Best driving route from Tampa? (Owatonna, Montgomery: hotels, construction, university)

[Sunbrite]

Hello! Doing a road trip from Florida to Minnesota and trying to figure out the quickest route. I saw that there is some construction on I-24W through Tennessee and Missouri?

Thank you for suggestions!

[slamont61]

Drive North for the most part.

Might want to check with Tennessee and Missouri for their local road conditions. Construction season hasn't begun here, for most places in Minnesota.

[Ben Around]

I've done this trip many times when my mom lived in the Tampa area. I tried all sorts of different routes, just for fun. I think my favorite was 75/10/231/65/24/57/64/61/218/35.

Takes you via Tallahassee/ Montgomery/ Birmingham/ Nashville/ St. Louis /Hannibal/ Iowa City/ Owatonna.

This route avoids Atlanta. I really hate to drive through there. The 285 "by-pass" is just as bad as 75 thru town.

[Sunbrite]

Thank you both! Will take a look at that route, that's really helpful- thank you. We were planning to stop at the Atlanta Perimeter area, I hope it's not too busy there.

[CARas2020]

Use Google maps or Mapquest I think you can set parameters like avoiding interstates. they usually give a couple routes. I know when we were planning on driving from Oregon to Minnesota that's what i did. We had a good idea of what we wanted to see along the way. Are you planning on driving straight through or finding things to see and do along the way?


Good luck.

[unxpctd]

I've driven this route many many times over the last few years.


General idea: (FL to MN)



Southern Florida
Atlanta (avoid rush hour)
Nashville
Paducah, KY
Go north up through Illinois towards Beloit, WI

I-94 up to the Twin Cities


It may tell you going through Iowa is shorter but don't do it... 4 lane NON-interstate with lots of smaller towns. Much easier to stay on the interstates.


Just got back last weekend from a trip down to see family in northern Alabama and 5 days down in Destin Florida.


I also have family in Fort Myer's Florida so I've driven down there 4-5x in the last 5 years.


Good luck with your trip!

[Sunbrite]

^ That's it. I think this is the route our family will take. And the best part is that it avoids our friend Chicago.
Thank you so much everyone!!! This helps tremendously. And I do wish we could just drive straight through, but it will be a couple of day trip, we'll have our dog in the car with us and I have some dog allergies so will have to take some breaks throughout. With all your suggestions, we won't be just at the mercy of our GPS!

Thanks again!!

[Sunbrite]

Trying to figure out where we will stay our first stop. I'm thinking Atlanta is too busy with traffic. Is there another town/city that is in-between Atlanta and Nashville that would be a good place for our family to stay? Or, should we just see if we can drive to Nashville? Looking for an area that is good for a family- quiet, where hotels will be Covid-19 compliant, etc. Thanks!

[TxTnVtMn]

Chattanooga could be a good option for stopping between Atlanta and Nashville.

You may also find some hotels in Monteagle, TN. If you like seeing colleges (or just great scenery in general), Monteagle is only 10 minutes from Sewanee (University of the South).

[Sunbrite]

Thank you! Forgot about Chattanooga! I absolutely love college towns so may check out Monteagle on the way too.