What is best route from I-95N?
 

I have friends coming from the Raleigh, NC area Labor Day weekend, and I'm not sure what the best route is to advise they take coming down I-95 thru Jacksonville to get to the Villages. You northern commuters, what's the best route?

I-95 to I-295 around Jacksonville
I-295 to U.S. 301 south (watch for the speed traps on 301)
301 to 441 then cut over to I-75 just south of Gainsville or stay on 441 and end up almost in Spanish Springs.

Same as Wingnut (above) except can continue 441 in Belleview until a right on 301 down to The Villages. Depends where you live. If it's busy traffic time, then take 75, otherwise 301 is OK.
Thats the way the Garmin sends us. 301 is very direct but varied speeds. Just obey them exactly and take your time.

Skip Jacksonville, go A1A to Callahan from I95, then 301. Trust me.

While I admit I dislike the 301 route, I also would never take again it since I've found a much less traveled and faster route to the northern part of The Villages:

I-95 past Jacksonville to St Augustine. Hwy 207 West to Palatka, Hwy 19 South to Salt Springs, Rt 314 West, to Hwy 35 South, to Hwy 441. A real pleasure compared to 301.

I 95 to I 4 to 42 thru DeLand into TV. With guests I try to keep it simple.

I-95 past Jacksonville to St Augustine.

To right turn on US Hwy 1 (Exit 298)

To right turn on Fl Hwy 11 in Bunnell

To right turn on FL Hwy 40

To left turn on Fl Hwy 19
(the shorter and more adventurous route is to take County 445A (at Astor Park)to Fla 19).

To right on Fl Hwy 42

To left on either US Hwy 441 or (three miles further) US Hwy 301
Villages are five miles or so south.




.

We like Wing-nut's route the best. The cut over to I75 we take is Rt. 326, shortly after 301 joins up with 441, right north of Ocala. Since we're in TV just off 466A, we take I-75 on south to 44, east to 301, north to 466A, then east to our destination.

Given that you're in the Haciendas at Mission Hills, Tom, your friends could take several different routes. They could stay on 301 til they get to 466 then head east to your place.......or take the route we use then back-track just a bit to get to Mission Hills.

Nice thing is - - - - - there are so many nice routes to take. Everyone's offered up great ones. All depends on the types of roads you like to drive and how big a hurry you are to get there!

Bill :)

You must use I-10 west from I-295 south to reach US 301 south.
The speed traps in the towns on US 301 are strictly enforced.

Folks that speed will only have the problems. Slow down, relax, vhat's da hurry?
See old Florida, get off the Interstate as soon as you can.

I 95 through Jacksonville to Rt 40 ( Ormond Beach)

West on 40 to rt 19 south

to Rt 42 west to 441

20 trips from Md during last 2.5 years--- Every imaginable route and find this one to be most direct and easiest to follow . No speed traps, few built up areas , traffic lite

It has fewer turns, looks easy on the map, but adds 30+ miles and at least 45 minutes than my route above from Jacksonville to 441.

You can make this a little shorter by taking S. Fairview Ave off RT-40 just before Astor Park. Also depending on where in TV you are headed you can take a left on CR-25 at Weirsdale and that will take you right to the RaceTrac gas station on 441.

I have to agree with you that this is a very pleasant and enjoyable way to go and you can make time if you so desire. The 301 route has a lot of stop and go traffic to go along with the speed enforcement thing.

I just got through playing around with some GPS items today and have some of the routes already plotted. Using MapSource I have the interstate speed set at 67 mph, major highways at 58 mph other roads at 45 mph and connector roads set at 35 mph.

From the Florida state line on I-95:
via 207 through Palatka is 176 miles with a driving time of 3:09:57
via I-295 / I-10 / 301 is 157 miles with a driving time of 2:41:54
via RT-40 / RT-19 / RT-42 / RT-25 is 186 miles and a driving time of 3:09:03
via I-295 / I-10 / I-75 / Wildwood is 215 miles and a driving time of 3:22:33

Your driving times may very.
VG

I like getting off I-95 and taking some of the back roads - why I take US 1 and Fla 11 to Fla 40.

Two years ago, going back to CA, we got off I-75 at Tifton, GA and didn't get on an Interstate until north of Denver. Many of the US highways are four lane divided and have much less truck traffic than the Interstates.

Being retired lets you slow down and look around.
.

We have also tried every imaginable route and prefer Challenger's directions for a nice, relaxing drive.

I've taken all roads to the Villages from 95 N/S and here is the the best: 295 around Jacksonville take 17 South at Orange Park, then take 19 South at Palatka then 42 over to the Villages. When I take it I take 314 from Salt Springs to Ocklawaha and get 25 down to TV but you wouldnt want them lost in the Ocala Forest! The only stop and go you have is in Orange Park and Palatka. The 301 has been built up over the years and can be very slow. 17 and 19 are beautiful roads and you can stay 55 or 60 most of the way. This is the quickest way to Jacksonville too.

good info thanks

301
 

After driving 10 hours for the second day I am totally cooked and two plus hours on 301 is too much and i am sick of it. I hv stayed on 10 to 75 south just to avoid 301.
is your route mostly divided highways and
is this the route that takes you through the ocala national forest?
one time we took the route through the ocala forest. unfortunitly for us it was around 1:00AM well it was pretty weird and scary even our dogs were howling. I wd that route again just not after dark. thanks

I agree. This is the way to go. S. Fairview Ave will take you to 19. Turn left(south) and then turn right at the light (west) on RT 42. If you are going to the north part of TV then stay on 42. If you are going south then take CR 25 left to 441 which will bring you out just north of 466.

Looking to get to the TVs taking major highways ....I am not looking to go the scenic route.....just the quickest way to get to the villages..any ideas? I will be driving down from charleston SC tomorrow. Will be looking to buy a new home already built and to move in right away! thanks....:a040:

Just make sure to tell them if they take 301 to never go even one MPH over the limit in Lawtey, Waldo, or Starke....it is so bad that there are signs warning of speed traps for the first two towns.

My daughter made this trip this weekend from James Island, she took 301 out of Jacksonville and was at our door in Charlotte (far south in the villages) 6 hours after leaving her home in charleston. Have a safe trip, lots of homes ready for an owner on the south end.

The KEITHFAN has it right. Commuted to Jacksonville from The Villages for a year. BEst route, shortest time. "295 around Jacksonville take 17 South at Orange Park, then take 19 South at Palatka then 42 over to the Villages. When I take it I take 314 from Salt Springs to Ocklawaha and get 25 down to TV"

TomSpasm, I sent you a PM.