Michigan to Florida

For a quick overnight stop, there's a KOA just off exit 1 in Clarksville, IN (just before the KY border). Traffic is terrible though around rush-hour, so if you stay, you'll want to leave out early morning (before 6) or late morning (after 9).
The I65 bridge is being rebuilt, and there are closures and detours. At rush hour, its a huge problem and a long delay. I'd suggest stopping AFTER Louisville to avoid that mess.

I would take I75 all the way and don't take the bypass around Atlanta, it's just not worth it in my opinion. We came back from Florida this past February and got caught in a big snow/ice storm and I drove in 4wd for a long ways coming north. They closed the freeway shortly after we went through. Trust me, they don't know how to drive in the snow. We had our bikes on a rack on the rear of the 5th wheel and they were so rusted when we got home, I had to replace the kids bikes. We usually just stay at a Walmart with the furnace on but it was struggling to keep up. I wish I had a generator to run some electric heaters instead.

KOA Clinton, Tenn. Expensive and average quality, but handy
Twin Oaks, Elko, Georgia Outstanding for a 1 night stand.
Lake City, Many good parks
Jennings, Florida, Park is old, and electric is not great, but nice park and very easy on and off
Alachula, Florida Travelers Rest. Handy, nice park, unusual parking but we like it. Only about 275 miles to our winter home.

Never make reservations because so many things can change on the trip South.

I like Renfro Valley RV Park, Renfro Valley, KY
Harvest Moon, Adairsville, GA
Fair Harbor RV Park, Perry, GA

Try to figure out where your stops will be, then go to RVParkreviews.Com
And check by state, then town.

I generally drive straight thru on I-75 at Atlanta

I assume that with a lightweight you'll have it winterized and plan on over nighting in motels, smart thinking. I75 will work fine and a motel will work fine and won't cost much more than trying to setup and warmup a very cold RV. I guarantee many more Motels open than RV parks. We wintered in north central Florida our first year fulltiming, few nights in upper 20's,warm days with sun beat the he!! out of northern Il. Enjoy.

I have to agree on the motel until you get to Fl, or at least warm weather. Same on the way back if its going to be cold when you plan to return. Setting up at a campground in the cold will not be pleasant, then warming up a cold trailer will take a little time. I-75 is usually in good shape unless a snow storm comes through. Once you get to mid KY you should have clear sailing.

For us it is 3 hours to Detroit on ON 401 then I-75 all the rest of the way. Just be prepared to lay low for a day or two somewhere if the weather turns nasty. The highest elevation is the first 15 miles or so into Tennessee. Two years ago we spent two nights at the KOA at Chattanooga South while Atlanta tried to deal with 2.6" of snow. In Michigan and Ontario we call that Spring.

When we used to do it in early January our first stop was Kentucky Horse Park at Lexington. No water or sewer but the electricity is on and the washrooms and showers are open and heated. There is water available at the dump station. Our second night was the KOA at Forsyth, GA which put us south of Atlanta for the next morning. That is also where we de-winterized. Since this is your first trip I would suggest a hotel until you get into Georgia.

As for Atlanta go straight through. Avoid rush hours, always keep one lane over from the right as the right lane sometimes becomes an exit, keep to the speed limit, leave room to stop, and most importantly remember that this is not the time or place to start a discussion with your partner about your in-laws coming to visit. Just take a deep breath and stay calm, Atlanta is not that tough.

I don't do the I-75 route to FL very often, only to outrun a storm or if heading to the panhandle, but do the N -S run a LOT.

As general comments, the biggest one is weather. Be flexible by a few days, watch the coming weather, and where it's coming from. Try to leave 24 hr. after a storm, dry roads and unlikely another will be on it's heels.

We always try to get as far south the first day as possible. Mind you in a M/H it's easier because everything is per warmed from the drive. I just find the odds are better if you're further south that bad weather will mean rain not ice & snow.

I suppose that since you're in SE Michigan it's much closer to take I-75 all the way. Being in SW Michigan (and looking for a flatter route) we take I-69 down to Indianapolis then I-65 into KY-TN-& AL until Montgomery, AL where we catch US231 down to I-10. We head east on I-10 to Florida exit #225 where we head south on US27/US19 to Crystal River, FL where we stay.

If you're going into north central FL you can either stay on I-10 until I-75 or take the 27/19 route down to Chiefland, FL where you'd catch US27 over to Ocala.

I've driven I-75 all the way from Gaylord, MI (used to live there) in a car to Tampa and I recall telling my wife that I really didn't want to take that route with our camper. The elevations in the winter months with any precipitation doesn't make for carefree driving in my opinion. I've driven in snow all my life, but once you get into KY or TN they just don't condition the roads adequately in wintery weather.

As far as camping along that route we usually stay the first night in a motel (around Bowling Green, KY to Nashville, TN) and then the next night in a campground in AL. There's a very nice one just north of Troy, AL called Deer Run. It's got FHU's with cable for under $30 with Good Sam. From there it's only 350 miles to Crystal River and about that to Ocala.

I 475 Bypass around Macon. No question on this bypass.

I never take the Bypass around Atlanta. Traffic is just as heavy and it is 35 miles longer.