Chicago to Florida travel route thoughts

For a quick stop for the night there's a real neat CG that is literally just feet off the interstate ramp on I65 at exit# 354 in Athens called Northgate RV Travel Park. I make it a point to always stop there.

Have a safe trip! Come on down the weather is great in the 80's! :C

I avoid Chattanooga at ALL costs. To avoid the steep grade at look out mountain.

And I most certainly would not want to be any where's near that grade during the winter months.

I65 down from Chicago thru Indy is all construction not to mention going thru Indy! Did it once never again.

I've tried them all and to avoid what I call the Chattanooga drop off here is the route I take back and forth going on 6 years now.

The roads are nice and I find it to be a VERY pleasant trip in an RV.

57 to 24 ONLY to Nashville and then pick up 65 into Birmingham and then 20 to Atlanta and then south on 75.

Could take 231 to Indy then 37 to Bloomington where you pick up the just opened I-69 to Evansville and Henderson Ky. The Pennyrile through Kentucky has been resurfaced for the most part and is in good shape to I-24. The 440 is a good way thru Nashville. The other suggestions in 331 or 231 in Alabama are good too. There aren't any real mountain drives on I-65, some grades but noting like Mt.Eagle. H 37 can be busy and does have construction being upgraded to an interstate but once on I-69, traffic is very light to I-24. Henderson has some stop lights that you can time. When you see McD's on the right make your way to the left lane to stay on the Pennyrile.

I think your route will expose you to the same weather as a more direct route, just more of it. Take a more direct route and if it's cold, stay in a motel for the first night. To avoid Chattanooga and Atlanta, consider taking I-65 from Gary to Birmingham, then US 231 down to Florida. You'd still have Nashville traffic.

If you'd like the road less traveled, but a bit more direct and better than the one you suggested, look at getting down to Evansvile, then taking KY 4 lane Parkways down to I-24, then at Clarksville TN you can drop down through Dickson to the new 840 connector highway which lets you miss Nashville. You can get off of it at I-65 south, and on to Birmingham and 231.

Thinking of taking I57 and then I55 down to Memphis then angling over towards Birmingham and then Tallahassee

That route is over 1,600 miles.

I65..231...84..27 to Tallahassee is 953 miles.

Your choice.

The route you have selected is a very good one. We have driven that way many times and you will not encounter any hills of excessive size. Another way is to go to 24 and then to 41 and back on 24 through Evansville Indiana and catch 65 outside of Nashville. We have been this way also and it is a nice sort of scenic route. Whatever way you go enjoy!

BobKrogstie wrote:
Any road that has an Interstate designation is definitely NOT the road less traveled.

Guess you missed his point about avoiding mountains (hills).

For his expressed preference, the route he mentioned is probably the best......IF time is not a big factor. It will take an extra day or so going that way.

But do stay on the Interstates. It's pretty hilly around Birmingham too.

You do have reservations in Florida, right ??
Absolutely required if you want anything decent.

I take your way and get off 65 south of Montgomery and pick up 331 south. I like to overnight at Florala AL city park then continue on to I10 via 331

Any road that has an Interstate designation is definitely NOT the road less traveled. I would suggest looking into US-231 Chicago -> Cottondale, FL, then US-90 east to Tallahassee, FL. US-231 bypasses Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Birmingham, and downtown Montgomery. Safe travels.

Mountain Directory East might be a good resource. We go the direct route and only experience hills this side of Chattanooga.