Safest and Best Places to stop for gas and eat-WI to FL?

[DisDarling]

We are driving Hwy 65 thru Indiana and Kentucky-

We will be on Hwy 24 thru Tennessee-

We will be on Hwy 75 thru Georgia and FL-

If you have driven these, please let me know where you liked to stop to fill up your tummy and gas tank!

We are planning on stopping in Bowling Green, Kentucky for Breakfast- any thoughts on where to eat off the highway- safe as possible? Thanks!

 

[BCV23]

I did a solo drive from the Chicago area to WDW and only felt a little unsafe at a road side stop in Southern Tenn or N. GA. shortly after daybreak. Sorry can't remember which. It was beautiful and clean but there was a guy hanging around the vestibule that gave me the creeps. I waited in the women's restroom for a few minutes until someone else came in and exited with her. Sure enough that guy was still there! Everywhere else there were enough people that I felt very safe.

I hope more people can chime in. But the main reason I'm posting is that most people who drive from the Chicago area seem to prefer the I-57 route through Illinois over RT. 65. Less traffic because you avoid the Chicago Gary corridor which is often a nightmare. And even Indiannapolis can have backups. 57 is a bit longer in miles but a lot easier and almost for sure shorter in time. If you try a search about driving from Chicago to WDW you'll find more info on that route.

But truly 90/94/80 around the bottom of the lake is horrible!

 

[Jon99]

Avoid the 80/94 mess at all cost, I-57 will save you time and headaches..

Where is Wisconsin are you coming from???

 

[DisDarling]

Avoid the 80/94 mess at all cost, I-57 will save you time and headaches..

Where is Wisconsin are you coming from???

Appleton- Neenah to be more specific-leaving work and staright to FL
D.D.

 

[Jon99]

I would strongly suggest finding your way to I-57 and avoiding the bottlenecks around NW Indiana, take that down to I-24 and then to I-75..

As far as places to eat along I-57, would suggest Bradley, Effingham, Mt. Vernon and Marion in Illinois... All have several chains to choose from with easy access from the highway..