Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Question: If I was at the northern top of Jacksonville say around 12pm (noon) on a friday heading south.....should I take 295 around Jacksonville or stay on Rte 95 and go through the city??. Is there construction on 95 in this stretch or road?? Eventually I will connect with Rte 1, 40, 11, 19 and 42 to make it to TV. I just hate driving 10, 301 to get to TV.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Have tried several different routes. I-10 to US 301 to Rt 24 (at Waldo) to Gainesville to Rt 331 to I-75 to Rt 484 (Exit 342, I believe) to Rt 475 to Rt 466 works for me. It's the shortest and has the least headaches for construction and delays.

Every other way adds considerable mileage and time. I-95 south of JAX can be a royal construction mess, and if there are any fires, the smoke across the road is miserable.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

In 30 plus years of driving to Florida I have always stayed on I-95 through Jacksonville. I-295 adds many miles to the trip. I take I-95 to Ormond Beach and Rt 40 west. It's 65 mph and nice road. Left at Rt 19 takes you through Ocala Nat'l Forest and no traffic. Again, good road all the way to 42 and into the TV.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Coming up 301 from the south, stay on 301 until you hook into A-1-A and thence to I-95...it's just a bit longer but so much more civilized....and no I-295, trucks, etc. It's our route of choice now.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

After a number of years driving 301 to TV, my goal is to stay off of 301. It is the worst road for speed traps, traffic, and red lights that one can imagine. What opbob77 proposed is what I was thinking and I most likely will follow that or a simialr route.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

I really like this way too!

I've made one change though, I take the 9A east bypass around Jacksonville (it's the eastern 1/2 of the 295 loop). I clocked it and it is only 2 miles longer than going straight thru Jax. I prefer it to the busier 95 route. I don't think anyone knows it's completed yet!

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

This sounds like a good route to try for the first part of our journey to Canada (using I-95).
Anyone have any new info on this route?

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Never notived the 9A option before. Looks interesting and I think I might try in on my next northeastern road trip. Anyone use it recently enough to comment on road conditions, construction, etc???

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

We had always considered the drive through Jax on I-95 to border on the seventh circle of Hell in Dante's Inferno. We usually use I-295 and connecting roads to 301 and found this route okay, staying conscious of the speed traps and living with the traffic lights on the latter. Also, both our GPS systems recommended this routing (the one built into the Prius and our hand-held Magellan). However, we weren't aware of the 9A option around Jax and maybe we'll try it next time we drive down; thanks for the tip! We've also driven through the Ocala National Forest and though a two-lane road, it IS a wonderful ride!

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Muncle, I used the 9A bypass in November (twice) again in December (twice) and yet again in February (again twice). There is one traffic light about 1/2 way, the rest of the ride is just fine. It's a short light that wasn't backed up anytime I was there.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Not yet having made the trip but about to. Does that mean taking the 9A exit on 95 then getting back onto 95 again? Herb

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Yes, that's exactly what you do. 9A is like the other half of the I-295 "loop", just the shorter half.
Going south, you'll see the 295 exit, just go under the overpass and the exit for 9A is there. It heads south on the east side of 95. Heading north, you'll see 9A first. If you google the map for Jacksonville you'll see the road quite plainly.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

I agree with taking 95 to Ormond Beach and over via 40. Made the mistake of leaving a different way and it was not pretty. I think the 95 and over seems more direct, less lights, less confusion.
Just an opinion. I did not time either. My google directions were a bit dated and we missed a few turns going out via Ocala.

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

Ok..one more time...from Buena Vista in TV to Jax...how do you get there to pick up 9A?

Re: Interstate 95 through Jacksonville
 

From Buena Vista & 466, take 466 to Rolling Acres Rd, Make a left on Rolling Acres, cross 441/27 (pass Home Depot) and make a right on Griffin Ave. Take Griffin a short way to Rte 25. Make a left on 25.
Take 25 (north) to rte 42. Make a right on 42.
Take 42 to Rte 19. Make a left on 19.
Take 19 north to rte 40. Make a right on 40 and head east until you hit rte 95. Take 95 north until you hit 9A (around exit 337 I think) then take 9A north until it connects again to 95.

it sounds complicated but if you look at it on a map it isn't as confusing as it sounds..