Where do you stay overnight(s) on Kansas City to Disney drive?

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Looking for clean and safe. Don't want to spend alot, don't need to swim or business center. Just a clean safe place to sleep.
If you have driven KC to WDW, where have you stayed?
I'm thinking I-24, Manchester, TN maybe, if I can comfortably make it that far.
I will be driving solo, and need to stop about every 2 hours for my arthritic knees.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Anyone?

 

[BrerMama]

We stopped in Dalton, GA when we drove KC to WDW.

But that was 17 years ago and we were a lot younger...

 

[jlovesee]

Im from Independence, MO so right in your neck of the woods, and have done the drive probably 6 times or so. (we were married at WDW in Jan 2002 right after 9/11 so with dresses and everything else driving was the only option!). Last time was just five months ago. We have stopped in a lot of different places.

When we leave in the evening around 4pm or so we stop in Mt Vernon, IL, its about 6 hrs out, and we usually get there about 11PM. Several good, mid-level options there, and its a nice safe little town. (I 64 and I 57)

Last time we stopped in Murfreesboro, just south of Nashville off I-24, room rates are a lot more affordable then nashville, TN. Usually I work 1/2 day and we get there about 11PM. There is a Comfort Suites there that we stayed it, it was fairly new and customer service was great.

Last place we have stayed in Valdosta, GA off I-75. Only try to get to Valdosta if you leave early in the morning, otherwise you won't get there into the wee hours of the morning (from experience). DONT UNDERESTIMATE GEORGIA ITS A FOREVER STATE. Like you drive into it, and its FOREVER until you get out of it. However if you can get there, its a short drive to WDW then next morning.

Macon, GA isn't a bad idea either, its about 2 hrs north of Valdosta, so its a little bit more doable. I've looked into before, but we have never stopped there.

Couple other tips. Whatever you do, no matter how great an idea it sounds... NEVER EVER EVER TRY TO DO THE DRIVE IN ONE DAY. My husband tried to do that on the way back once. It was insane. We stopped outside of Columbia, MO at 3AM, we were just to tired.

If you can try to stop at the Paducah, KY Rest Stop, its really neat old mansion, and not your boring run of the mill rest stop.

I mentioned I-75 through Georgia right, how it goes on forever? You have been warned.

Let me know if you have any questions. The drive is definitely an experience. Lots of fun little things to see along the way, If you stop at Ruby Falls let me know if its worth it, I have seen the sign atleast a dozen times... and never stopped. I love the fireworks stores along the TN/GA border, at night you can't miss them. They have about as much neon as Las Vegas.

Jennifer

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thank you jlovesee.
No way would I try to do the full drive, particularly alone.
I used to drive with my daughter for years when she was 5,6,7,8,9,10,11, & 12. It was still me doing all the driving, but her company made it so much better and more fun than doing a solo trip. We have been flying since.
So now that I am old, I am thinking of giving it a try again, since I have the time, and then have the car there and can go around Florida again. Cheaper than a flight combined with car rental. I miss doing Florida. Have been doing only Disney for so many years---just there and back.

Wow, you made it to Valdosta?!!! That's 1050 miles! with my knees and need for frequent stops, I am concerned about getting 625 miles done in one day.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Looking for clean and safe. Don't want to spend alot, don't need to swim or business center. Just a clean safe place to sleep.
If you have driven KC to WDW, where have you stayed?
I'm thinking I-24, Manchester, TN maybe, if I can comfortably make it that far.
I will be driving solo, and need to stop about every 2 hours for my arthritic knees.

Seems like a reasonable place to stop IMO. That looks to be roughly halfway. You're still 3 hours from Atlanta, so depending on when you leave in the morning on day 2, you're probably going to get to Atlanta AFTER rush hour (assuming it's a weekday), so that's a plus. We're only an hour SW of STL, so hoping to get past Atlanta on day one (tomorrow!!!!), but planning to stay in a Super 8 in Chattanooga on the way home here:

20 Birmingham Hwy

I-24 Exit 174

Chattanooga, TN 37419-2371 US

Phone: 1-423-821-8880

Fax: 1-423-8218880

That's not too much further than your planned stop in Manchester & Chattanooga's a neat town

X2 on the Paducah rest area, BTW. Better still, take Exit 4 and go North of the highway a couple blocks & eat at Rafferty's

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Have a great and safe trip Gumbo4X4.
Write about it when you get back and share the details and fun.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Thanks, will do! Now, off to bed

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

jlovesee,
I see in yur signature you are going again in June, which is now.
When are you going? Have a great trip. Write it up when you get back. I love AKV.

 

[RogueJayhawk]

We are driving from Liberty MO to Orlando leaving next Saturday and we are going to attempt to make it to Macon GA on the first day. If all goes as planned, we will leave Liberty at 4am and maybe be able to arrive in Macon by 7pm....at least I hope.