Tell me the good bad and the ugly of driving from Indy??

[bcarson]

It will actually be from south of Chicago. But my family lives in Indy so we would drive there the night before and head out. Airfare is just awful right now. Thanks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Well, I suppose the good is saving money compared to air fares.

The bad/ugly?

1. Flying is safer than driving
2. You don't spend precious vacation time driving to/from your vacation destination
3. You'll probably have to spend a night on the road going and returning
4. If your family doesn't travel well by car then driving will turn into a nightmare

 

[bcarson]

How many approx hours?

 

[Alesia]

How many approx hours?

Straight through it will be about 16 hours. Longer if you run into traffic or construction.

We live 3 hours south of Indy and flying was much, much cheaper for us when factoring in the cost of gas, 2 nights spent in a hotel, food, and taking 2 extra days off work.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Straight through it will be about 16 hours. Longer if you run into traffic or construction.

We live 3 hours south of Indy and flying was much, much cheaper for us when factoring in the cost of gas, 2 nights spent in a hotel, food, and taking 2 extra days off work.

13 hours away and you needed 2 extra nights in a hotel?????

 

[Alesia]

13 hours away and you needed 2 extra nights in a hotel?????

One on the way there, one on the way back.

Also, when I said 16 hours straight through, I meant straight through. That didn't include any stops. So realistically, it would be more like 18 to 20 hours. Possibly more with small kids.

 

[Poohlovr]

Driving from Louisville (about 2 hrs south of Indy) took us 14-15 hrs when we drove. That included gas/restroom and fast food drive-thrus. Add an hour or so if went to Cracker Barrel or somewhere like that. We never stopped for the night on the way down. We usually left late evening and let the kids sleep on the way down. By leaving later we missed all of the rush hour traffic.

On the way back home, we stopped for the night.

Nowadays, we fly. AirTran and Southwest usually have some decent fares out of Indy, altho this year we got it really cheap out of Louisville.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

One on the way there, one on the way back.

Also, when I said 16 hours straight through, I meant straight through. That didn't include any stops. So realistically, it would be more like 18 to 20 hours. Possibly more with small kids.

We live in far south Chicagoland, takes us 16 hours of actual drive time, so usually 18 hours once we figure in stops for lunch, dinner and gas..

For us, 13 hours like you have would be easy, wouldn't even think of spending the money on 2 extra nights at a hotel..

Though we have decided to get a hotel on the way down for the first time ever in June, only reason being is we are leaving at 10:00 AM on a Friday, its our daughters last day of school and picking her up and leaving. If we drove straight thru, would get to Orlando around 4:00 AM, so whats the point? So will drive to Cordele, spend the night ($59 Country Inn and Suite) and be into Orlando before lunch..

 

[packofjedis]

We live right outside of Indianapolis. Last time, if I remember correctly, it took us 16 hours with stops. We did stay over outside of Nashville on the way down, but that was because we left after my husband got off work. Coming home, we drove through that nasty ice storm that hit Kentucky (the next day), so we left down Orlando at 3 a.m. and still managed to get home before 9:00 that night. That was with driving 30 mph for a very long time through the highways that weren't treated.

So the good:
you can pack whatever you like in your car - snacks, water (save $$), extra shoes, whatever and not worry about weight limits on your suitcases

Personally, we all like travelling by car - my kids like the down time and seeing the sights

You have your own car for the buses you don't want to take to the parks. We never take the bus to DTD - it's too slow

It's way cheaper to drive if you have more than 2 people going. Flight prices can be really high especially when you add in luggage.


The bad:
It is a long drive. The bottom end of GA is terrible...nothing to look at, boring, boring, boring.

You will need more things to occupy your kids since it is a long drive.

It takes longer so you have less time in Disney or more time off work if you're keeping Disney time the same (like we do)


We driving again this year. We will be stopping in both directions but it's because we have more time to slow down and take it easy.

 

[hearts8701]

driving thru indiana to orlando serval times a year we perfer to drive i have some ideas
the good
your going on vacation let the trip start when you pull away from your house
you can bring what you want going and coming
no flight delays or cancellations
you can leave when you want if weather is bad you can pack up and go
you have a car eat off property
if the weathers nice stop and nap in a rest stop no need for a hotel
the bad
keeping kids busy 16 hours bring DVD player movies the kids have not seen yet
gas prices keep your eyes open for gas stations at exits that have more than one gas station so you can compare prices
the ugly
DO THE SPEED LIMIT
construction delays

 

[JLO]

I much prefer driving over flying because:

-Stop whenever you want.
-Leave whenever you want.
-Take whatever you like in the car.
-No getting to the airport 2 hours early, standing in lines and then sitting in a much-too small seat for 2 hours.
-Freedom to stop wherever you like.
-Seeing a bit of the country.
-No luggage charges.
-It is cheaper for a family of four.

We're driving down in April with our DS13 and our DD8 and I can't wait!!!

 

[FINFAN]

well, most who drive due to cost sort have "bummer" outlook to start with. Here's the thing, you can't beat the "get there now" part of flying so don't even add that into the equation. I think if you can focus on the parts of driving that are positives for you, it will be fine. Indy is not a bad drive at all, we are 19-20 hours out ( Naperville) and from our own experience if we were 15 out, I doubt we would ever fly, and that includes trips we have to make to Sarasota for our DD's college. So, if you like to be able to pack things to your preference, not divided up like on the airlines, like having your own car on vacation, like having flexibility (especially without penalty fees if you want to change your travel dates). Travel in general, requires one to have a patient mind and to be ready for the "what if's"...I had connecting flights to/from Ft Myers in Jan Feb for my fathers funeral...all 4 flights had issues from inoperable exit door, late crew, flat tire and weather delay..and I flew 2 airlines, SW and Airtran...both of which I am on a lot from Chicago/Fl. Each day of travel delay added a 6+ hours to my time, which can happen driving as well, so just roll with it, enjoy that you are going on vacation and really, until you try driving for yourself, it will be hard to say which you prefer. You may like traveling both ways like we do!

 

[backyardponder]

When checking airfare on SW from the Chicago area, don't forget to check Milwaukee as well. I was able to find some great fares for this summer from Milwaukee.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We are doing this for the first time next month. We will pick up DMIL in Muncie, IN and then start our driving between 7-8am. We plan to drive to Valdosta, GA (10 hrs driving time) and stop for the night. Then we only have 5+ hrs the next day. Having an extra adult should help with kid control. We have dvds, handheld games, travel games, coloring books, a ball to kick around at rest stops, kiddie neck pillows, a box down by their feet with games in it that also serves as a foot rest (imagine having your legs dangle the whole time), and lots of 100 calorie munchie snacks. We are bringing sandwich fixings for quick lunches at rest stops so the kids can run around some instead of sitting in a restaurant. I'm hoping it goes okay, I am realistic about it and know that the drive home could be brutal.

I'll be doing lots of praying before and during!

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

Can someone share with me the route they use to get to Disney from Chicago?
We are planning a trip in Aug. and want to drive instead of fly.
Thanks

 

[hearts8701]

there are two routes i use 65 south to 24 east to 75 south which seems to be the shortest
than theres the illinois route 57 south to 24 east to 75 south

 

[HHSTigerFan]

We live in the far SW Chicagoland, not too far west of 57, for us its easier to go 57/24/75

 

[basketrn]

We are doing this for the first time next month. We will pick up DMIL in Muncie, IN and then start our driving between 7-8am. We plan to drive to Valdosta, GA (10 hrs driving time) and stop for the night. Then we only have 5+ hrs the next day. Having an extra adult should help with kid control.

We are doing the same thing in June! This will be our third road trip with a toddler (17 months). The first two car trips were to CT, which about the same amount of drive time from Indy and we have done them both straight through. For the Disney trip we are stopping both going down and coming back.

 

[FINFAN]

We also prefer 57/24/75. Illinois is one LOOOOOOOONG state and it feels like forever to get thru it, but then KY and TN fly by...GA LOOOOOOONG again, but then 5 hours to WDW!