Question about Driving to WDW

[WDWFaninMO]

I am new here but I believe I have found the best place to get answers and help with our trip planning. We have our package booked, and have decided that we just cannot afford to fly this time, so we will be driving. Now we have figured its will take us between 18-19 hours. My question is this, even though we live in Missouri, we will be leaving from my parents house in Texas, they live about an hour north of Dallas, and since we are going to be borrowing my mom's van for the trip it makes more sense to leave from there. We want to stop about mid way so we can rest and then finish the trip the next morning. For anyone who has driven to Disney from the Dallas area, or anyone who is good with maps, cause Im not, would you know about where mid way would be. I know I still have time to worry about this, but I would rather have a game plan when we start out.

We will be travelling with two kids and are looking for somwhere relatively inexpensive just to crash for the night and I would like to start looking at what our options are, but I cannot seem to figure out where mid way or even a little beyond midway in our trp would be a good place to start.

Hopefully I have explained myself and not bored you to tears by now.

Thanks
Kristy

 

[MichWolv]

Looks to me like you're takling somewhere around Mobile, Alabama or maybe Pensacola, Florida for your stop. I'm sure there are plenty of option along I-10 between Mobile and Pensacola.

 

[wcj1968]

I would take I 20 to Jackson MS then cut down US 49 to Hattiesburg and US 98 to Mobile. Then take I 10 to I 75. The entire trip is 1100 miles with Hattiesburg and Mobile being very near the middle (Hattiesburg 500 miles from Dallas, Mobile 600 miles from Dallas) I would think that reasonable accommodations could be found in either. This will keep you on Interstate all but about 200 miles from Jackson to Mobile and is the most direct route.

 

[Steve-B]

Lodging in Pensacola

We live in Monroe, LA (you'll pass through here on I-20) and have never flown to WDW. Our route is always the same as the one suggested by wcj1968. The road between Jackson and Mobile is mostly divided highway and last time we drove it, was as good as any interstate. We always break the drive into two days. Our stop point on the way home is Pensacola. We have already reserved a room at the Hampton Inn & Suites Pensacola-University Mall which we decided was the closest to I-10 (besides we really like Hampton Inns). You might want to give it a look if you decide to go as far as Pensacola.

 

[ThinkTink721]

I am new here but I believe I have found the best place to get answers and help with our trip planning. We have our package booked, and have decided that we just cannot afford to fly this time, so we will be driving. Now we have figured its will take us between 18-19 hours. My question is this, even though we live in Missouri, we will be leaving from my parents house in Texas, they live about an hour north of Dallas, and since we are going to be borrowing my mom's van for the trip it makes more sense to leave from there. We want to stop about mid way so we can rest and then finish the trip the next morning. For anyone who has driven to Disney from the Dallas area, or anyone who is good with maps, cause Im not, would you know about where mid way would be. I know I still have time to worry about this, but I would rather have a game plan when we start out.

We will be travelling with two kids and are looking for somwhere relatively inexpensive just to crash for the night and I would like to start looking at what our options are, but I cannot seem to figure out where mid way or even a little beyond midway in our trp would be a good place to start.

Hopefully I have explained myself and not bored you to tears by now.

Thanks
Kristy

I agree w/ the Mobile, AL idea.
We lived there for about 1 yr. & we liked it.
You should be able to find a nice, affordable place to stay there.
:wave:

 

[slappy magoo]

Can't help with directions, being a damn yankee and all, but welcome to the boards.

 

[wdwmomof3]

I would take I 20 to Jackson MS then cut down US 49 to Hattiesburg and US 98 to Mobile. Then take I 10 to I 75. The entire trip is 1100 miles with Hattiesburg and Mobile being very near the middle (Hattiesburg 500 miles from Dallas, Mobile 600 miles from Dallas) I would think that reasonable accommodations could be found in either. This will keep you on Interstate all but about 200 miles from Jackson to Mobile and is the most direct route.

If you pull it up on mapquest, this is the route it should tell you to take. I would try to make it to Mobile and stay somewhere there. My DH just went on a business trip to Mobile and stayed at the Radisson, downtown. His meeting was there, and he said that it was nice. There are plenty of places to stay around there.

Once you get onto I-10, the lodging was spotty so I would plan to stay in a well known city. We hit I-10 the last time we went and it was a nice Interstate but it seemed to go on & on & on & on. I guess I was just in a hurry to get there. :lol:

Have a safe trip!:wave:

 

[bradandsarabr]

Dallas to Orlando through Hattisburg?? are y'all going by horseback?

I would take I20 to Shreveport, then go south on I49 towards Lafayette. At Lafayette, take I 10 east towards Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge, take I12 east toward Slidell. In Slidell, I12 merges back with I10. 3 more hours til Pensacola. Day 1 = 10 hours. If you stop in Fairhope (the east side of Mobile) then 9.5 hours. Fairhope has a nice new shopping area off of the interstate with new hotels.

I would go past Pensacola as Pensacola to Tallahassee is very rural.

 

[LeeLee D]

...Once you get onto I-10, the lodging was spotty so I would plan to stay in a well known city. We hit I-10 the last time we went and it was a nice Interstate but it seemed to go on & on & on & on. I guess I was just in a hurry to get there. :lol:

You may have been in a hurry, but even if you weren't, that road goes on forever with nothing but trees to look at. As you said, not a bad stretch of road, but boring!:snore:

 

[Theresonly1]

Hey Kristy,
Too Bad you are not leaving from here, I could give you the directions I use. I make it to Birmingham/Montgomery AL area, then finish the trip from there. I agree with wdwmomof3, sounds like the most direct route to me.
and yes I-10 is a LONG road.

 

[WDWFaninMO]

Hey Kristy,
Too Bad you are not leaving from here, I could give you the directions I use. I make it to Birmingham/Montgomery AL area, then finish the trip from there. I agree with wdwmomof3, sounds like the most direct route to me.
and yes I-10 is a LONG road.

Normally we would be leaving from Joplin, but my parents live right on Lake Texoma about an hour north of Dallas, so that is why I asked about going from Dallas to Orlando.

If we were leaving from here I sure would have hit your up for your directions.

BTW I am using Google Maps for directions, dunno why but for some reason the directions I get from there show a mileage difference and a time difference, but then again maybe I am doin somethin wrong.

 

[Cane27]

Dallas to Orlando through Hattisburg?? are y'all going by horseback?

I would take I20 to Shreveport, then go south on I49 towards Lafayette. At Lafayette, take I 10 east towards Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge, take I12 east toward Slidell. In Slidell, I12 merges back with I10. 3 more hours til Pensacola. Day 1 = 10 hours. If you stop in Fairhope (the east side of Mobile) then 9.5 hours. Fairhope has a nice new shopping area off of the interstate with new hotels.

I would go past Pensacola as Pensacola to Tallahassee is very rural.

I'll second this recommendation, but I think you meant to say to not go past Pensacola.

 

[Grumpy-Fan]

Dallas to Orlando through Hattisburg?? are y'all going by horseback?

I would take I20 to Shreveport, then go south on I49 towards Lafayette. At Lafayette, take I 10 east towards Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge, take I12 east toward Slidell. In Slidell, I12 merges back with I10. 3 more hours til Pensacola. Day 1 = 10 hours. If you stop in Fairhope (the east side of Mobile) then 9.5 hours. Fairhope has a nice new shopping area off of the interstate with new hotels.

I would go past Pensacola as Pensacola to Tallahassee is very rural.

That stretch of road between Pensacola and Jacksonville is a nightmare to drive. Besides Tallahasssee there is nothing along that road. It`s the most boring drive I ever made.

 

[Lakermouser]

Hello

We also live in Missouri (Lake of the Ozarks) and wanted to say hi. Our last drive to WDW was in 2005 and we drove straight through. I took my two daughters, 20 and 22YO and it took us 18 hours. We are going back the first week in December.
Have a safe trip.