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Later this month I'll be driving from Melbourne, Florida to the Wisconsin Dells. I've done this trip before and have gone up I-75 to I-10 then picked up RT 231, I-65 in Montgomery, AL, to Nashville, then I-24, to I-57 In Illinois to I-74 t0 I-39, then to I-90.

I'm looking at staying on I-75 up to Nashville, then I-24. I have disliked driving through Atlanta, as unless I start out at 0:500, I always end up in Atlanta traffic mess at two or three PM. I figure on two and half days driving, stopping in either Decatur Al or Dalton Ga at the end of day 1.

Either route is ~1200 miles with the Atlanta route about 60 miles shorter. It will be most all highway interstate roads (except for 231 through Ga). The car I'll be driving can get ~30 mpg so stopping every three hours or so for gas and breaks is necessary.(A 12 gallon tank with a disfunctional gas guage)

Does anyone have any optional routes to suggest? I try to avoid the metropolitan areas. One route takes me through Birmingham, which was congested last week when I was in the area (traffic accidents) or Atlanta (always congested) when I've gone through.

I run from Pittsburgh to Naples and it's 1170 miles so I know where you coming from.
I plan my trips going and coming to make sure I avoid the morning and the evening rush hours through Charlotte.

I just did a quick map of your journey on my DeLorme mapping software.

I-95 to the Fl Turnpike to I-75 to Nashville to I-24 to I-65 to I-90 outside of Chicago.

I know you really don't want to go through major cities but the time on the major interstates will make up a lot more time than trying to save on minor routes. They may look like they are going to save you time. When in reality they will cost you more time.

Thanks for the input. I shoot over to I-24 to I-57, etc to miss I-90 around Chicago (a toll road and horrible traffic, poor roads), I have been that route.

The Alabama route adds about 55 miles. There is really no good way to avoid Atlanta. And the rest of your routing: I-24, I-57, I-74, I-39 is the way I would go.

Keith

I made the trip in my 87 Fiero GT including picking up the Hot Rod Power Tour. The old car averaged 30 mpg, with a low of 24 mpg getting stuck driving around some of Chicago's less traveled streets. It was a total of 3850+ miles driven averaging 50 mph (according to GPS) and 75 hours driving in three weeks time. My high mileage was around 34 mpg driving along RT 12 in southern Michigan on my way to Detroit (where some of the roads were worse than Chicago roads).

The suspension/alignment shops must be giving a kickback to the areas government for not repairing the potholes.

Hey!
What date are you leaving? I'm driving to Georgia on Thursday(from the tampa bay area)

Gone and back from the road trip. The Power Tour ended in Bristol, TN June 13. But next week I'm off to upstate NY or about three weeks, The Florida heat is getting to me.

Make sure you stop by the Carr Valley Cheese store in either the Dells or Mauston and get some fresh cheese curds off the counter. Squeeky goodness.:p

D'oh I see you are already back, hope you got some curds anyway.

Lol, I didn't see the original post date, back in May......
Anyway, upstate NY? I will be in NH, and I have to drive through NY on my way there or back, or both. What city in NY???

Make sure you stop by the Carr Valley Cheese store in either the Dells or Mauston and get some fresh cheese curds off the counter. Squeeky goodness.:p

D'oh I see you are already back, hope you got some curds anyway.

I did get some cheese at the Carr store in the Dells. There was some chedder with truffles for sampling that was really good, but at $17/pound.:eek:

I'll be in Binghamton to see my brother then drive to Rochester to see old friends and go to the Corn Hill Arts festival on July 11.

I have taken RT-7 out of NY (RT-9) in VT across through NH and to Maine as a scenic trip several times. It avoids the NYS Thruway and Mass Pike tolls.