driving directions to florida (Chicago, Nashville: how much, vs., moving to)

[medic65]

I was wondering if anyone has directions for driving from illinois to florida avoiding the mountains. There is a possiblility that I may need to drive some furniture there and am not comfortable on the little mountains there are. I would appreciate any help out there

[myrc60]

It is possible but you will add hours to your trip. Have you ever driven through the Smokey's? Most everyone slows down through there.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by medic65

I was wondering if anyone has directions for driving from illinois to florida avoiding the mountains. There is a possiblility that I may need to drive some furniture there and am not comfortable on the little mountains there are. I would appreciate any help out there

Go by way of Nashville and Chattanooga and you'll avoid mountains. You'll see a few near Chattanooga but no steep grades or high climbs; you'll cut through Racoon Mountain by way of Windy Gap, Waldon's Ridge-Lookout Mountain by way of the Tennessee River valley, cross Missionary Ridge through a cut and cross Rocky Face Ridge through the gap at Buzzard's Roost. Then no more mountains to speak of. You'll be in the footsteps of the Army of the Cumberland.

Take 65 to Nashville, 24 from Nashville to Chattanooga and 75 from Chattanooga to Florida. No sweat.

[MSchemist80]

I moved from Chicago to Athens, Ga recently and took that route. I-24 outside of Chattanooga I believe the area is called monteagle is a bit unnerving with a truck. Just take it slow and you will be fine. They have runaway truck ramps filled with gravel to stop you in case of an emergency.

[medic65]

Thankyou so much for your responses. I have actually driven the route thru Monteagle (rt 24), and I think if I were in my car I would be okay, but since we will be driving a van that Im not too familiar with Im a bit more hesitant. Someone recommended I65 all the way south thru Alabama to I-20 east...that would take us directly into Atlanta. I know its a bit longer, but does anyone else know anything about this route?? Thank you again!

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by medic65

I was wondering if anyone has directions for driving from illinois to florida avoiding the mountains. There is a possiblility that I may need to drive some furniture there and am not comfortable on the little mountains there are. I would appreciate any help out there

Ok, I've done this many times, moving to FL, then going back to IL on roadtrips. Make your way to I-57 South, going through Central and Southern IL until you hit Paducah, KY. You'll have to eventually hit 24 East. You still have to go through a few mountains between Nashville and Chattanooga, but eventually hit 285 South through Atlanta then 75 all the way down to FL. I'm just doing this off the top off my head but you may want to consult with Triple AAA if you're a member. If you want to go completely flat, you'd have to say west a little and go down through Alabama, I did that once and wouldn't recommend it because you go through some podunk towns.

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by medic65

Thankyou so much for your responses. I have actually driven the route thru Monteagle (rt 24), and I think if I were in my car I would be okay, but since we will be driving a van that Im not too familiar with Im a bit more hesitant. Someone recommended I65 all the way south thru Alabama to I-20 east...that would take us directly into Atlanta. I know its a bit longer, but does anyone else know anything about this route?? Thank you again!

I did this once, it's the last time I did it. My wife feared going through some parts of AL, but that's just our minority fears in us.

Like I said in my first reply above, I would recommend I-57 over 65. I-57 is flatter and less metro areas to go through.

[tcs1366]

IF you do not want steep hills... you will hit a doozy heading into Chattanooga. I think it's 3 lanes wide [been a while since iv'e done that drive] It's a beautiful drive though... no hairpin turns or anything, but i find it a steep grade.

BUT if you really want to avoid it, looking at a map, you could do Nashville south into Birmingham, then east to Atlanta... but that will add quite a bit of time to your trip.

Use mapquest or another trip mapping sites to see how much time/mileage you'd be adding if you went out of the way to miss that one [HUGE] hill.

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by tcs1366

IF you do not want steep hills... you will hit a doozy heading into Chattanooga. I think it's 3 lanes wide [been a while since iv'e done that drive] It's a beautiful drive though... no hairpin turns or anything, but i find it a steep grade.

BUT if you really want to avoid it, looking at a map, you could do Nashville south into Birmingham, then east to Atlanta... but that will add quite a bit of time to your trip.

Use mapquest or another trip mapping sites to see how much time/mileage you'd be adding if you went out of the way to miss that one [HUGE] hill.

You're right, that "hill" is at least 4% grade one way and 6% grade the other, I forget which one (southbound vs. northbound). However, I wasn't sure if the OP meant to avoid a lot of them or at least get through one. If he can tackle the one in Chattanooga, there's really nothing else. I moved furniture going through that mountain, but had to go slow because my Ryder truck couldn't go any faster up hill. Strap that furniture down, though. He didn't say what kind of truck that was going to be in.

[MSchemist80]

I moved a medium sized u-haul filled with furniture and a car carier with a midsized car going down monteagle. You will be fine as long as you don't drive totally idiotically. just take it slowly. large numbers of people and trucks take that interstate all day long and manage to not get killed and many of them are a lot less cautious than you will be. I say just do it. It is only 1 lousy mile out of a thousand.