Hello! You can find an updated version of this here.

 

 

Three facts

1.  Driving from Chicago to Disney World is over 1,100 miles.
2. I don’t actually live in Chicago.  I’m in the western suburbs, but the information here will benefit those not only from all of Chicagoland, but throughout the Midwest as well.
3. I have made this trip over fifteen times round trip.

 

Driving from Chicago to Disney World can be a daunting task for many.  In fact,  I know several  people that would rather stay home than make this drive.  If you go into the drive considering it part of your trip and not just a means of getting there.  While I have made this drive many times myself, it wasn’t until I planned my first vacation with my children (ages 1 and 2) that I realized there wasn’t much insight on this route online.  My focus here is for families with children, but really anyone making this drive could benefit from my experiences.

Here, I will go into detail with my plan of attack and my route.  I will note this is my plan for the way down to Disney.  On the way home, we tend to make side trips to the beach  and break up the drive differently.

 

THE ROUTE  If you’re traveling from Chicago to Disney World, you pretty much have two main options in terms of a route:  I-57 or I-65.  They both take you to Nashville and from there you take I-24 to Chattanooga, and I-75 to the Florida Turnpike.  So the big question is I-57 or I-65.  Well, I’ve done both.

 

I-57 Route

Pros:  Less traffic, especially fewer semi trucks

Cons:  Boring, fewer amenities at exits

 

I-65 Route

Pros: Drive through more cities, more amenities along the route

Cons: More traffic and semi trucks; driving through Gary has more traffic

Overall, I recommend taking I-57 . I try not to stop very much at the beginning of the trip so the lack of roadside amenities is worth less traffic on the road. Don’t get me wrong; there are still lots of gas stations and restaurants, you just don’t have cities quite as large as Indianapolis and Louisville.

 

 

I’ve Chosen My Route, Now What?!?

You really have three options when it comes to a general plan of attack.

1.  Leave in the morning of day 1, stay the night halfway.  This is somewhere near Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Day two will have you spending about nine hours in the car which means you’ll arrive at Disney in the early evening.
2. Leave in the early evening of day 1 and drive straight through overnight.  You’ll arrive at Disney around noon on day 2.
3. Leave at 3am on day 1.  Stay the night south of Atlanta.  Drive 6 hours on day 2 and arrive at Disney around 3pm.

 

Which should you choose??  That choice ultimately depends on quite a few factors including the temperament and schedules of the children (if any), your time table (are you in a rush to get there or are you interested in making stops and traveling at a slower pace), and how long can the driver safely drive.

Option 1:  This is the most relaxed option.  This might be good for families who are not in a rush to reach their destination or for those who want to make multiple stops and enjoy the journey.

Option 2:  This was what we did growing up.  We would leave before dinner and my dad would drive overnight.  If your driver is physically capable of doing this, it might be a good option.  I am the sole driver on our trips and I know that I cannot push myself this much.  Another drawback is that the driver will be exhausted upon arriving at your destination.  This option is good if you have more than one driver and for those families hoping to arrive at their destination the fastest.  This could also be good for families with small children and they will be sleeping for a significant amount of time with this plan.

Option 3:  This requires a bit more preparation.  You’ll need to pack up the van before going to bed.  You’ll also have to wake your kids up and load them up in the van.  The plus side is that they’ll [hopefully] go back to sleep and you’ll get some quiet drive time.  You’ll still have to spend the night in a hotel, but as long as you stop south of Atlanta you’re in for a easy day 2.

Which to choose??  I choose option 3.  For me, being the sole driver means that option 2 is not a safe choice for us.  That leaves me with options 1 and 3.  Option 3 works best for us because it maximizes the amount of time that the kids will be asleep on the road.  It also keeps things manageable for us.  I’ll get in the details below, but I prefer a heavier day one if that means getting to Disney earlier the next day.