We want to make the trip down to Miami for a cruise. Never drove this far before. We will leave allowing plenty of time so we are not always fighting the clock. Would like to see "stuff" along the way. We have always flown over these states. What shall we expect when stopping for the night. Do we absolutely have to make reservations a head of time? We like the idea of being able to stop when we want.
Also, has anyone driven the "blue highways"? These are the less traveled roads, not super-highways.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Cruise leaves Feb. 13th from Miami.

I would make certain I could be in Miami at least one day ahead of the cruise departure date.

In terms of just the Florida portion of the trip you have, IMO, a decision to make and that is the route you take. Do you come down I-75 or do you approach on I-10? Down the center of the state or along one of the two coasts?

A lot depends on your interests.

Realize you will be coming to Florida during one of the busiest times of the year and sometimes overnight accommodations can be tight.

Hope you enjoy the ride.

Stop in Chatanooga--aquarium and very cool city.

You're going at a poor time weather-wise of the year. Probably the worst time. Plus you will have to go through some mountainous areas, also a big minus then.

I hope you allow a **lot** of extra time as many of the states through which you will pass often have ice storms then.

You would NOT have to go through any mountainous areas if you took I-55 south to New Orleans (yeah, now there's a place to stop) and then took I-10 east through the Florida panhandle and then I-75 south to either the Turnpike or down the Gulf Coast side of Florida and then across.

Exile is an alarmist of the first order.
I 75 is NOT mourntainous, for heavens'sake. It is a 4-6 lane interstate that goes through valleys and ridges of low plateaus in places. Even the old road we drove to Knoxville from Ohio in the 40's and 50s was adequate!!
Ice storms "CAN" happen down around Atlanta and east of there.
At any given time in the calendar, weather and "stuff" happens. If you are going to drive, start looking at the weather 10 days before and if weather is going to affect you, PLAN for it.

I have made the northern Illinois to Florida trip numerous times. You have several options available. Take 65 through Indiana and Tennessee and catch 24 in Nashville. Great stopping place for the night or head on to Chattanooga which is also good stopping point. From there you catch 75. 75 through GA is the least interesting section of all the route sections unless you divert off the interstate.

If you prefer you could stay on 65 and go to Montgomery from there take highway 231 to FL. and on down to the panhandle and catch 10 and drive east to catch 75.

I have also taken 55 to Memphis and then south doing the blues highway and the Natchez Trace. Both interesting and beautiful drives with lots of history. All great routes with different scenery.

"Exile is an alarmist of the first order." Thanks, Gretchen, for the kind words.

Re: my comment on the mountainous areas - the OP is looking for information on roads other than the interstate system.

The only way that they won't run into mountains somewhere along the way is, as the above poster indicated, go down the Great River Road into Louisiana and across the panhandle.

BTW, Gretchen, if the OP was taking interstates to Florida from Chicago, I would imagine that it would be I65 until they at least get south of Nashville (TN), not I75. They'd have to drive through a major lake effect snow belt (around South Bend, IN area - SE of Lake Michigan) if they tried to access I75 that far north.

Oops. When I wrote "go down the Great River Road into Louisiana and across the panhandle." I meant to typed "go down I55 into Louisiana and then across the panhandle."

I was thinking about the option of the Great River Road while I typed that, but was uncertain if there are flooding conditions along the way at this time.

Why go to South bend? I think we can miss the lake effect (obsessed with snow much). Drop southeast to Indianapolis, then down to Cincy to I75. TRaveling the hypotenuse of the triangle to drift eastward rather than staying so far west.
The "blue highways" pretty much parallel the interstates so it is pretty easy to get off and into a small town if they want.
IF there is snow, they will want to be on the interstate which will be cleared.