Chicago To Orlando, Florida

Hi all,

I am a newbie and a recent immigrant to the US. I am planning to take a road trip from Chicago to Orlanda, Florida (I heard Disney world is great) during Christmas time (get away from cold and snow for a little while). Here is what I have planned.

Take time off (7 days). Drive to and back in the 7 days.
2 days each way for driving. Catch up on some of the national parks en route.

I am taking a rental car (SUV). My travel companions are my wife and 6 year old child. Wife can drive. So expect to share driving time with her.

Since the distance is 1250 miles one way. I would like your suggestions from the veterans to make the trip more enjoyable, pleasant and safer.
Thanks in advance.

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

You can travel the distance over 2 days but you won't have any time to "catch up on National parks on the way". Both day's [each way] will be between 10 and 11 hours of driving with time only for short stops for food, bathroom, physical and mental breaks.

If you are OK with that, and you think your child won't be too restless it's doable, but perhaps flying might be an option and rent a car while there for a couple of days out.

Any reason for the added expense of an SUV, when a standard Sedan would do the job for less ?

I've basically made this drive myself, and it is certainly a 2 full day drive - and that pace really doesn't leave any extra time for detours.

What I've done in the past is leave the night before, and get a couple hours of driving in, to make it a 2.5 day drive. That leaves a little time to take a quick look at a park or attractions along the way.

One basic things I've done before is take I-57 south through Illinois, and then spend a couple hours at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky and Tennessee. Another good option perhaps for the other direction is to take I-65 through Indiana and stop at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.