HW/Beech Bend Airport Options?

I'm assuming that Louisville is the best Airport to fly into for a Holiday World / Beech Bend Trip. Does that sound right to you? Would you fly into another airport?

Does the search function even work on this site anymore? Sorry, I tried.

Louisville is probably your best bet.

HW is about an hour from there and BB is about 2.

It probably depends on the order in which you're planning to do the parks. Louisville - if you're doing HW and then driving on to BB. Nashville - if you're doing BB then driving on to HW.

Louisville is always a good option as you can hit Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom as well. It's right across the street from the airport.

We will be flying into Louisville for Beast Buzz in June so yeah that would probably be the closest. I think HW is about 1 1/2 away, and like Bob said SFKK is not even a mile from the airport (sweeeeeeeet).

Nashville is also a better option if you're going to BB the same day you're flying home if you are choosing between an 8pm flight out of Louisville and an 8 pm flight out of Nashville. Stick with me now... Nashville is the same time zone as BB, Louisiville is 1 hr ahead. ALSO, BB is a little CLOSER to nashville than to Louisville. So you'd have to leave BB almost an hour and a half EARLIER if you're flying out of Louisville at 8 than if you're flying out of Nashville at 8. Of course, it also means you're further from HW the day you arrive, so if you're arriving the morning you're headed to HW, it may not be worth it.
Trust me, really...
And your overall driving time is very similar as long as you skip SFKK. (It adds about 30 minutes for the whole trip)
PLUS on your way out of town you can stop by and see the old chute for Opryland's rapids ride! BONUS. *** Edited 3/21/2006 9:03:32 PM UTC by ThemeDesigner***

I think I would rather visit Beech Bend on day 1 and HW on my second day. As a rule I don't visit Six Flags (yeah, I'm one of those) so that doesn't have to be part of the plan. So what is the drive time like from Beech Bend to HW?

Thanks for the help.

http://tinyurl.com/jeeg5

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ThemeDesigner said: BONUS.

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Tool. ;)

It really depends on where you are coming from and how much you are willing to pay. For a nominal fee i can get you into huntington airport which is just 9 miles down the road from HW

Huntington is actually 4-5 hours away.

I think you mean Huntingburg. :)

Paula

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Mamoosh said:
http://tinyurl.com/jeeg5[/quote]

Well how bout that, I mapped out the same route without the need of the internet. Funny thing is, I usually don't feel all that confident with internet printed directions, and would rather map out the route on my own.

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I do the same, Coatserphan, but use the internet as a starting point to get distances and approximate times.

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Acoustic Viscosity said:
I do the same, Coatserphan, but use the internet as a starting point to get distances and approximate times.

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I can't even get approximate times from the internet. I will admit, I do like Google maps. They seem to be the best that I've ever seen out of internet mapping systems. However, even with them, I normally will do my own calculations as far as travel time is concerned. Google maps seems to stick with the 55 mph speed limit, for every state.

This and the fact that I now have a Magellan Roadmate 300 GPS. Still haven't got it all down yet though. *** Edited 3/22/2006 4:23:18 PM UTC by Coasterphan***

Google Maps said it takes nearly 5 hours from my house to Holiday World! At the tour Saturday, it only took 3 hours and 45 minutes, not counting stops.

Coasterphan is correct; all of the Maps sites [Yahoo, Google, etc] use 55 MPH for highway and interstate drive speeds when in reality they are much faster now [and even if the limits WERE still 55 no one drives it anyway!].

BUT -- when you have to also account for bathroom and meal breaks their calculations work out to be about right, especially for long drives. And something else to consider: what if you hit construction, accidents, or bad weather you had not planned on? Assuming you're going to keep your speed at 70-75 MPH your entire drive just isn't realistic during peak travel season.

I find it's better to plan on the longer travel time that Yahoo or Google calculates. That way if the drive is without any slow-downs I arrive ahead of schedule.

I use printed maps from the intarweb just for an overall picture (and to show someone else), and GPS for primary navigation. Plus a old fashioned map for backup. GPS has been a godsend at times.

BTW, MSN, Google, Mapquest and Yahoo Maps all use data from Navteq (& some, TANA) for their maps. But Mapquest's routing software still manages to screw it up occasionally.

Rihard:
BNA to Beech Bend is 75 miles.
SDF to Beech Bend is 111 miles.
In general, if it were me, I would look at the flight prices to either of those airports, and if Louisville was much cheaper, I'd fly in there. If airfare is fairly close, I'd fly to Nashville.

But, if you're in Cleveland as you're profile says, it'll be cheaper (possibly by a lot, depending on airline) to fly into Nashville than Lousiville. I would check southwest.com.

Or if you're a pilot, I'd fly right into Bowling Green-Warren County Regional (BWG). :) Nice little airport.

I'm flying into Evansville, Indiana. (EVV) The Airfare was $30.00 More than Louisville (SDF) but, get this, The Rental Car Quote I got was $60.00 CHEAPER at EVV vs SDF! :) (Source - expedia.com )

BTW has anyone ever visited an Amusement Park in a Hub City while waiting to change flights? I've done this TWICE! In 1991 while flying to Los Angeles I had a 3 1/2 hour layover in San Diego, so I took a Shuttle to Mission Beach and took the GIANT DIPPER out for a few rides before returning to the Airport to catch my connecting flight. I was able to do this again in 2003. I was flying to Houston (Yes, I did visit Astroworld ) and I had a 5 1/2 Hour Layover in Charlotte, so I took a Cab to Carowinds where I bagged 5 Coasters before I had to return to the Airport to catch the Flight to Texas. It was a "Mastercard Moment".

Dinner: $10.00

Round Trip Cab Fare: $30.00

Admission to Carowinds: $42.00

Riding 5 Roller Coasters in between Flights" PRICELESS! :) *** Edited 3/23/2006 12:00:49 AM UTC by Borntocoast*** *** Edited 3/23/2006 12:01:39 AM UTC by Borntocoast***

Anybody know off hand if there are any hotel rooms left in the area? Not sure if you guys bought them all out or what. I may try to get out there for the opening if I can still get a room. Is it still looking good for a May 6th opening?

And I'll probably drive. From NJ. Old Skool! :P
*** Edited 3/23/2006 12:06:08 AM UTC by MrX***

^^^^^^^^^^^^(Just so I don't get in trouble from the quote Mod again)

I just booked a queen room at Santa's Lodge for 3 nights, which I plan on adjusting soon. So yes, the rooms are still there.