Drive From TX to WDW

[txdisneyfanatic]

Hi, Disney friends! Any advice on the drive from TX to Orlando? Places to see, or any other great advice such as restaurants along the way, etc? We'll be traveling I-10 thru Baton Rouge, Biloxi, Mobile, etc. and are considering a brief stop in New Orleans on the way back. Thanks 4 helping in our 1st road trip to WDW!!

[Goofy4TheWorld]

I have some simple advise on which road to use for your last 90 minutes of travel time.

Don't take the Florida Turnpike all the way to Orlando and I-4, get off the turnpike on SR429 and come into Disney World on the west side of the property. SR429 is a four-lane median divided highway with nothing but grass on either side of the road and hardly any traffic. Its is SO much less stressful than dealing with traffic in Orlando and is well worth the minimal toll charges.

[Soph and Han's Mom]

goofy gave some great advise. i tried this last time and it was great!

having done this 8 plus times (and getting ready to do it again in a few weeks) i can tell you it's a pretty easy drive. lots of towns along the way break the trip up nicely!

we tend to do a long first day of driving...from san antonio to tallahassee. the hilton garden inn there is our hotel of chioce...very convenient and clean. there's also a carrabbas that we like to eat dinner at nearby. a long first day means that we can get on the road day two around 8 am and have lunch at the parks about 1.

have a safe drive and a great trip

[ryca1dreams]

Where in Texas are you? Can you take me? I'll help drive!

Seriously though, we only drove once so I'm not much help. However, if you hit Sulphur, LA (just to the west of Lake Charles) around lunch, stop off at Cajun Charlies for a good cajun buffet if you're into that.

[redleg96]

We'll be making the same drive (Harker Heights, TX to WDW) in SEP. We'll make it a two day drip each was; staying the night in Crestview FL (making it 13 hours on Day 1 and 6 hours on Day 2) on the way there and staying in Baton Rouge on the way back.
We know we can do it all in one day but don't feel like doing it - we drove non-stop from WDW to just north of Kansas City for our last WDW trip and we were exhausted the entire next day. Have fun on your trip.

[txdisneyfanatic]

Thanks, guys! Great advice.......Central TX here! Ft. Hood is right down the road!!

[lighteningqueen]

Where in central Ttexas?? We are driving from Eden. 53 miles from Junction and will go thru San Antonio. So we are wondering on hours as well. We did the USS ALABAMA on the way back last time in Alabama and really had a good time plus you get to go thru a sub. Not a military fanatic but it was fun.. Self guided only open till 5pm

[slegrant]

We are leaving from Austin, TX June 27th and if we leave by 5 or 6am we can usually make it to Ocala and sometimes even make it straight thru. The longer we drive on day 1 the quicker we get to Walt Disney World

As far as stops on the way, we are way to excited to stop anywhere and on the way back home we are so tired we just want to get home.

Have fun on your trip!

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Well if you stop in Biloxi, you have lots of choices....all the casinos have decent restaurants....there are also a lot of chains like Olive Garden, Chilis, Buffalo Wild Wings etc if you take the I110 exit north....if you want sandwiches, soups, salads etc...there is an excellent place in that area called Newk's...I highly recommend it

[brivers222]

I would say use some adult diapers like that astronut lisa nowak did... she made the trip from Houston in Orlando with little to no stops


actually driving from Michigan to Florida (19 hours) often, i would say take a lot of breaks to keep the blood flowing in your body.

Even if you pack food and snacks, make sure you get out of the car to stretch. While i have usually made the trip straight through in the past, i found with my fiancee she is a lot less tolerant of so many hours in a car.

[GrumpyFan]

We live in Houston and have made the trip a few times. We usually make it a 2 day trip, driving most of the way the first day, and stopping in Gainesville or Ocala or somewhere in there. Then on day 2, we like to get up early(ish) and drive in to our hotel and check-in around 10 or 11, so we can squeeze in almost a full day for our first day.

[janebanks]

Ahhh the memories. My parents drove us from TX to WDW every summer on I-10. Usually in a big white van with no windows. They'd put mattresses down in the back and we'd play or jump or sleep or do crafts or read while they took turns driving and went straight through day and night. Those were the days when kids didn't have to wear sleep belts. Good times.