one more question needs an answer

[njbchbum]

For those of you who dirve south on I-95 to TV, what is the most effective route to travel to reach TV?:crap2:

DH and I usually get to J-ville and head to 295 and then 10 to 301. Is there a more direct/faster route? Mind you - we have packed the Mountaineer to the rafters [I don't think I can fit another sandal into that vehicle] and DH is not likely to be a happy camper by Sunday afternoon [despite his stopping in GA at Pelican Point for a midday meal].

Any suggestions will be appreciated!:bowdown:

PS
It looks like our closing is set for Wed; have scheduled a cleaning service for Mon and carpet cleaner for Tues. Also switched utilities over for Wed. Let's hope all goes according to plan! Just hafta go and buy a bed Mon or Tues for delivery Wed. All else will follow!:2excited:

I can't thank you all enough for your info and advice. It has made this venture much easier to accomplish. And after inquiring about some furniture from their on-line display, Babett's furniture offered us a 10% discount on whatever we can buy there!

[rwcw]

You described the best route to TV, via 295,10 and 301.

One word of warning. Stay within the speed limit on 301! Not even 5 mph over.
No kidding.

[njbchbum]

Thanx for the confirmation and the advice. DH and I always do the speed limit on that stretch of the ride! We never cease to be amazed at the folks who do not heed the billboard warning!

I sort of enjoy the ride on the northern part of 301 - but once ya hit the traffic spots - eeeooowww! Maybe it won't be as bad driving it on a Sunday!

[SteveFromNY]

I heard from one of the folks out here about an alternate route - take 301 as you suggest, but at Waldo take a right on 24. You miss most of the traffic spots on 301, and the ride on 24 past Gainseville isn't bad really. You can follow 24 over to I-75 where you can drive highway speeds. I get off I-75 at exit 329 and take 44 to 301 and come up north to 466A, but I live in the south end near 466A. It's 12 minutes from my house to the interstate. If you live further north you can take the higher exit (341) and come in from the north.
The ride from the FL state line to my house in Liberty Park is right about 2 1/2 hours. I've tried most ways suggested and I've found this way to be my favorite. Have a nice trip!

[Cassie325]

StevefromNY is right on the $$$!! His route is the best!!

[l2ridehd]

Agree with Steve. I also cut over to 75 just North of Ocala. Hit it at exit 358 and take it down to exit 329 and miss most of the traffic by doing that. Come over to 301, couple blocks North to 466A and to TV. I also live South, Sunset Pointe so that is the best route. I have tried most of them and even following the speed limit exactly on 301 it is still the fastest. I drive down from VA and it is about 14 hours with a couple stops. Sometimes leave real early (4:00 AM) and do it in the same day and sometimes leave late afternoon, stop someplace in SC and leave early next AM. For us Walterboro SC, exit 53 seems about the right breaking point. Hampton Inn just off the highway that seems tolerable. And that's just over halfway for us. By leaving there at 6:00 AM we are there around noon. Be doing the trip again on March 30.

[Indy-Guy]

If I were going that direction I would go this way. Perhaps longer and perhaps quicker. Easier on the mind and less frustrating.

I-95 to Rt-40 in Ormond Beach -- or -- get off I-95 earlier at Road 100 to Bunnell and 11 South to Rt-40

Stay on 40 West until you pass over the St. John’s River at Astor

About a 1 – 2 miles past Astor go left onto 445A toward Alexander Springs

Take 445A about ½ mile & turn left onto 445

Stay on 445 (through National Forest you will think you are in the middle of nowhere) until it dead-ends at 19

Turn left onto 19 and go about 5 miles to light at SR-42

Turn right onto 42 and take 42 to 25 at Weirsdale

Turn left onto 25 and take to Griffin Ave to 441/27 This intersection is at
La Plaza Grande Shopping Center

[njbchbum]

thank you all! we certainly have options! indyguy's directions get us closest to where we want to wind up since we will be staying at the holiday inn express in the plaza where we are staying until our closing on wednesday - and we use the shay gate to get to our-house-to-be and that of our friends. but i can bet that DH will prefer to take a more hi-way route!

will discuss the options in the a.m. with DH - the driver!

villages are the best!

[SteveFromNY]

If you come down 75 and get off at 341, you are a few miles north of TV. You head east then south to 42 and you're at the north end of TV. Still quicker than the route down 95. I used to love 40 & 19, and understand why folks do. But as I recall it was closer to 4 hours from the FL state line going that way. The drive across 40 and down 19 is very pleasant - the roads are in good shape and pretty empty. But be ready to spend maybe another 1 1/2 hours in the car.

[OpusX1]

Another option that we use if the traffic is bad on 95/295. We get off at A1A S to Callahan and get 301. S on 301 to Citra, rt 318 w. Cut across to 75. S to Bellvue/Dunellon exit, rt 484. E to 301, S to 466 or 42 if you are on the N side of TV. That way you miss Gainesville too.

[katezbox]

Let us know how the closing goes? You are about 3 weeks ahead of us!

k

[JohnN]

StevefromNY is right on if you're on the south end, below 466

[njbchbum]

thanx, all! we used steve's route and it was a charm - once we got out of the traffic coming onto 24 from the gainesville raceway! DH had such a tantrum when he saw that - was ready to turn around and go back to 301! told him i would get out of he car and get a ride with someone in the traffic if he tried it!

i am sooooooo excited to be here! gonna snoop on the cleaning staff at the house tomorrow and on the carpet cleaner on tues! hope the realtor got us permission to dump our stuff in the utility room tomorrow. we really packed the car with everything from a television, to carry-bag chairs, to dishes, pots, pans, utensils, gadgets, tools, pillows, snack trays, a blender and a month's worth of clothes! i don't want to hafta shop for furniture with all of that in the back of the car!

thanx again for your help. have saved all alternate routes for another day!

[njbchbum]

kate -
i am hoping it will be a breeze since it is a cash sale - just hafta hope that closing agent will have everything ready for wed. as mentioned, the cleaners are in place - and i have contacted all utility reps to cut service over to us for wed. fingers are appropriately crossed!

[ijusluvit]

Directions from I-95 to the Villages has been a popular topic. I wasn't going to post this time, but when I heard you liked Indy-Guy's route I thought I should share our experiences. We went to Ormond Beach route in December and it was 30 minutes and miles longer than our route, which is the fastest and easiest of any mentioned so far.

I-95 to St. Augustine. Rt 207 to East Palatka, right on Rt. 17/100, for a couple of miles. Left on Rt. 20 through Palatka to Rt. 19.
Rt 19 South to Salt Springs. Right on Rt 314 to Rt 35. South on Rt 35 to the end. Left onto Rt 441/27 and about 8 miles to the Villages, Spanish Springs area. This route is not only the fastest and shortest, but it is also has the fewest miles of traffic congestion and no speed traps!

Happy Motoring!

[njbchbum]

thanx for another option - this route would make the DH take me to St. Augustine!!!

what kind of roads are 207, 17/100,20, 19, 314, 35 - are they one or two lanes generally?



Directions from I-95 to the Villages has been a popular topic. I wasn't going to post this time, but when I heard you liked Indy-Guy's route I thought I should share our experiences. We went to Ormond Beach route in December and it was 30 minutes and miles longer than our route, which is the fastest and easiest of any mentioned so far.

I-95 to St. Augustine. Rt 207 to East Palatka, right on Rt. 17/100, for a couple of miles. Left on Rt. 20 through Palatka to Rt. 19.
Rt 19 South to Salt Springs. Right on Rt 314 to Rt 35. South on Rt 35 to the end. Left onto Rt 441/27 and about 8 miles to the Villages, Spanish Springs area. This route is not only the fastest and shortest, but it is also has the fewest miles of traffic congestion and no speed traps!

Happy Motoring!

[ijusluvit]

207 is a 4-lane divided highway, fast, only one traffic signal. 17/100 is 4-lane, busier but only a couple of miles. 20 is 2-lane, in town, but designed to get you through quickly. 19 is 2-lane but straight through the Ocala Forest. Fast and peaceful. 314 is the same, just not as straight. 35 is 2-lane. It can be slow if you get behind a truck, but I think it seems even slower because I'm always so excited to get back to TV!

[SteveFromNY]

207 is a 4-lane divided highway, fast, only one traffic signal. 17/100 is 4-lane, busier but only a couple of miles. 20 is 2-lane, in town, but designed to get you through quickly. 19 is 2-lane but straight through the Ocala Forest. Fast and peaceful. 314 is the same, just not as straight. 35 is 2-lane. It can be slow if you get behind a truck, but I think it seems even slower because I'm always so excited to get back to TV!

I've gone a variation of this was a couple of times and the roads are very nice and generally empty (I just found my variation a longer albeit more relaxing ride). I used 19 down to 40 rather than take the cut off at 314. One of these trips I'll give 314 a try. I'm always looking for different ways.

[faithfulfrank]

I too am interested in the best way from I-95, as we are thinking that we will start driving down soon instead of flying. (we are flying down for our May trip, but probably driving down for the month of November).

Our needs are a bit different because we are about 13 miles south of you good people, just about 2-3 miles south of Leesburg.

One of our previous trips I drove back to western NY, and drove through the Ocala forest about 2am. It was foggy, and about every few feet thee were deer running across the road, or lined up by the side of the road. I swear if there were any more of them I would have bet they were lining up waiting to see a parade! Even 35 mph was too fast, and I was praying I would not hit a deer.

I am a seasoned driver, used to driving Fire trucks and Ambulances, but that drive was a white knuckle experience.....i'll never do it again at night.

Frank D.

[SteveFromNY]

......
Our needs are a bit different because we are about 13 miles south of you good people, just about 2-3 miles south of Leesburg.
......


Frank D.

If you take the route down 75 to exit 329 it puts you on 44 which runs right into Leesburg. It might work for you. The turnpike also hooks into 75 a mile below 329. That could help.

[faithfulfrank]

thanks Steve,
I need to study a bit more about the best way from I-95 to our place.
I'm embarrassed to say I got mixed up in Palatka one time, and the Ocala forest thing at night spooked me.
I wish there was a clear best way.....

From our place up in NY, the western route through western PA, W.V., etc is faster and shorter but we have relatives in S.C. that we like to see and we can stay with, so for us 95 is the preferred way.....although I also don't really like 15 through Pa, although I'm told it is getting better.

Thanks!!

Frank D.

[SteveFromNY]

Frank, unless I'm mistaken The Plantation is pretty close to one of the Turnpike entrances south of TV. I'd bet the fastest way from 95 is using the 301 to 24 to 75 route talked about earlier, but just stay on 75 and then the turnpike south to the exit 296 or 289. Looks like it's close to your place.

[faithfulfrank]

I believe you're right Steve...thanks..!

Frank D.

[ijusluvit]

Hey Frank,

I live on the north end of TV and the route I've mentioned above is the fastest from my home in Kenmore, not far from you.

But I've got a TV neighbor who lives in Hamilton ONT, drives through Buffalo, Cleveland and Cincinnati then straight down I-75. We looked at the maps and he's convinced me the drive time is about the same as mine. We seem to drive similarly; speed, # of stops, etc. This is the one route I haven't tried yet. It seems so far out west. But for your location nearer to 75 it could really be the fastest of any route. Added bonus - better roads in the winter.

[Hawkwind]

Ijusluvit

Going to Buffalo / Cleveland / Cincinnati has got to be a lot longer than going down I-79 from Erie to I-77 in Charleston to I-26 in Columbia to I-95.

I live only a few miles off I-77 just south of Akron Oh and would never think of even trying the I-75 route. Columbus, Cincinnati and Atlanta traffic has got to be unreal.

I know it is a little nuts but I have done the drive to TV or New Smyrna Beach 30 or 40 times as the lone driver and always streight through. Easy 17 to 18 hour drive.

[ijusluvit]

Hawkwind,

I thought the same thing until the discussion with my neighbor. He says the trick is to leave early in the am (6:00 at Buffalo). He says Cleveland and Cincinnati are never a problem and you hit Atlanta at a good hour. By staying on 75 through Atlanta, the worst he has ever experienced is slow traffic either on the way in or out. I think he may be right because those of us who use 79/77 forget the slower stretch on 19 in WV, the I-95 construction and heavier traffic zones, and the much longer stretch from 95 to TV no matter which way you take, as opposed to the short hop from either Bellevue or Wildwood to TV on 75. I'm gonna try it.

[faithfulfrank]

Well, at the risk of beating a dead horse, this subject is one I'm thinking a lot about lately, as we are planning on driving down this October. (We are flying down in May also)

I appreciate the help here. I like the way of coming down I-75 to CR-48 for us at The Plantation, but the thought of taking 301 scares the you know what out of me. I've read countless horror stories about Waldo, Lawley and Starke.

Another forum I read has a ton of true stories about how they hunt for out of state plates.

So, my question is, am I being unrealistic? I suppose I could take that way, but I'd be quite defensive and keyed up worrying.

We thought about taking I-95 down to Daytona, then take I-4 a bit to 44, then 19, then CR-48, which takes us right to The Plantation almost.

I went to AAA yesterday for more maps and a triptik, and the girl there took us some strange ways...the triptik is not even any good. She took us from I295 to 10 to 75.

She did other things wacky from NY to Fl......but that is another story.

Frank D.

[SteveFromNY]

the thought of taking 301 scares the you know what out of me. I've read countless horror stories about Waldo, Lawley and Starke.


There is really nothing to worry about on that stretch of 301. Ride at the speed limit and you'll be OK. Part of the ride the limit is 60 along the empty parts of 301, and when it drops it goes down to 55, 45 then 35. Just watch for the signs. All the times I've gone that way I've only seen an active speed trap once. And for the time being I have NY plates as well.

[njbchbum]

Just drove north on 301 to come back to Jersey and was surprised to see that the speed limit through Lawtey has been raised to 45mph! No drop down to 35/25! Limit just went from 55 to 45 and then back to 55 at the edge of "town". :a040:

Also found a couple of Dunkin Donut counters in the new Sunoco service areas! :coolsmiley: