Alternate to I-95?
 

Help! Need route suggestions. Just wasted hours sitting in traffic on I-95 going north. Want to avoid the same on my return trip to TV at the end of August. Returning from Akron, Ohio. I-77 south to Columbia, SC looked fine, but I-95 south through South Carolina was a parking lot. Want to avoid this. Thanks!

We always take US Hwy 441. There are various places you can pick it up. We usually would jump on south of GSMNP and take it all the way to Lake City, Fl where we would then take 41 to I 75. It is 4 lane most of the way.

Why not just take I 75? No idea why I 95 was so bad but any interstate could be horrendous.

We don’t like going through Atlanta.

You can plan and think out the perfect route but it’s not your call in the end. It’s the other wonderful considerate drivers who can ruin your entire trip with their stupid driving decisions. Our last trip North was Historically Horrendous. What are you gonna do? It is what it is. Some trips are just perfect though.

Why is it that a emergency bathroom ������ break coincides with heavy traffic?

Take your regular route south to Columbia, SC. Turn west to I-20 to Augusta. Continue west towards Atlanta. Get off at Madison, Georgia. Have lunch in Madison. It's a beautiful town. Turn south on 441/ 129. You can go cross country to I-75 avoiding Atlanta or south to Milledgeville and west on I-16 to Macon and meet up with I-75 south. Madison/Eatonton/Milledgeville is part of the Georgia Antebellum trail. Lovely towns and homes to meander through.

I-75 was horrible up to Ocala (in mid-morning). Fine after that.

Best time to drive is on the off hours, leaving as early in the morning as you can get up. If you want to leave at 3 AM, start going to bed an hour earlierfor two days, then two hours earlier for two days, etc so that you can reset your circadian rhythm to get up at 3 AM with plenty of rest. . . . start plotting different routes with google maps each day, leaving at your normal time, and then leaving at an early time, or a late time. Note the delayed areas and the total trip times for each departure time, time to and at high density traffic areas. . . etc.

Then you can make an estimated departure time and route to minimize the other people messing up your desires to have the road unimpeded by the other inconsiderate drivers. . .

TOTV isn't the same answer site as google. . .

optimization guy

You can ask SIRI or whatever Androids equivalent is if there are any slowdowns or accidents on the route, and it will give you alternate routes based on traffic levels.

MOST of the time Interstates slow down there is an accident or a Presidental visit or something unique. So, I always start with the direct interestate path and let the phone give me advice on what to do is there are issues. It works - most of the time.

Snow birds
 

We travel from Maine. We only drove it once in 2017. Traffic was horrible from DC to Boston and we said never again. We bought a nice used car to leave in the garage in Florida and fly now. With a nonstop flight from the city we live in to Sanford and a shuttle to the house it only takes 6 hours or less and we are here!

I dont have an alternate route for you, but a couple things we do is 1) try not to travel the last 3 days and first 3 days of the month 2) we usually travel 8 hours a day, and we are on the road by 530-6AM each day and off the road by 2-3PM. Then we relax, have a nice dinner and get to bed by 9 and repeat the next day…. It works 99% of our time and we do this twice a year…. Hope it helps.

Waze
 

I’m a user of a free app called Waze. It’s very helpful in notifying you of traffic conditions and offering new routes to save time. You’ll need to have the phone plugged in and charging since the screen will be active. It’s not perfect, but sure can be a huge time saver on long trips

Fly
 

We have a modern invention called an airplane, as well as the Auto Train from Washington DC. Or you can do what everyone else does and just stay here

i75

Routes
 

Atlanta traffic isn't so bad if you drive through on a Sunday.

If you have the time take I-77 south to South Carolina where you can catch I-26 to Orangeburg, then get on 301 which will take you through the country. My sister takes Route 23 out of Ohio into Tennessee and catches I-26 and this works for her. It will take longer and watch your speed limits on 301, one minute it will be 45, next 35, etc. Many places to stop for rest and food.

Thanks, I have driven through there at all times of the day and days of the week. You never know when you will be stuck in a miles long backup. Plus the drivers there are completely out of their minds. Going 441 is more relaxing, with better scenery. You can have my spot in Atlanta.

all these suggestions are great, but your best bet is to use Waze it will get you around issues most times, but things like what you are describing just may be faster than other routes also It does a great job. you can also use it to figure out when the best time to leave will be.

What about going route 75? We just returned from Massachusetts and we went around 95 going on route 81 to 64 and came onto 95 south there and the road south was great, just a long drive. We got here yesterday. No stopping at all.

Even if you know your route, using WAZE can be a huge timesaver.

One of our trips north a few months back, there was a closure of 95 North in South Carolina. Waze said "take the next exit". Traffic was moving at full speed at the time.

I took the exit, it ran us through a park, around a couple weird intersections and finally got us parallel to 95. It was parked. People were out, sitting on their hoods.

About 10 minutes of zigging and zagging, we were back on the highway and back to full speed and traffic was lighter, presumably because of all the people not using traffic-aware applications.

Google maps works too, but I prefer waze.

As age creeps up on us and the car, one overnite turned into two, and then the final drive to TV from our home west of Buffalo, NY. Finally decided to leave our trusty vehicle in Florida and fly back North. Wasn't that a wise choice! Two hours and fifteen minutes via SW or Jet Blue, nonstop, on the ground in Buffalo from Orlando, and then getting a ride to our home with our son. Can I go back to driving again, not if I can help it!! Just not an enjoyable trip any longer, as we aged going from aggressive driving to defensive.

Avoid weekends on 95 as the beach visitors transition each weekend during the summer. Weekdays are fine with normal flow.

[QUOTE=paulat585;1982403]Help! Need route suggestions. Just wasted hours sitting in traffic on I-95 going north. Want to avoid the same on my return trip to TV at the end of August. Returning from Akron, Ohio. I-77 south to Columbia, SC looked fine, but I-95 south through South Carolina was a parking lot. Want to avoid this. Thanks![/QUOTE

I avoid interstates whenever possible. Semi's taking all 3 lanes, cars passing on the right cut in front of you by inches at 80 MPH no fun. Pick up scenic 41N in Lake Park Fl and then find 129N 4 lane beautiful drive through GA farmland just a pleasurable drive. Takes you towards Athens just a great drive and really no traffic.

Take 321 South out of Columbia to Hardeeville SC, about 5 miles from the Georgia line. You are correct I-95 in SC is horrible especially on weekends.

I95 traffic
 

Go to the Orlando airport

at the end of route 77 continue strait to route 321 (slower but less miles) will intersect I95 at exit 5 in South Carolina. only have 5 miles of bad traffic till you hit Gorgia.

I'll give 2 more thumbs up for Waze!
It's a lifesaver!
From where you are sitting, it will give you THE best route, and an alternate. (To avoid tolls, etc)

That said, it ALL depends WHEN you travel...
Day and time.
You can look on the app for "best time" to travel.
If you don't have one, get a phone holder...one that mounts on the windshield, so you don't have to take your eyes off the road...and a good car charger.

You probably hit the myrtle beach/outer banks summer vacation rental changeover times. (Weekends)
I try to travel Wednesday...at night....

I drive straight through, from upstate NY..20 hrs...and ALWAYS avoid DC/95. It's a ZOO!
I'd rather go 40 miles out of my way than drive there..
It's crazy at 9pm!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if people used/set their CRUISE CONTROL instead of speeding up/slowing down depending on their conversations/mind wanderings......

Atlanta
 

Just got home from a trip to Blue Ridge, Ga. Went thru Atlanta (I-75) on Saturday both ways. 1 1/2-2 hour traffic jam going north; 1 hour traffic jam going south. Will never travel thru Atlanta again!

We time our trip through ATL early 6am or after 10am and its not bad. Dont take the bypass

We drive thru Atlanta from MI twice a year with no problem. We use the HOV lanes and plan our trip so we go thru Atlanta on a Saturday or Sunday. Easy!

No thanks. We had to travel through Atlanta for nearly 20 years going from Mobile to Charlotte. I know all the ins and outs. If I can avoid going through there, I will.

Flying today I'd rather stand in a DMV line same vibe same sense of urgency 3rd world facilities and customer service nonexistent. Then you board avoiding folks stuffing the overhead with chickens, goats, and pigs in crates.

Thank you for this information! I travel from WV same way and I-95 is the worst. I am going to use your route when I come down to TV for my closing! I have to keep reminding myself I'm retired, I have time to stop and smell the roses, and I don't have to get anywhere in a hurry!!

Alternate to i-95
 

Ironically, our families are in Akron and central MD.
The alternate north/south routes are Rt. 17 or Rt. 1 along the coast and picking up Rt. 301 in Belleview.
Rt. 301 is a beautiful drive, but it's a country drive up to Columbia SC where you pick up I-77, which is a straight shot up to Akron.
Any alternative to interstate is going to be slower, overall, but you're moving.
Have family that comes down quite often, from Chillicothe OH. They always take I-75. They just make sure to leave around 4 or 5 in the morning and stop on the south side of Atlanta for the night and get out early again the next morning.

Google maps, on phone or car, direction to and from, offers many routes, and talks to you where to turn and not turn.

Google maps gives alternative routes when the traffic is bad. It will tell you the time for each route.

Great advice. You would be amazed how relaxed driving is at that time of day.

Take 26 east from Columbia to Orangeburg then pick up 301 South.

Google “US Highways”. They are multi-state highways that can run border to border in some cases. Example: US41 runs from Miami to the Upper Peninsula. Try ‘em. Slower, yes, but you see so much more.

95 to 26 to 77 to 81, depending where you are headed