driving from Chicago area

[BCV23]

Thinking about driving down next March. Does anyone have advice....best route, actual driving time, strategies, etc.. ? I know we would stop at least one night. TIA

 

[manning]

I-65 to Nashville, I-24 to Chattanooga, I-75 to around Wildwood FL., Florida Sunshine Turnpike to US 27, US 27 to FL 192, to Disney.

Take I-465 around west side of Indianapolis ( it may say I-465 south?)

Take I-285 around Atlanta (especially during rush hour. I did it once and it made Chicago rush hour look like the Indy 500.)

Take I-475 around Macon, Ga.

Drive time about 20 hours

 

[BCV23]

Thanks very much manning. Do you stop for a night along the way?

 

[redbirdgrad]

I've driven it using both the I-65 route and the I-57 route, with I-57 you avoid the I-80 congestion just inside Indiana and you avoid Indianapolis and Louisville, both routes put you on the same path in Nashville. I-57 was about 14 miles longer. I guess it depends on your actual starting point and what time you leave, I drive day one all the way through Atlanta and stop in Stockbridge, GA just south of Atlanta.

 

[BCV23]

Missing that mess on I-80 sounds good to me. We're in Naperville
so 57 would work for us. 14 miles would be worth missing the frustation . Is it about 15 hours to Atlanta?

Thanks again to both of you.

 

[RAD]

I also vote for the I-57 route, it's much less traveled then I80/I65. Once you leave the Chicago area the next big city you hit is Nashville. I would be careful though, with the Bears now playing in Champaign, that you try to avoid days with the Illini or Bears have a game schedule, at least around the time folks would be coming or going to the game.

 

[Smee]

Spring Break 2001, we drove from far western suburbs.
Left about 3:15 pm..pulled into our WDW resort about 11:30 am
the next day. We drove straight through (no overnight stop).
HOWEVER.....with my DH, we made PLENTY of pit stops...gotta love those "rest areas"....
On the way home, we spent an overnight in Paducah 'cuz DH wanted to hit the Outlet Mall in Tuscola IL.

I hope that this helps....We had a blast on this road trip. My DS(then 11 y/o) had a wonderful time!

 

[manning]

Mileage wise Chattanooga is about the half way point.

 

[Jon99]

If you can find your way, you guys should try taking Rt 41 to 74 and then to 65... Rt 41 is a two lane divided highway with very little traffic and a straight shot with only one stop light(no stop signs) in 80 miles.. You can try this route to avoid the 80 bottleneck nd also to avoid back tracking to the west by taking I-57... It just depends were you live though and how easy you can get to 41..

 

[redbirdgrad]

BCV23,

To go from the SW burbs to Stockbridge ( just south of Atlanta ), it took just over 13 hours and that was with about 4 stops (bathroom, food), but don't forget you lose an hour also going into Eastern time.

P.S. I did the 41 to 74 to 65 too, it did work to avoid the 80 problem but I-57 down was extremely simple and no traffic.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks so much everyone! Lots of help.

redbirdgrad....do you remember how long the drive was from Stockton to WDW? Any hotel you can recommend? TIA

Smee...if you don't mind, what does DH mean in your post? I always thought that meant dear husband or something? But since he was 11, I guess it doesn't!! How were the outlets?

Jon99...I took 41 coming home from dropping our son off at a camp at IU a few years ago. It was amazing. I'd go for miles and not see another car. That one intersection seemed so random! However I had made better time driving 57 (did that so he could check out U of I) because of the lack of a quick route from 41 for me. It might be fun to try that again,though. However I like the idea of missing Indiannapolis altogether.

RAD...my son ended up going to Uof I. He just graduated in May and is now one of those folks making the trip down for Illini and Bears games. Thanks for the warning but if I do this it won't be until our spring trip.

manning..would Chattanooga be a good place to stop, too?

 

[Smee]

ROFMBO!!
Yes DH is "dear (or whatever adjective fits at the moment) husband"...and no, I did not marry him quite that young!

It was a typo. The 11 y/o is DS. (I have done the edit in the reply)

Thanks!

 

[BCV23]

Thanks Smee for the clarification. Iwas afraid all these months I was wrong about the meaning of DH ! Can you help me with ROFMBO? I've sort of guessed that ROF was rolling on the floor or something similar but MBO has me lost. Can you tell that I'm old !?

 

[Smee]

MBO= my butt off
MAO+ my a** off!

 

[BCV23]

Thanks!!!

 

[Smee]

No problem!

 

[redbirdgrad]

BCV23,

I've stayed at the Hampton Inn in Stockbridge, it opened 8/2001, so it's still relatively new, rooms are clean, nice continental breakfast. Also there is a Fazolis Italian food right there and a Krogers groceries and Honeybaked Ham deli. It's a nice stop. From Stockbridge to the doors of the Contemporary is around 6 1/2 hours.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks redbirdgrad. That sounds great!!

 

[nelliefox2]

We just got back monday. I took I -57 TO 24 TO 75 TO Florida turnpike. We stopped both ways just outside Chatanooga.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks nelliefox2...could you please tell me where you stayed in Chattanooga? I'm really getting excited about driving. My whole family prefers to fly and we have every trip but one years ago. I think I'll drive it alone and pick them up at the airport at MCO That will cure my wanderlust and get our suburban down there. I'm debating two 10 hour drives or a long day to Stockton and then cruise on in.


BTW...I love your name. Nellie Fox was one of my favorite players. Remember how he could just foul ball after ball until he got a pitch he liked.