'd do it as far north as possible. I-65 in Kentucky and Tennessee is not nearly as nice as I-75.

Okay thank you!! Yeah, I know that part thats just north of Chattanooga (I believe it turns into I24) isn't really the smokey mountains.. haha, but I know some people on here were kind of scared of it in the winter, so therefore, I became scared lol.

I think this is how the route goes...I'll get on i65 in KY, then as you get into TN it says to stay on i24 towards Chattanooga. Then right after those "mountains" you get on i75. I wouldn't want to get on i75 sooner, because it looks like you'd be going right through the smokeys

 

[grimley1968]

I think this is how the route goes...I'll get on i65 in KY, then as you get into TN it says to stay on i24 towards Chattanooga. Then right after those "mountains" you get on i75. I wouldn't want to get on i75 sooner, because it looks like you'd be going right through the smokeys

At no point does I-75 go through, or even touch, the Smokies. It's a very nice road through Tennessee. Much better, in fact, than I-65. The Smokies are in extreme eastern TN and western NC, for the most part. Trust me, you're not going through mountains on I-75. Yes, you have some higher terrain to cross, but not mountains.

I-65 in Kentucky and Tennessee is mostly 4-lane roads and isn't all that pleasant in TN, though it's not terrible in Kentucky. Lots of construction on I-65 to modernize it. I-75, by contrast, is mostly 6-lane roads through Kentucky and Tennessee, and is a relatively modern interstate, at least compared to I-65. You can get to I-75 in Cincy via I-74 from Indy. That's what I'd recommend anyway. I avoid I-65 like the plague in Kentucky and Tennessee.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Ahh okay, thank you very much!
If you're familiar with the route, would you consider I75 to be a safer road in the winter??

 

[grimley1968]

I75 is a safer road than I65 in all seasons, IMHO. More lanes usually equals better safety. I don't know about I24 (from Nashville to Chattanooga) as I've never had a reason to be on it.

 

[sam_gordon]

Although I75 has more lanes, weather & big trucks can cause problems at the KY/TN line (Jellico Mtn), so don't assume it will be smooth sailing.

On the other hand, I understand I24 between Nashville & Chattanooga can get iffy depending on weather too.

In the days before your trip, pay close attention to the weather forecast in Cinci, Lexington, & Knoxville. If it's bad, check the weather in Louisville, Bowling Green (KY), and Nashville. Obviously also check Chattanooga.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Yeah ill definitely keep that in mind and check the weather, thank you!