What are the interstates like on Christmas Day???

[westjones]

We are going to WDW the week of Christmas. DH is concerned about driving home on Christmas day, so he wants to be home by Christmas Eve.

I'm OK with that.....but....if we are having fun and want to stay one day longer (we don't have to be back until Christmas day)....can you tell me what the interstates are like?

DH doesn't think there will be places open to get gas or to eat. Is that true?

We will be driving to Indiana (through Atlanta, Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis).

DJ

 

[clkelley]

I don't know the answer for sure, but in my mind, Christmas Eve would be more crowded than Christmas day as folks are "going somewhere" for Christmas.

Usually, by Christmas morning folks are where they want to be, with family around a tree somewhere. Not on the road.

Now, I know from personal experience that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is NOT the day to drive home from WDW.

Through Florida we were only about to go about 60 mph on I-75 and through Georgia, we never broke 45 mph on I-75.

Once we got through Atlanta and on I-20, it got better, but that was the worst drive I have EVER taken.

Carol

 

[NotUrsula]

Gas, yes, if for no reason than card-operated pumps. Food? Not much, except for truck stops and the occasional greasy-spoon diner. Even most Mickey'D's are closed on Christmas, especially in the South.

Personally, I try to make it a point not to do any serious long-distance driving on any of the "Big 4"; that being Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (and Xmas eve after about 6 pm), New Year's Day, or Easter Sunday. If anything happens you will wait forever in the cold for a tow.

 

[mcnuss]

The roads are nearly deserted, but don't try to find any services. Even those card operated pumps are not always open. The ones at the highway rest stops are, but off the road, you are SOL.

We used to drive every year from NH-MD to see DH's family. We packed food, coffee, drinks, everything, bc not even Dunkin Donuts was open. One year, however, it occurred to me (the Jewish girl) that probably a real Jewish deli would be open, so we asked a friend who lives in NJ where we could find one close to the highway, and for the first time in 5 years, got a decent meal on that trip.

Honestly, I was always scared to drive on Christmas day. I worried that if our car broke down, we'd be stranded. We had AAA but who knows how long it would take to get help.

 

[CarolA]

I used to drive to Atlanta every Xmas afternoon.

Things actually start to open up in the afternoon, but I have never had problems getting gas and the gas stations always have food.

A few years ago my Grandfather passed away on Christmas day and I got up at 7 am and took my Mom's car for a refill. All the gas stations near the exit were open. (She drove to Atlanta and I drove back to Nashville and then to Atlanta that day and niether of us had problems. From Knoxville)