Fastest route from FL/GA line on 95
 

Hey all:
I know this is an often repeated subject but I want to be more specific. What is the fastest route from the FL/GA line on 95. I'm not looking for scenic, less speed traps, etc., just the fastest.
Thanks in advance!

I've tried them all and 301 is still the fastest. We get off 95 at exit 373 Yulee and take 200 to Callahan where we pick up 301. We get off 301 at SR 326 and head to 75 where we get on at Exit 358. Then we take 75 down to Exit 341 (we live in the North part of TV).

95 to rt 10 to rt 75

I've made the round-trip from the Raleigh area in NC to The Villages three or four times in the last 6 months. Taking 10 across all the way from Jacksonville to 75 and then heading down to The Villages definitely allows you to drive faster on average but you still have to drive quite a lot further. And if there's a traffic jam on 75, it's likely to be worse and last longer than 301. With that in mind, I find that 301 is faster, time-wise. It's still a nasty drive, what with the speed limit changing what seems like about every two miles and knowing that there are fine police officers scattered throughout all those little towns you drive through who would be more than happy to give you a little souvenir if they catch you going over the speed limit. My only consolation (for me, it doesn't do you any good) is that there won't be any more round trips for us as the next time we drive down, we'll be staying for good and not just visiting.

By the way, we (will) live at the south end so we'd expect the GPS to guide us to exit off 75 onto 44 but it has on one occasion taken us off 75 several miles north, then guided us on a scenic tour of the countryside before getting us where we wanted to be. After nearly 600 miles of driving that day, we were in no mood for scenery. Oh well. One more trip.

95 S to 275 (west I think it says) to 10 W to 301 S. Stay on 301 S all the way towards Wildwood if going to the mid to southern part of The Villages. Or, continue S on 27/441 to the Spanish Springs area. From 27/441 you can go W on 42 to the far northern areas. Just my opinion, have a safe trip whichever route you take.

95 to 10 to 75

This is how I do it too. More miles, maybe less time, certainly a lot less hassle. I'll never travel 301 from Jacksonville again.

95 to 295 to 10 to 301. If you are going to the southern part of The Villages, you will want to get on 75 from 301 and then off at 44. Use your cruise control on 301 and you won't have any issues.

Ah, I said 275 around Jacksonville... you are right...it's 295.

I have made that same trip more times than I can count and the attached photo is the fastest way I have found...hands down.

301 will show up on most GPS' as 'the fastest,' but there are so many traffic lights, and often traffic (not to mention speed traps), that it ALWAYS turns out 30-40 minutes longer than the original estimate on the GPS...and you can literally stew in frustration watching your ETA change regularly. :oops:

The route I'm showing, takes you through Ocala National Forest where there is a wide two lane, with lots of straightaways to pass if you're unfortunate to get stuck behind a slower vehicle.

To keep from being fooled by your GPS and if you're not familiar with the route, go over to Home Depot on 441, first plug in Salt Springs (make sure it's showing Hwy 25), then Palatka, then St. Augustine to get you to I-95.

Once going north on I-95, punch in Kingsland, GA (making sure that it shows the I-295 loop around Jax and not I-95 through downtown Jax).

I guarantee that 99 times out of 100...this will be your fastest route.

Have a safe trip. :thumbup:

I've thought about this route but never knew what the roads going through the Ocala National Forest were like. Maybe next time... Thanks!

Thanks! Would you mind including the actual written directions as well? Its hard to see on the map some of the roads.

One thing to keep in mind when traveling off the interstate at night, that is if you plan to arrive about 8pm or later. Ocala Nat'l Forest has the highest count of black bears in the state, not to mention deer.

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/me...nal-forest.jpg

It's a little too complicated for me to do it on here, but if you go to Google Maps you can get turn by turn instructions using the points below.

Start at the Race Trac across from Water Oaks (324 N US HIGHWAY 27 441) and take County Rd 25 (aka-Teague Trail) north.

Go from the Race Trac to Oklawaha. Then go from Oklawaha to Palatka.

Then get directions from Palatka to St. Augustine (NOT Palatka to Jax), which will take you to I-95 North and take I-95 North.

Make sure you take the I-295 Loop (I can't recall if it now says N, S, E or W Loop...as it was/is a bit confusing) but I believe it does say 'To Airport.' The exit for the new 9B that takes you to I-295 should be well marked by now.

Bottom line is, you should be heading almost due north on 9B then I-295.

Here is the Google Map site and to get directions, put your cursor on the triangle sign with the right-hand turn arrow at the top left...then put in your starting point and destination.


Google Maps



There are a few areas in the beginning of the Ocala Forest that has curvy roads, but it soon broadens out to a very wide two-lane with lots of shoulder and passing areas.

Good luck and safe driving. :thumbup:

Ditto this route......95 to 10 to 75 takes you 50 miles out of the way

All the ways mentioned are good. We have been on all of them. I75 to 10 is good if the traffic is light and you don't run into any accidents. We used to travel Rt 19 up to 295 and it is a good easy drive but there is a great Bbq joint in Green Cove Springs that always cost us at least 45 minutes. So now if we have to travel north we get on 75 to Rt 326 just north of Ocala, catch 301 north as the two speed trap towns were forced to disband there police forces two years ago, we still go the speed limit in Waldo I think because of habit. I prefer to average about 55mph with little traffic than than 78 down to 25 that you run into on 75. I don't think there is more than twenty minutes difference on any of the ways just personal preference.

The roads and traffic are great. You even get to see wildlife sometimes

As of this July, it looks like 9B off of I-95 North IS open, but the sign doesn't say anything about the airport on Google View...(in the attached photo it just says Jax Beaches).

Regardless, it is exit 333 and you will want to take this as it is a straight shot to I-295 and circumvents downtown Jacksonville to the east...and comes back into I-95 right near the Jacksonville airport.

Hope all this helps. :)

BTW, you didn't really make it clear, but you are talking about going from The Villages to the FL/GA line on 95...correct?

If you're coming FROM the border to TV, then ALL directions are to be reversed...and you're probably really confused by now. :D

I like that route. Have you ever gone due north from Palatka on 17 to 295 instead of going getting on 95 at St. Augustine? 17 looks very direct but I never took it.

17 will take you a while from green cove to 295. ( solid traffic lights for 15 miles) 295 west is also longer than 295 east from 95

Thanks, I will only use that option as a last resort if 95n has horrible traffic.

DON'T DO IT!

Besides the plethora of traffic lights past Green Cove Springs, once you get near I-295 it can take 15 minutes...AFTER you're within eyeball distance of the I-295 overpass. :oops:

And you have to work your way over to the far right lane (only the far right lane can exit) at least a mile before you get to the exit...because people will not let you in (I think they get tired of line jumpers who try to cut in front to reduce their wait time). :shrug:

Conversely, if you do get in the right lane early enough there will be those that try to cut right in front of you...if you leave more than three feet between your front bumper and the car in front of you. :ohdear:

It's been over a year since I've went that way, so maybe they've made two turn lanes since...but I doubt it.

Agreed. :thumbup:

I'm coming from VA so just thought starting from the GA border was a good place to start the discussion. As we all see here, lots of opinions and choices. Thanks everybody for the replies.

and no cell phone service.. but I agree it is the fastest route.. ( watch out for patrol) we got a speeding ticket in the forest.. you think you are the only car and boom you are speeding with blue lights behind you !!!!

Absolutely! 301 is too aggravating.

I use 17 and have never had any major problem, again depends on time-of-day. I usually figure about 2.5 hours from 362B onto 295 to Spanish Springs. 17/19 thru the forest, 314, 314A, 464C, 113th St, 145th Ave, and 25 to Griffin Ave. Reverse to 95.

When you come into green cove, take a right onto sr 16. You drive by the old navy base which is now an industrial park. You can even see an old shuttle fuel tank along the river. After you cross the river, you go north on sr 13 for a mile and hang a right on cr 210 (the signs say to I 95). Take 95 north for a few miles until you come to 9B. 9B (brand new road) will take you to 295 east beltway. Straight shot to 95 north of jax. I lived in jax for 37 years before becoming a village idiot. This is the shortest least stressful way.