We drove from Houston 3 years ago. It was me, DH and DS, who was 10 at the time. We left Friday afternoon about 3:30pm and stopped in Mobile, AL for the night. Seems like we got into Mobile between 10-11pm. We stayed at a Marriott/Courtyard that was very nice. It wasn't far off I-10 and there were several hotels and restaurants right there.
Next morning we left Mobile about 8am. It was about 5-6pm by the time we got checked into the ASMo. There was a lot on road construction then throught the FL panhandle, or we probably would have made it a little faster.
We left Orlando the next Saturday about 11am and stopped in some little town in LA - (don't remember the name, somewhere between New Orleans and Lake Charles). We stayed at a HORRIBLE HI. It was a little spooky. There were some rather seedy looking characters hanging out in the parking lot. In fact my we had a baseball bat in the car, and my husband brought it in and put it by the bed in case we need some protection. The next morning we left about 7:30am. Wouldn't you know it, about a mile down the road there were some much nice hotels. We got back to Spring (north Houston) about 1pm.
We drove because my husband does not like to fly - but we have flew back the next year and are flying backagain in 40 days. He still doesn't like to fly, but that is such a long drive - it takes up 4 days of your vacation time.
Good luck. Hope you have a safe trip and a wonderful vacation.