Travelling from Toronto Canada to Disney World in August 2014

Ideally (all things being equal) overnight stops following a basic I-75 route from Orlando to Toronto would occur just north of Atlanta GA and near Lima OH. But seldom are all things equal. In particular your first day will require some forethought and planning. If you are starting your drive home on a Saturday, you shouldn't have too many problems. On a Sunday, however, you'd be in the midst of all the Atlantans returning home from their holidays; this would probably be your worst option. On any weekday, you would want to time your arrival in the Atlanta area for either before 2:30 or so, or after 7:00 so as to avoid the worst of the evening rush hour. Since arriving after 7:00 is far more likely, that means you can plan on a couple of stops of an hour or so along the way. The two that I would recommend would be visits to the west side of Okefenokee by way of Fargo GA, GA-117 and the West Entrance, and to Andersonville National Historic Site in the Georgia town of the same name. You want to make sure that you get through Atlanta before bedding down for the night so that you don't have to drive through it during the following day's morning rush hour.

Your next two days would be only a little easier with similar problems. On Day 2 you'll have to time your driving to miss rush hours in Lexington KY and/or Cincinnati OH. Possible stops would include Norris Dam State Park in Tennessee, Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park in Kentucky (hint: It's not a wilderness); or even the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton. On Day 3 Detroit will be your major headache, but you should be going through there around mid-day. If you have plenty the time, consider a visit to FGreenfield Village in Dearborn.

AZBuck

AZBuck, Thanks a lot for your detailed reply. I really appreciate it.

Good day all. I am back with one more questions. Thanks a lot for your wonderful advice earlier. I planned it as per your recommendation. We are in Disney World now. I would appreciate if your could recommend about our first night stop once we leave Universal on August 25. Our plan is to stay in Universal till 4 or 5PM. I would prefer some place which is about 5 hours from Universal. I am thinking about some place after Savanahh. Once again thanks for your advice..

By the time you actually drag the kids out of Universal Studios, get the car set up for the long drive ahead, account for the fact that you'll have to feed everybody at some point, and realize that you're not as fresh as you were at the start of your travels, I don't think you'll get anywhere near five ours down the road on that first evening. I really wouldn't plan on much more than three.

Now, I thought you were planning on an I-75 return to Toronto. If so, that would put you around Valdosta GA if you just head up I-75, or Lake City FL if you plan to visit Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge the next morning. In either case, and whether you visit the swamp, that would put you in decent shape to get past Atlanta the next day before evening rush hour. If it were me, I'd probably use the I-285 beltway around the south/west rather than go right through the heart of Atlanta on I-75.

On the other hand if, as it seems, you're now planning on a more hurried I-95/I-77/I-79 return, then just beyond Jacksonville is as far as you should plan on. That would put you just within two long, but doable, days of Toronto without turning everyone in the car into a cranky, unbearable companion.

AZBuck

Are you no longer taking I-75 on your way home? Even so, I would not go five hours after spending most of the day at Universal. Maybe two or three hours, at most. Jacksonville would be a good target and has a reasonable selection for accommodation.

Lifey

Thanks Azbuck and Lifemagician for your responses. There is a change in the plan and we have one more family ( my brother-in-law's family). We are 10 people now( 3 kids under 12, then one 17 year and other two are over 21) with 12 passenger van. The other family wants head back faster that is why I had to change the route back to i95 - i77 - i79. I am going to book hotel in Jackson or maximum at Savannah, Georgia. I will appreciate any further comments from you guys.

Thanks for the explanation. However, it creates an other issue, which you will need to take into account. The larger the party the slower the trip. Every stop will take just that bit longer, there will be more distraction and activity going on in the van and chances are you will be stopping more frequently. It will probably pay you to still be on the conservative side that first day.

Lifey

I have experience taking 12 people on a trip. Believe me, Lifey is absolutely correct: the larger the party, the slower the trip. It's not so much when you're actually on the road. It's all the stops -- longer bathroom trips. Someone always has to "go potty" 30 minutes after you just stopped. Someone stops to buy a snack when you stop.

Recommendation: the adults should come to agreement with circumstances about stopping, how long the stop should take, and make sure that each child in the party actually visits the bathroom when you stop. (I.E. "But I didn't have to go then!" was rarely tolerated on our trips.) Some ground rules and agreements before you set off will help the trip go a lot smoother.


Donna

Thanks for your advice. It indeed slows down your tips with larger groups with longer breaks. The advantage is all kids and adults are engaged in talking and other fun activities with each other and no one easily gets restless while driver and one person with the driver at the front seats concentrate on driving.

Thanks all for your advice to make our trip successful. We reached back in Toronto safely. Your advice is greatly appreciate and I will bother you guys again in future for our trips to US.