What is the best place to stop for the night on the way to Florida?

[JetHeller]

Hi guys,

Am driving to Florida from Toronto next week. Would like to know if any of you can recommend a good spot to stop for the night half-way? We plan on taking 2 days to get there.

Thanks!

[grappos13]

sorry this is probably not much help but i remember when i was 6 that we drove from toronto to florida as well but i can recommend that a good time to stop driving is about just before you hit georgia... we actually stayed somewhere literally on the border of tennesse and georgia (i coulda see the welcome to georgia sign from the hotel!)....if i remember correctly we probably left toronto at 5:30 am and stop at the hotel around 7:30-8pm....

probably doenst help much but it might give u an idea of the location where to stop... have fun on the trip!

[nalababe]

I always stayed around Lexington. Nice set of hotels, restaurants....

On the way we stopped at the original KFC, some ice cream place....and a whack of other stops along the way.

This is a great book to have on hand:
http://www.amazon.ca/Along-Interstate-75-Dave-Hunter/dp/1896819346

[petrpuck]

We have done this trip many times. Leaving at 6 AM, from Hamilton, we usually stop in the Charlotte area, or just past. We also book hotel rooms on priceline for cheap , giving you a destination to get to that night.
I know this doesn't really answer your ?, but............this has worked for us.

[totech]

Beckley WV.

[petrpuck]

1

[l69norm]

Am driving to Florida from Toronto next week. Would like to know if any of you can recommend a good spot to stop for the night half-way? We plan on taking 2 days to get there.Thanks!

Which route are you taking?
I77/I79 = Charlotte NC
I75 = Lexington KY or Knoxville TN

[vim]

I am also driving to Florida this weekend. I have to be in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday around noon. I'll be driving I-79/I-77/I-95 route. My plan:
1. Leave Toronto Thursday 6pm. About 6.5 driving.Stay overnight in West Virginia Morgentown.
2. Drive Friday to Daytona Beach. About 14 hour drive.
3. Finish Saturday about 4-5 hours to Fort Lauderdale.

I would recommend you download Google Earth and decide how much you want to drive each day. Then choose a few towns and Google Earth will show you all hotels in each town. Then use TripAdvisor or any other internet service to read about each hotel. Then use http://www.retailmenot.com/ to get discount codes for your hotel.

Good luck!

[slouie]

Beckley WV.

+1

Look for the coupon books in the information centres along the highway...you can usually stay for about $50/night which includes a breakfast buffet.

[JetHeller]

Thanks guys!

I actually don't know which route I will be taking.. I'll just punch it in to my Garmin GPS and follow that. But I remember last time I went down (tried to drive straight through..) I passed by Charlotte. And those direction were from Google Maps.. So I assume the GPS will have the same route (hopefully).

As for Beckley WV, I will check that out since a few of you recommended it. Can you guys recommend a particular hotel that you liked there?

[CorSter]

The GPS will send you down 77/79/95, i personally prefer 75/Florida's Turnpike/95 (switch at Jupiter, you can take Florida Turnpike right into Miami, but frankly you dont need to pay the tolls any longer than Jupiter, when 95 is approx 100 metres east of the Turnpike).....

If you're going down 75, you'll wanna stop somewhere in Tennessee. I suggest going by a local library and grabbing a copy of Along I-75.... it may be outdated, but it'll still be a good resource.... food gas and lodging are all clustered around the same exits.

When we did the trip, we stayed at the Hampton Inn in Caryville, TN on the way down, and at the Four Points in Knoxville, TN on the way up. No problems (Knoxville's hotel was a bit off the highway, but we prefer Starwood hotels)

Just a warning if you pick 75 - it's being rebuilt through Knoxville, so you need to follow signage carefully.

[JetHeller]

The GPS will send you down 77/79/95, i personally prefer 75/Florida's Turnpike/95 (switch at Jupiter, you can take Florida Turnpike right into Miami, but frankly you dont need to pay the tolls any longer than Jupiter, when 95 is approx 100 metres east of the Turnpike).....

If you're going down 75, you'll wanna stop somewhere in Tennessee. I suggest going by a local library and grabbing a copy of Along I-75.... it may be outdated, but it'll still be a good resource.... food gas and lodging are all clustered around the same exits.

When we did the trip, we stayed at the Hampton Inn in Caryville, TN on the way down, and at the Four Points in Knoxville, TN on the way up. No problems (Knoxville's hotel was a bit off the highway, but we prefer Starwood hotels)

Just a warning if you pick 75 - it's being rebuilt through Knoxville, so you need to follow signage carefully.

I've never been down I-75 before (From Detroit, I presume). On Google Maps it's only 1 hour longer than the 77/79 route. Why do you prefer it? Do you think it's less busy than the other route? I sometimes find that most GPS followers end up jammed up in the same place sometimes, it's quite funny!

Thanks for all the info by the way. Very helpful. Same goes to all the other posters!

[CorSter]

I've never been down I-75 before (From Detroit, I presume). On Google Maps it's only 1 hour longer than the 77/79 route. Why do you prefer it?

I revised my previous posts... but I just find the route is simpler.... I've done both and find the traffic moves faster on 75.... if you get stuck with fog or snow on the other route, you'll be delayed for a while.... just personal preference i suppose. Not to mention, i find I always lose time crossing the border in Buffalo, whereas the bridge in Detroit is often faster for me.

Anyways, if you're taking the 75 route - take 401 through Windsor and cross in Detroit, don't cross in buffalo.... and take the 475 bypass in Georgia unless you're planning on visiting Macon. And don't use your GPS... it'll keep trying to send you towards 95.... use the book Along I-75.... invaluable resource.... marks all the food, gas, lodging, rest stops, detours, and so on... you'll find it incredibly helpful.

[JetHeller]

I revised my previous posts... but I just find the route is simpler.... I've done both and find the traffic moves faster on 75.... if you get stuck with fog or snow on the other route, you'll be delayed for a while.... just personal preference i suppose. Not to mention, i find I always lose time crossing the border in Buffalo, whereas the bridge in Detroit is often faster for me.

Anyways, if you're taking the 75 route - take 401 through Windsor and cross in Detroit, don't cross in buffalo.... and take the 475 bypass in Georgia unless you're planning on visiting Macon. And don't use your GPS... it'll keep trying to send you towards 95.... use the book Along I-75.... invaluable resource.... marks all the food, gas, lodging, rest stops, detours, and so on... you'll find it incredibly helpful.

Thanks CorSter! I might take you up on this route and stay in Knoxville overnight.

[j62lee]

I've done this drive a few times, and prefer I75.

Like others have already mentioned, Lexington, KY is a good place to stop. Depending on what time you leave Toronto, you should arrive in Lexington around 6-8pm. Perfect time to stop for dinner and rest.

Depending on where you're going in Florida, there's a long stretch of flat, boring road after Atlanta. So definitely get some rest before Atlanta.

[Robbo]

I've driven both routes and they each have their pros and cons. However, for me the biggest pro to the 77/79/95 route is that it is quicker. I would say that the difference, all other things being equal, is greater than an hour and is likely 2-3 hours - for me when driving with my kids, that is enough to make me choose this route over the 75.

[slouie]

[QUOTE=JetHeller;8405551
As for Beckley WV, I will check that out since a few of you recommended it. Can you guys recommend a particular hotel that you liked there?[/QUOTE]

I think we stayed in the Ramada or Radisson...something with an R and a burgundy logo.

The first time we did the drive, we stopped in Beckley, WV and then in Waltersboro, SC. Don't stop in Waltersboro...its a hell hole!

[sandman804]

I drove both ways this past october. I found the route that takes you through beckley is much nicer, and scenic. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in beckley, and it was nice, and I believe its only two years old. this is the route I took on the way down.

If you decide to go this route, and are taking highway 79, DO NOT take the highway 19 shortcut. It is notorious for suddenly switching speed signs, and you get nailed by the tons of troopers around summersville. They purposely target out of towners and give you a ticket, even if your doing the limit or slightly under since they know you are on your way to florida and wont contest the ticket. I never went through there myself, but the internet is filled with reports and CAA actually sent me an advisory about it before my trip explaining the excessive police presence. Take the longer route around to charletson.

I found there was a ton of construction in pittsburg, and georgia.

On the way back, I took the more western route others advised. I know someone mentioned the original KFC in Corbin Kentucky. I ate there, and it was awful. I pooped all the way to the Michigan state line. I know it just wasnt me as my gf vomitted all the way to the Michigan state line. Its also a national historic site :confused:
I also found that route a little "seedy". when I passed the strippers billboard the spoke of a 10% discount for truckers, I knew I wasnt in disneyworld anymore. :cheesygri

[Deal4US]

Thanks guys!

I actually don't know which route I will be taking.. I'll just punch it in to my Garmin GPS and follow that. But I remember last time I went down (tried to drive straight through..) I passed by Charlotte. And those direction were from Google Maps.. So I assume the GPS will have the same route (hopefully).

As for Beckley WV, I will check that out since a few of you recommended it. Can you guys recommend a particular hotel that you liked there?

I took the 77/79/95 routes, 2wks ago. very nice drive, I would not worry about hotel that much, along the hwy you have all the big chain, the hampton will be more upscale if you want a nice place to stay overnight.
what i have learned from driving down to FL:
- Don't worry about hotel, pre-book will not give you the flexibility, you will see many CND license plates no matter which hotels you stay :)
- Be very careful not trusting teh GPS too much, i learned my lession ($150 bucks later), double check your routes, print a copy of Google map of the routes for cross references.
- tires pump, jumpstart cable, tires seals etc. just incase, i didn't have to use them, but you don't want to get caught without them.
Good luck and enjoy the drive, stop by welcome center they are quite cool and nice.

[totech]

If you decide to go this route, and are taking highway 79, DO NOT take the highway 19 shortcut. It is notorious for suddenly switching speed signs, and you get nailed by the tons of troopers around summersville. They purposely target out of towners and give you a ticket, even if your doing the limit or slightly under since they know you are on your way to florida and wont contest the ticket. I never went through there myself, but the internet is filled with reports and CAA actually sent me an advisory about it before my trip explaining the excessive police presence. Take the longer route around to charletson.



Bah.. I have taken the shortcut 5 times now, and have seen troopers, but as long as you are alert, set your cruise, and don't speed on this section, you will save about an hour off the drive.

[JewelsT]

So how many driving hours does it take to go to Disney World from Toronto?
How's the traffic going down South during March Break? I'll probably sit on this idea for awhile. I doubt if the kids can sit that long. How do you all survive the trip with kids in the back?

[j62lee]

To get to Orlando... probably about 20hrs of non-stop driving. I don't know what you'd do with kids in the back. The 4 of us took turns driving, so if we weren't driving, we were sleeping. And we were all in our early 20's at that point.

[slouie]

How do you all survive the trip with kids in the back?


My kids were 8 and 6 when we made the trip...portable DVD players, gameboy, nintendo DS, books, sudoku books, etc.

[JetHeller]

I took the 77/79/95 routes, 2wks ago. very nice drive, I would not worry about hotel that much, along the hwy you have all the big chain, the hampton will be more upscale if you want a nice place to stay overnight.
what i have learned from driving down to FL:
- Don't worry about hotel, pre-book will not give you the flexibility, you will see many CND license plates no matter which hotels you stay :)
- Be very careful not trusting teh GPS too much, i learned my lession ($150 bucks later), double check your routes, print a copy of Google map of the routes for cross references.
- tires pump, jumpstart cable, tires seals etc. just incase, i didn't have to use them, but you don't want to get caught without them.
Good luck and enjoy the drive, stop by welcome center they are quite cool and nice.


Why did the GPS cost you $150?

[wasteislander]

Hi,

Most posters had their start point in GTA, many going to Miami.

For those going Mtl- Orlando, where are the good stops, and after how many hours of driving.

Thanks!