Stopping past Macon GA overnight where???? Please help!!!

[allisonswonderland]

Hi I am getting married at Disney and this will be our first driving trip - we are coming from Illinois so we will take go through Nashville and then Atlanta our Day 1 goal is to get through Atlanta and even past Macon a little can someone reccommend and nice safe place to stop and a hotel that is nice and convenient- We had friends wo got there whole van stolen once in Atlanta and with my wedding stuff I have a lot of important things that we are very necessary! Thanks!!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Hi! I used to live in Calhoun, about midway between Atlanta and Chattanooga. It's been a while since I've been through that portion of I-75, but I seem to remember an exit at Warner Robbins and one at Perry with a lot of hotels, restaurants, and other things.

I don't remember the exit numbers, though. I'm sure someone on here that's been that way recently -- or even lives in the area -- can help.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Thanks that would be great if someone could help!!!!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Just south of Macon is the previously mentioned Perry, Georgia. At that exit is a Holiday Inn and it's one of the old-fashioned ones. By this I mean a two-story motel where you can park your vehicle right in front of your room if you're on the first floor. Consider making a reservation at that location and see if you can specify a 1st floor room. Or make a reservation and then phone the hotel that morning to ask the clerk to save you a 1st floor room. I don't recommend that you keep anything in the vehicle but your motel room door would be right there for you to bring things in upon arrival and load it back the next morning. View the website www.holiday-inn.com for more hotel details.

Not sure where you are in Illinois but if you're coming from as far away as Chicago you'll be going through Atlanta during rush hour and then it's still another 1.5 hours to Perry. If you're starting out further south then you can definitely get to Perry without being overly tired.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding......by the Mouse.

BobK/Orlando

 

[allisonswonderland]

Thanks- I am 45 min North of Kentucky so I am way south of Chicago! So how far past is Perry. 1.5? So You would reccommend leaving NOTHING in the car? I am not sure I want to unload the whole thing is the problem- we are going to have a van- I will bring in my dress veil and the necessities, but we are going to have floral and really a whole lot of stuff-- is this a pretty safe location- I know you can not predict? Thanks!

 

[famsen]

If you aren't dead set on Perry, we have made the drive from the Chicago area 6 times and we always stop in Cartersville, GA. It is about a half hour north of Atlanta. By stopping there for the night, it gets about 10 hours of the drive out of the way. We leave extra early in the morning the next day and drive the remaining 8 hours or so to WDW. We usually arrive around 1:00pm at WDW.

I have always felt safe staying Cartersville. Safety is always a very big concern of mine and I don't take chances. I found Cartersville to be a very nice place to stop for a night. There are several larger chain hotels and good places to eat.
We will be there in 1 week!!!!

 

[allisonswonderland]

I am not set on any particular place - someone around here I think mentioned Byron? near Macon- My dad wanted me past Macon and since I am in Southern IL we could make it oretty easily. any other options would be greatly appreciated as safety is the greatest concern to us as well!!! Thanks so mucH!!!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Allison, as you mentioned, I can't guarantee anything about crime but small towns such as Perry are not known for crime. But thieves do work the interstate highways all over the place and target cars in hotel parking lots. Vans stand out for special scrutiny, I would think, as many come with nice audio-visual equipment. I understand not wanting to unload everything; that's your call. But with my prior recommendation keep in mind that you could potentially park right outside your door. That may allow you to keep an eye on things and even hear any activity. After bedtime you could partly open your curtain and be able to see outside and no one could look in because it's dark in your room. No one is going to mess with a vehicle parked in front of a window with the curtain open, I wouldn't think.

With you departing from southern Illinois you'll be in Nashville in aprox. 2 hours, Chattanooga in 4 hours, Atlanta before 6 hours and Perry in about 7 hours. You may want to keep going as you'd be there mid-afternoon and if you'd drive 9 hours you'd be in north Florida!

I think the key to no matter where to stay is getting a hotel where you can park right outside your room. Hotels with inside corridors are safer for the guests (which is why all new hotels come that way) but older hotels where you can park at your room is safer for your vehicle.

BobK/Orlando

 

[allisonswonderland]

That is true--- I am now thinking maybe we should leave earlier and get somplace where we could unload in the day - as you sugguest where would be a good place in North FL? Although I may have to stop in Nashville and stretch my legs at Oprymills Mall for an hour--

 

[allisonswonderland]

My fiance was looking at a map and was interested in knowing about Warner Robbins- he also said to mention that we are actually from Marion, IL and live right on Interstate 57 which is a pretty heavily traveled Drug highway - is that highway that much worse than this - now I am really beginning to worry - I mean I feel completely safe here and now I am beginning to get really nervous about this....I undersatnd that that is a vacation highway with electronics but are they going to want flower arrangements? I think we will unload everything but the floral-

 

[clkelley]

In December, I'm staying at a Days Inn in Byron, GA, just south of Macon.

It is at Exit 149 right off of I-75. It is the 2nd exit you come to after getting back onto I-75 from I-475 that bypasses Macon.

 

[MamaQuack]

When are you travelling? This week or weekend? I only ask because there is a HUGE FFA/cattle and dairy event in Perry. People, especially high school kids will be there beginning Tuesday thru the weekend so rooms might be hard to get. My son's high school send their teams on Friday night and have had reservations for 6 months. Perry, is however, generally a safe place. I would vote for it any day over a night in Atlanta or Macon.

Best wishes on your wedding!!

 

[BamaFan121s]

There is a very nice La Quinta next to a Hooters in Valdosta and a nice Quality Inn by a Pizza Hut and McDonald's in Tifton.

 

[bradyloganmom]

When are you travelling? This week or weekend? I only ask because there is a HUGE FFA/cattle and dairy event in Perry. People, especially high school kids will be there beginning Tuesday thru the weekend so rooms might be hard to get. My son's high school send their teams on Friday night and have had reservations for 6 months. Perry, is however, generally a safe place. I would vote for it any day over a night in Atlanta or Macon.

Best wishes on your wedding!!

YIKES!!! What are the dates for the FFA event in Perry??? We were thinking of spending the night there on Fri., 10-13. THANKS!!!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Allison, you don't need to get worked up about traveling on I-75 anymore than you would on I-57. I've done the Chicago to Florida route via I-24 many times and it's a great route and especially scenic from Nashville to Chatanooga. It's perfectly safe. I'm sorry if I scared you. My intent is only to warn about not leaving things in your vehicle which is good advice EVERYWHERE. To the extent that you would need to leave some things in your vehicle, I gave a suggestion as to how to best keep an eye on things. Thieves are not standing around on I-75 waiting to pounce on you! You just want to be a careful traveler.

Since you mentioned making a shopping stop in Nashville, you are again exposing yourself to leaving a full vehicle unsupervised. Just not a good idea ANYWHERE. Save the shopping for Orlando (if you'll have the time) because we've got the same (and better) outlet stores here across I-4 from WDW.

As for departing Marion earlier and driving further, Lake City has a lot of motels too at the junction of I-75 and US90. There is a Quality Inn at that intersection that just recently switched from being a Holiday Inn. It's pretty nice and is also the old-style construction with parking right at the door if you have a 1st floor room.

Lake City is only about 3 more hours to the Mouse via I-75 and Florida's Turnpike!!

BobK/Orlando

 

[allisonswonderland]

No you did not scare me - I am already nervous about my wedding stuff- I am not going until Nov 3. We considered Byron also and we are probably not going to get to leave until noon now so no shopping in Nashville- so if anyone could tell us more about Warner Robbins, Byron and other places along the way we will think about where to make some reservations! Thanks so much for the help so far!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

We are driving from Cincinnati on July 4 and I have already made our reservation for the Holiday Inn in Tifton, GA. I think it is exit 62 off of I-75. We have stayed there several times in the past. Great location and I feel safe there--unlike some of the places we stayed outside of Atlanta in the past. It is about an hour north of the FL/GA line.

Oh, and if you are hungry while driving through Macon, I suggest JL's Barbeque. It is off exit 3 on I-475. Yummm!

 

[MamaQuack]

CindyC-the FFA event will conclude on Sunday, Oct 8. However . . . . . there is a huge arena there built specifically to host agricultural events - not just the ones for the kids. So, I always tell folks to just be aware that Perry may not be a sleepy little southern town when you drive thru. There are a lot of hotels and some of the better chain restaurants. Perry has built itself up to accomodate the folks who come and go. For the most part you can always get a room but if you can book ahead then I always recommend it.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Thanks for the advice so far anymore would help