Hi, everyone, I'm going to drive from Orlando to Memphis, but I have no clue about the roads and its characteristcs that I will pass through. Can anyone give me some tips? Thanks in advance. Werneck
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Hi, everyone, I'm going to drive from Orlando to Memphis, but I have no clue about the roads and its characteristcs that I will pass through. Can anyone give me some tips? Thanks in advance. Werneck
Welcome to the RoadTrip America Forum!
Most states have some form of road construction mapping tool that you can use to determine what is going on at any given time. For example, Tennessee's map is here. Select the "construction" option at the left.
Orlando to Memphis is an interesting route, largely because it doesn't follow the Interstates all the way. Those go mostly either north-south or east-west while Memphis is northwest of Orlando. Two things, however, are still in your favor. You don't have to cross any mountain ranges and there are no large cities in the way. Instead, you'll be skirting the southern end of the Appalachian mountains in east central Alabama, and only Birmingham should present you with any significant traffic. So for the most part, this should be a pleasant drive through central Florida, the Piedmont woods and farming areas of Georgia and Alabama, and the rich bottom land of Mississippi. You'll have interstates (I-75) to Tilton GA; four-lane 'local' highways (US-82, GA-520, US-280, US-231) through Georgia and Alabama to Birmingham, and finally freeway quality road, US-78 to Memphis.
AZBuck
First, I have to thank you, Mass Tim, for your tips. Second, I can see that people here are really helpfull, because this was a very quick reply. Once I am not American - I am from Brazil, I have one more question about the roads: are they dangerous, like those I am used to watch on movies, with no single life passing by or any decent places to pull over? (sorry, maybe I am too impressed by those movies)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mass Tim
AZBuck,
Of course I have to thank you for the large amount of usefull hints your are giving. I can see that you know what you are talking about, so let me dare to ask you once more: Is it better for me, and my family (Wife and son) to go through this way in two or three days? And, since we are travelling in january the 3rd, do you think we might get some snow in the way? Thanks again, and have a nice day.
The routes I listed are exactly the routes that I would take between Orlando and Memphis. There is always the possibility that you could see snow in January, even this far south, but it is not probable or even likely. And you have done the very best you can at setting up the trip by allowing plenty of time for it. You could make the drive in about a day and a half if you made driving your sole or even main preoccupation. Having three days to make it leaves you plenty of time to sit out any weather you'd rather not drive in or, in the more likely event of good weather, to enjoy some sights along the way.
AZBuck
While those roads are out there (I've been on a couple), they are few and far between, and not the major thoroughfares or even state routes that you would be traveling on in your journey.Quote:
Originally Posted by FWerneck
I know the type of movies you are talking about. I think you'll find that, in many cases, the roads in this country approach being overbuilt. Just the driveway to where I work expands into the equivalent of eight lanes by the security gate, and there is a 4-lane US route up the road to serve a community of approximately 50,000, off of a 6-lane Interstate highway.
Dear AZBuck, thank you again for your patience and time allowed to me. I will have in mind (and written) your advices, in my trip. I also would like to tell that we want to visit, in our trip, Nashville and Chattanooga. If you have anything that you think might be usefull, please feel free to write down. I am sure that other will also use your hints. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by AZBuck
Dear Mass Tim, again, thank you for your clues. I am sure you know I meant no harm to your Country and its roads, but just to be safe it is good to know where we are stepping on. As you can see in my previous post, to AZBuck, we also plan to visit Nashville and Chattanooga, in TN. If you have anything to add, or advice for visiting, please feel free to write it down. As you also can see, that is our trip plan: - Orlando - Memphis - Nashville - Chattanooga - Orlando. There is one more thing: I still don´t know where we are going to sleep in in the way between Orlando and Memphis and Chattanooga and Orlando. Thanks again!
The roads I recommended and the description of the route were based on a much more direct drive from Orlando to Memphis. Now, you will spend all your time on Interstates, you will have to drive through large cities, and you will have to cross the Appalachian Mountains. So pretty much all the advice I've given you to this point goes out the window. So, let's start over.
If you're going the way you now say, your chances of hitting inclement weather go up somewhat - but not all that much - and you still have more than enough time to sit out anything you're uncomfortable driving in. You will, however, hit several large cities each of which can present significant traffic problems. these include Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Nashville. Depending on what time of day you hit each of those, they could eat up several more hours of your available time. You should make every effort to transit these cities outside of there standard morning and evening rush hours.
Beyond that, I'd need to know your interests and what it is, exactly, you hope to get out of this trip before I can offer any further advice.
AZBuck
Well, let me start it over. From now on I will write only one reply, to you AZBuck and to you Mass Tim. I first wrote my first Thread here naivily, because I thought no one would respond me back: I was and am completely wrong. You both have been so helpfull. I can see that because of you this king of web site do works. Thank you again!
Now, let's talk about my trip again: This will be my third time in Florida, visiting its wonderfull parks. And this time, once we don't have anything new to see in Disney, Universal and other similar places, I want to fulfill another one of my dreams: to see Graceland (maybe check if Elvis isn't death, like us, The King's fans, think. But 8 days only visiting Memphis would not be nice to other cities in TN. I like to see where the blues was born (if not, at least I heard that Elvis, BB King and many others used to play and record their songs in Nashville).
As I like the American way of life, and many other things that you have different from my country (Brazil), I want to know more and more each time I go there.
My first plan was just to visit Memphis. Then I seacherd about other cities and where I could go: the chosen ones were Nashville and Chattanooga, so we can learn a little about the American History.
Then, I realized that if I took a 3 day trip to Memphis I would arrive there only one day before Elvis' birthday. The city would be crowded. Then I thought: Maybe I can travel the other way round - Orlando>Chattanooga (9 hour trip, according to google)>Nashivelle>Memphis>Orlando (the last round would take about 14 hours (google), and if we have snow in our way, it will delay us a little more.
So, what do you thing I can do? which is the best route? what places I should go (I heard about a wonderfull Zoo in Chattanooga)? What do you think about Memphis during Elvis' birthday? Too crowded?
Thanks again for your politeness and thoughtfull hints.
My best regards!
What you need to do is check dates carefully to determine which direction you want to make this "loop" trip in - you can do either Orlando - Memphis - Nashville - Chattanooga - Orlando *OR* Orlando - Chattanooga - Nashville - Memphis - Orlando.
Approximate drive times between these cities on fastest route:
Orlando - Chattanooga: This is a full day's drive, 10 to 12 hours.
Chattanooga - Nashville: 2.5 hours
Nashville - Memphis: 3.5 hours
Memphis - Orlando: This is a day and a half, 14 to 16 hours.
Between Memphis and Orlando leave some time for a stop in Tupelo to visit the Kings birthplace.
Thanks, Dave, for the hint. It is already written in my trip schedule.Quote:
Originally Posted by Southwest Dave
Thanks, GLC. We will be travelling from January 3rd and arriving back in Orlando on January 13th.Quote:
Originally Posted by glc
About the driving time, we think that 5 to 6 hours per day will be enough, especially due to the weather and traffic.
That would make it a 2 day trip between Orlando and Chattanooga, and a 3 day trip between Memphis and Orlando. Tupelo is right on the fastest route and is about 2 hours from Memphis. The halfway point between Tupelo and Orlando is Dothan.
Thanks again, GLC.Quote:
Originally Posted by glc