Driving to TV from NJ
 

We will be leaving 7/21 from NJ to TV. What route has the least amount of traffic? I think it would be best not to travel I95 on the weekends with people going to the beach. Suggestions?

Route
 

Are you a AAA member, because if you are they will do a free routing for you.

Yes I am. I will contact them. Thanks for the advice.

I drove the last time along the western part of the states going up and back to the NE and found it much nicer than I95!!! Approx. same mileage, better roads, BEAUTIFUL scenery along the interstates and MUCH LESS traffic. I used Google Maps to do the directions,etc. Much easier than AAA and it was precise.

When I drove on Saturday June 16th I 81 and I 26 were hideous. I 77 so so. I'll only do I 95 in the future or Auto Train both ways. If you want to cut out the Jacksonville mess get off I 95 at A1A and go to Callahan on a new 4 lane 65 mph. Then take 301 South.

I would think you will hit a lot of local traffice if you do not take 95. Last month I sent from NJ to the Villages. Washington DC is usualy a problem with traffic no matter when you go but other than that 95 is ok.

Was the traffic typical for a Saturday?

Rt 95 is a case a timing, it is the most direct route on Sat if you leave early you will fly right thru, your bottle necks are DC take the beltway to the east and just go.

The beach traffic should not build by then try and hit DC by 10am.

You can after the NJTP go east on 301 and go round till south of DC but it's a lot slower with lights.

Take the bypass east around Richmond Va and that's it, 1100 fun miles from NJ.

FYI: There are ALOT of speed traps along Rt.301, the State Troopers are always hiding in the bushes, etc. along that route. I've heard they'll even pull you over if you're going only a couple of mi. over the sp. limit.

I overheard an employee at AAA tell someone to take I-10 to I-75 and then down to TV (or visa versa). AAA tells people to avoid 301 because of the local traffic and speed traps in the northern section. She said that even though you go a bit out of your way to get to I-75 it more than pays off as you can travel faster on I-75, so the time should be about the same.

It's about 50-60 miles of extra drive time/gas, we just keep upwith traffic and eyes peeled, so far so good.....

now watch next time I'll get nailed :police:

I lived in the Washington, DC area for almost 26 years. Believe me, Saturday and Sunday are always the best days to drive around there!

Looks like it's a go for 95. We are moving with our dogs. Any recs for pet friendly rest stops/hotels from VA south?

Easy.....RT95 guide

We do a lot of RV'ing

Thank you. I'm starting to feel better about this drive. I was just checking the pet airline that goes out of NY. Unfortunately, they go to Ft. Lauderdale not Orlando.

I have driven I95 many times and find it is the fastest route. Leave NJ at about 5AM and you will sail through Washington. Once past that obstacle, it is all down hill. It takes me 18 hours from Princeton, NJ to the villages. Sometimes we sleep in a motel and other times we go straight through.

Thanks for the info. We live a 1/2 hour from Princeton.

I make the drive between CT and The Villages 3-4 times per year and most of the time I stay on I 95. Timing is the important part with the heavy traffic spots in NYC, Baltimore/DC areas. I have driven this route on weekdays and traffic is DEFINATELY heavier. At all costs, stay away from these areas during the work commuting traffic on weekdays.

I make every attempt to drive on the weekend where traffic is lighter.

We take the Garden State parkway to the Cape May Ferry and go that way as it is the least stressful for us. It is also the most beautiful. You also can avoid DC going that way.

i come from Mi to our house in 18 hours I75 is either great or not

I left from EWR at 10 a.m. on a Sunday and got on the other side of DC and stayed in Alexandria which was great. Monday left at 10 a.m. so we didn't hit traffic (and were moving from DC) and stopped in Fayetteville, NC. No problem leaving Fayetteville and driving to Charleston. Got out of Charleston around 9 a.m. with no problem and went to Savannah but could have easily gone on to TV. We found once you get through to Fayetteville, there is no problem with traffic - if you are used to New York metro driving, it simply doesn't compare.

Just realized you are leaving on a Saturday. I would leave really early in the morning to get on the other side of DC before they all awaken from their Friday night.

When you get the AAA maps and guides it will give you all sorts of options for pet friendly motels, gas stations, restaurants, etc. We left Brick NJ @ 3:30 AM on Jan 3rd and drove into our garage in Pennecamp @ 7:30 PM. Wasn't wild about driving but I new all about the prize at the end of the trip. Have a safe trip.
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We just arrived today from VA using 95. From NJ to Richmond VA, 95 is a pain in the tush. From there to The Villages, it's a piece of cake. You will get off 95 just north of Jacksonville and take a couple other routes after that.

What routes and stopovers did you take?

If you are interested in the route i took and the hotels I used that were pet friendly pm me. Wonderful trip and great hotels.

bump

I always go 95 to the Jacksonville by pass then 10 to 301 south to the villages. Obey the speed signs and you wont have a problem. There are speed traps but you must slow down when the speed signs say so. it is a very good route
drd

Never had a problem, not even with Waldo Willie. :police:

Not worth the extra miles. Just do the posted limits. Don't miss this part of Florida.

traveling from NJ to TV
 

We left on July 3 and we got on NJ turnpike to I-295, to Delaware Rt 1, to DE 299, US Highway 301, VA 207, to I-95. Then to I-295 West in Jacksonville to I-10 to US Hwy 301, to FL 24 through Gainsville to I-75 South and get off the Villages exit,

Right now we are in Virginia as we stopped to see friends but normally this is the route we take to get to the Villages. We don't like 301 because of the traffic lights but hate I-95.

There's a very nice Best Western at Exit 22 in Lumberton, NC that takes dogs up to 80 pounds for an extra fee. This is exactly eight hours north of TV. One of my favorite pet-friendly websites is www.bringfido.com. I find their reviews to be very accurate. This Best Western gets five bones.

I travel 3 - 4 times a year from up north to the villages because I have a 11 year old Lab Tobey. I have on every road in Florida and this is the best fastest way to go. This is a much better way than route 301 or any other.
If you send me a private email I can give you my phone number and explain better.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
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A) 145 Glenbrook Dr, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054-1045 US
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New Jersey Turnpike S toward Delaware (Portions toll). (go 34.76 miles)
7. New Jersey Turnpike S becomes I-295 S (Portions toll) (Crossing into Delaware). (go 5.56 miles)
8. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward Newark/Baltimore (Portions toll) (Crossing into Maryland). (go 93.83 miles)
9. Merge onto I-495 W/Capital Beltway/I-495 OUTERLOOP via EXIT 27 toward Silver Spring (Crossing into Virginia). (go 19.01 miles)
10. Keep left at the fork to go on I-495 S/Capital Beltway. (go 11.15 miles)
11. Merge onto I-95 S via EXIT 57A toward I-95 S/VA-644/Richmond. (go 85.74 miles)
12. Merge onto I-295 S via EXIT 84A on the left toward Rocky Mount NC/Richmond Int'l Airport. (go 43.31 miles)
13. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward I-295 S/Emporia/Rocky Mt NC (Passing through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, then crossing into Florida). (go 570.1 miles)
14. Take the I-10 W exit, EXIT 352D, toward Stockton St/Lake City. (go 0.73 miles)
15. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward JAX Beaches/Daytona Bch. (go 40.43 miles)
16. Take the SR-207 exit, EXIT 311, toward St Augustine Bch/Palatka. (go 0.32 miles)
17. Merge onto SR-207 S toward Hastings/Palatka. (go 19.3 miles)
18. Turn slight right onto US-17 N/SR-15 N/SR-20 W/SR-100 W.
- US-17 N is 0.1 miles past Bland Rd
(go 2.67 miles)
19. Turn left onto N 9th St/SR-20.
- N 9th St is just past N 8th St
- If you reach N 10th St you've gone a little too far
(go 0.33 miles)
20. Turn slight right onto Crill Ave/SR-20 W.
- Crill Ave is just past Carr St
(go 2.28 miles)
21. Turn left onto SR-19/S Sr-19. Continue to follow SR-19.
- SR-19 is just past Florida Dr
- A Child's Castle Christian is on the corner
- If you are on Crill Ave and reach S Moody Rd you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 22.48 miles)
22. Turn slight right onto CR-314 W.
- CR-314 W is just past NE 133rd Pl
(go 10.56 miles)
23. Turn left onto N County Road 314A/CR-314A. Continue to follow CR-314A.
- CR-314A is 0.8 miles past NE 170th Ave
- If you reach NE 157th Ct you've gone about 0.4 miles too far
(go 7.14 miles)
24. CR-314A becomes SE Hwy 314A. (go 7.7 miles)
25. Turn right onto SE Hwy 464C.
- SE Hwy 464C is 0.5 miles past SE 90th St
- If you are on SE 95th Street Rd and reach SE 170th Avenue Rd you've gone about 0.6 miles too far
(go 4.01 miles)
26. SE Hwy 464C becomes SE 135th Ave/CR-464C. (go 0.03 miles)
27. Stay straight to go onto SE 135th Ave. (go 0.53 miles)
28. Turn left onto E Highway 25/E Hwy 25/CR-25/SR-25. Continue to follow CR-25/SR-25.
- CR-25 is just past SE 122nd Pl
- If you reach SE 124th Pl you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 8.38 miles)
29. Turn right onto Griffin Ave.
- Griffin Ave is just past Hood Ave
- If you reach Fennell Blvd you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 0.85 miles)
30. Turn slight right onto Avenida Central. (go 0.2 miles)
31. Turn left onto Rio Grande Ave (Gate access required).
- If you reach Alverez Ave you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 0.78 miles)
32. Turn left onto Del Mar Dr.
- Del Mar Dr is just past Bolivar St
- If you reach Prado Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 0.25 miles)
33. 501 DEL MAR DR is on the left.
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My husband and I have taken I10 to 75 on our trips to TV and have found it works much better than 301. miles traveled is longer but it is a nice ride at highway speeds and not really longer in time. Good luck.

AUTO TRAIN ...... The best of the best!!! :thumbup:

Wow, now there are some detailed instructions. Sounds exciting and certainly breaks up the boring parts of the trip. Will give this way a go the next time we head North and of course return South shortly thereafter:read:
Thanks
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I was with you until you left St. Augustine. I cut across Ocala National Forest.

Interesting route "SR-207 S toward Hastings/Palatka"

It only adds 10 miles. I have to try it next time.

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Taking I 10 to 75 takes the same time etc. than I 10 to 301.

Going out to 75 off I 10 is actually 55 miles longer, but because you can go faster is only 30 minutes more.

So 301 is shorter faster.

I agree with this post also. Only problems with 95 are some cities during rush hour. Beach scene was not an issue. I did 95 last summer and no problem regarding shore traffic. I was going to Flemington, NJ

did it several times NJ to villages, I95 was the best way, use the beltways around the cities though. Google mapping will give you time estimates based on traffic on the chosen route