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Started By
Message
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge drive from NOLA
Posted on 8/17/20 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 8/17/20 at 3:16 pm
Wife is nervous about flying, part due to COVID part due to trying to get a young child to comply with COVID restrictions, to Gatlinburg. It appears it will be about a 9-10 hour drive from NOLA if we do not make any stops. Any suggested cities to stay at that would be around midway?
Per the maps, it appears the biggest cities to stay would be either Birmingham or Tuscaloosa. Any recommended places to stay in either area? Would be during winter break. Anyone make that drive and find out there were better places to stay to break it up?
Wife wants to stay in Chattanooga, but that is only 2 hours away. At that point, I'd be inclined to power through.
Also considering just heading out at 10pm and letting everyone sleep during the drive, and I crash day 1.
Per the maps, it appears the biggest cities to stay would be either Birmingham or Tuscaloosa. Any recommended places to stay in either area? Would be during winter break. Anyone make that drive and find out there were better places to stay to break it up?
Wife wants to stay in Chattanooga, but that is only 2 hours away. At that point, I'd be inclined to power through.
Also considering just heading out at 10pm and letting everyone sleep during the drive, and I crash day 1.
10
Posted on 8/17/20 at 3:20 pm to Weekend Warrior79
quote:
Wife wants to stay in Chattanooga,
This is where we stayed on our trip to Gatlinburg a few years back. We visited Ruby Falls and Lookout Mtn, etc while there.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 3:38 pm to notiger1997
We drove to Chattanooga one time and never stopped except for lunch in Alabama and to see some waterfalls
We also drove to Knoxville one time and never stopped either
It's not a bad drive
The only bad part traffic wise can be through the Birmingham area
We also drove to Knoxville one time and never stopped either
It's not a bad drive
The only bad part traffic wise can be through the Birmingham area
Posted on 8/17/20 at 3:43 pm to Weekend Warrior79
How old are your kids? 9-10 hour drive isn't bad. I'm not a fan of driving overnight but I go to bed early usually.
I'm more of a fan of waking up super early, letting everyone sleep some more in the car and getting there early.
But yeah there's not much between Bham and Chattanooga.
I'm more of a fan of waking up super early, letting everyone sleep some more in the car and getting there early.
But yeah there's not much between Bham and Chattanooga.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 3:57 pm to Weekend Warrior79
We always stay in Trussville, AL at the exit just on the other side of Birmingham. That way we don't have to deal with the morning traffic in B'Ham. It's a very clean Holiday Inn Express in a good area, and has a decent breakfast selection.
Holiday Inn Express - Trussville
Holiday Inn Express - Trussville
Posted on 8/17/20 at 4:01 pm to baldona
quote:
How old are your kids?
Youngest will be under 2 at the time. As long as the car is moving, she will be sleeping.
Oldest will be 5. When in the car for more than 1 hour, he needs more bathroom breaks than a drunk guy after breaking the seal.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 4:03 pm to notiger1997
quote:
This is where we stayed on our trip to Gatlinburg a few years back. We visited Ruby Falls and Lookout Mtn, etc while there.
The compromise with the wife right now is if we don't stay in Chattanooga on the way up, can we extend the trip 1 day and stay on the way back.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 4:06 pm to Shexter
quote:
We always stay in Trussville, AL
I'll second this. We almost always stay there on the way in and stop there on the way back for a quick breakfast.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 4:14 pm to Weekend Warrior79
quote:
he needs more bathroom breaks than a drunk guy after breaking the seal.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 6:31 pm to Weekend Warrior79
We stop in Cleveland, TN. There's a few new motels off I-75 right there. You can get up and take the scenic rout through Bryson City or keep rolling up 75.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 6:48 pm to jfw3535
Do what my parents did. Give him a gallon jug to fill up.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 7:17 pm to Weekend Warrior79
It is more like 12 hours to Gatlinburg when you include the winding roads to the place you are staying. We have driven straight through and split the drive in Birmingham and Chattanooga. When we stopped in Chattanooga, we went to the underground sea in Sweetwater, TN on the way to Gatlinburg.
The problem with flying is that the Knoxville airport is an hour away. If you want to fly Southwest, you have to fly in to Greenville Spartanburg SC which is 3 hours away or Nashville 4 hours away.
The problem with flying is that the Knoxville airport is an hour away. If you want to fly Southwest, you have to fly in to Greenville Spartanburg SC which is 3 hours away or Nashville 4 hours away.
Posted on 8/17/20 at 9:05 pm to Shaun176
quote:
t is more like 12 hours to Gatlinburg
Nah
Posted on 8/18/20 at 9:33 am to notiger1997
We stop in Gadsden or Fort Payne at Desoto State Park. Gadsden exit has lots of restaurants and a Walmart. Get off at Cleveland and take 74 over to Cherokee to 411
Posted on 8/18/20 at 9:53 am to Popths
It's an easy drive, can be done in a day. I drive Chatt to Belle Chasse fairly often, use to do Knoxville to Belle Chasse. Getting all the to G'burg isn't much of an issue. Go through Lenoir City/Maryville/Foothills Parkway for a better way in instead of the main drag through Sevierville if you stop somewhere on the way in and get to arrive in the morning to G'burg.
I usually time my stops at Chick Fil A or Love's Truck Stops when I do it with my kid or dog. Chick Fil A playgrounds are closed now, so letting the kid burn some energy there is out of the picture.
Birmingham is a decent place to stop, Fairfield at Colonnade/Grandview was nice when I had to stop my last trip because we got started so late leaving NOLA. I wouldn't stop in Chatt either, too easy to make it all the way in from there.
I usually time my stops at Chick Fil A or Love's Truck Stops when I do it with my kid or dog. Chick Fil A playgrounds are closed now, so letting the kid burn some energy there is out of the picture.
Birmingham is a decent place to stop, Fairfield at Colonnade/Grandview was nice when I had to stop my last trip because we got started so late leaving NOLA. I wouldn't stop in Chatt either, too easy to make it all the way in from there.
This post was edited on 8/18/20 at 9:59 am
Posted on 8/18/20 at 10:56 am to Dam Guide
quote:
Go through Lenoir City/Maryville/Foothills Parkway for a better way in instead of the main drag through Sevierville
without a doubt.
Posted on 8/18/20 at 11:56 am to Weekend Warrior79
I’d time it right to stay in Chattanooga as every time Ive been to Gatlinburg/PF, the worst traffic I experience is always in Chattanooga. Maybe spend much of the next day exploring Chattanooga since it’s not too far away from your destination.
Posted on 8/18/20 at 2:49 pm to Weekend Warrior79
That will be a long arse drive. Especially on return so be prepared.
Posted on 8/18/20 at 7:15 pm to Weekend Warrior79
I would push on through.
We made the trip last year (from Baton Rouge) with 6 kids. Youngest being 3 at the time.
We only stopped for lunch in Birmingham. But you know your kids.
We made the trip last year (from Baton Rouge) with 6 kids. Youngest being 3 at the time.
We only stopped for lunch in Birmingham. But you know your kids.
Posted on 8/18/20 at 7:35 pm to GreenRockTiger
Until recently I refused to drive more than 6 hours. Partly because I had an hour each way for work drive so if I hated that crap, I def. wasn't putting kids through that.
For our Gatlinburg trip we stopped at Chattanooga on the way up and drove straight through on the way home. We all hated each other at the end of the ride home.
Each family is different in how they adjust, but I find that some people push things too far with their drives because they want the most bang for their buck and ruin vacations.
For our Gatlinburg trip we stopped at Chattanooga on the way up and drove straight through on the way home. We all hated each other at the end of the ride home.
Each family is different in how they adjust, but I find that some people push things too far with their drives because they want the most bang for their buck and ruin vacations.
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