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-   -   US-301 or I-75? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-new-members-forum-115/us-301-i-75-a-29095/)

tejas 05-11-2010 03:33 PM

US-301 or I-75?
 
My wife and I are going to be making a lifestyle visit to TV. We will be traveling south on I-95. Both AAA and mapquest route us down US-301 which looks like 100 miles of small towns and slow traffic. I'm wondering if it would be better to continue west on I-10 then south on I-75 (exiting at Ocala). Any suggestions?

dillywho 05-11-2010 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tejas (Post 264214)
My wife and I are going to be making a lifestyle visit to TV. We will be traveling south on I-95. Both AAA and mapquest route us down US-301 which looks like 100 miles of small towns and slow traffic. I'm wondering if it would be better to continue west on I-10 then south on I-75 (exiting at Ocala). Any suggestions?

301 was not a good road when we first moved here, but it is now. It is much longer to go all the way to I-75 and takes about the same time to get here from Jacksonville (my son lives there). It's at least 40 miles out of the way. Until they improved 301, we did go I-75 because 301 was only 2-lane most of the way...yuk.

If you opt to come 301, just be aware of the speed limits. Waldo and Lawtey have national reputations for their speed traps. Go the speed limits and you won't have a problem. Don't, and they do write tickets!

tony 05-11-2010 03:51 PM

A town named "Waldo." Really. Waldo.

l2ridehd 05-11-2010 03:53 PM

Driven from VA many times down 95. Have tried them all. 95 to Ormond beach and across 40, take the backrounds down to 40 and then down 19 to 42 to 27/441. Taken 10 to 75 and 75 down.

The very best way even though it takes you though 70 miles of speed limit changes (and follow them to the exact mile per hour) is still 95 to 10 to 301. Just past Irish Acres just North of Ocala, go over to 75 and take that the last 30 miles on 75 to the route 44 exit to Wildwood. On a map this is the closest point where 301 comes to 75. Maybe 2 miles to cut across to 75. This avoids the worst parts of 301. This is the shortest and fastest. The only one I have not yet tried is to take route 1 just as you enter Florida over to 301 vs 95 to 295 to 301. Several people have said this saves 15 minutes as well, but have yet to try it.

GeorgeIII 05-11-2010 04:17 PM

My wife and I debate the merits of these two options on occasion, since we drive down to TV from New Jersey every couple of months. Staying on I-10W and picking up I-75S will definitely put more miles on your vehicle. The advantages are that this route allows one basically to leave the cruise control on, and it avoids the aforementioned speed traps on 301. Sometimes I simply do not feel like slowing down to 45MPH, then 35MPH, then 25MPH at the end of a 19-hour journey.
My wife's point of view is that there is no reason to add 40 extra miles to the odometer if you are not going to reduce the duration of the drive. And the psychological impact of driving away from your destination does seem to be a downer. Furthermore, she makes sure that we do not run afoul of the local constabulary by pointing out all of the speed changes on 301 to me.
Although we have taken the I-10/I-75 path twice, I am not sure we will do it again.
Funny, northbound we never even consider taking I-75/I-10. We always take 27/441 up to 301.
Whichever path you take, have a safe trip!!!
GeorgeIII

Barefoot 05-11-2010 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l2ridehd (Post 264221)
Driven from VA many times down 95. Have tried them all. 95 to Ormond beach and across 40, take the backrounds down to 40 and then down 19 to 42 to 27/441.

Although the above route isn't the recommended "very best way", we find it a relaxing way to get to The Bubble. And it's possibly the shortest route. We don't want to go "zoom, zoom, zoom", we just want to chill out and enjoy the ride. :wine:

Oh, cool, I just found a new icon. Thank you Tony!

Annabelle 05-11-2010 05:40 PM

!-95 301
 
My hubby and I have visited TV several times and here is how the route we take from our home in Va. We take I-95 all the way to Walterboro SC. We generally arrive there in the late afternoon. This gives us time to have a leisure dinner and get to bed early. After driving through a large part of Va, all of NC and SC we are fairly tired from sitting all day.
The next morning we try to be on the road by 9am at the latest and drive on I-95 to Florida, then take the bypass around Jacksonville and pick-up I-10 W. We get off 301 and go towards Ocala. This is where I switch with hubby because he (probably like most men!) doesn't like to speed up and then slow down. He wants to keep the cruise control on all the time. I actually prefer the change in speed limits because he keeps me more alert. I have not gotten a speed ticket yet either. Also, I enjoy the scenery as we approach Ocala...the horse farms are very nice to see. Once we get to Ocala I then go the 27/441 route to TV. As someone else said....and we feel the same.....we don't like the constant speed of driving on the interstate and 301 is not at all crowded and it is 4 lanes divided. So this is the preferred route that I like to take.

harleysville 05-11-2010 09:45 PM

I vote for I-75
 
I prefer I-75 to 301. Perhaps it is because the first time I drove from PA to FL we hit 301 in the middle of the night in a torrential downpour. Rt 301 does NOT have any street lights except the ones of the businesses in the towns you pass through. During our trip in the rain the tractor trailers were driving way too fast on a dark road and I felt really unsafe.

On my second drive to FL we took I-75 and it was much more relaxing. I too agree that it is further out of the way but it was a much easier drive for us.

Safe travels!

herbaru 05-11-2010 10:18 PM

I have tried both and prefer I-75 over 301 if you are traveling these roads in the dark.

dillywho 05-11-2010 10:49 PM

That's It
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tony (Post 264220)
A town named "Waldo." Really. Waldo.

Yep, Tony, really "Waldo". Don't believe me? Google it....they even talk about the speed traps there.:police:

Yoda 05-11-2010 10:54 PM

My vote is for 75. Smoother ride and better services. No deputy Dawg.

Yoda

jebartle 05-14-2010 06:54 AM

Driven from NC many times down 95. Never take loop around Jacksonville if you time it right never a delay.... Have tried them all. 95 to Route 40 west (Ormand Beach):a040:, and then down 19 south to 42 west to 27/441....Two lane from 40 to 441 but pretty quick, 301 is stop and go...Ugh!

theapeman 05-16-2010 02:15 PM

Avoid 301. Slow and many speed traps! Depending on where you are coming from I 95 may not be the best route either. The quicker you can get onto I 75 the better.

Barefoot 05-16-2010 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jebartle (Post 264755)
Driven from NC many times down 95. Never take loop around Jacksonville if you time it right never a delay.... Have tried them all. 95 to Route 40 west (Ormand Beach):a040:, and then down 19 south to 42 west to 27/441....Two lane from 40 to 441 but pretty quick, 301 is stop and go...Ugh!

That is our favourite route. Ormand Beach, then down 19 to 42, we love the scenic route. But then we're not in a hurry.

Jazzper 05-17-2010 02:14 PM

Just checking this route out for our ride down next month. I'll be in a 16' rental truck and am considering avoiding the 301 hassle this time.

When you come down thru Ormond Beach then across using 42, do you cut the corner at RT. 25 or go a bit further over to 441 then head south?

SteveFromNY 05-17-2010 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzper (Post 265321)
Just checking this route out for our ride down next month. I'll be in a 16' rental truck and am considering avoiding the 301 hassle this time.

When you come down thru Ormond Beach then across using 42, do you cut the corner at RT. 25 or go a bit further over to 441 then head south?

If you're going to TV south of 466, cut the corner on 25. If you're notrth, continu straight across 42, the northern edge of TV.

We've done the drive many times and were fans of 301 to 24 to Gainesville, catch 75 there and take it to exit 329 (Wildwood). Now we are back to the rural route of 42 to 19 to 40 to Ormond Beach and then I-95. It is more relaxing by far to us. 19 is one of the nicest stretches of road around IMO.

ricthemic 05-17-2010 07:33 PM

Is Ocala Forest only good during daytime?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveFromNY (Post 265356)
If you're going to TV south of 466, cut the corner on 25. If you're notrth, continu straight across 42, the northern edge of TV.

We've done the drive many times and we were fans of 301 to 24 to Gainesville, catch 75 there and take it to exit 329 (Wildwood). Now we are back to the rural route of 42 to 19 to 40 to Ormond Beach and then I-95. It is more relaxing by far to us. 19 is one of the nicest stretches of road around IMO.

We hv also tried a couple of routes going north, 75>rte24> waldo>301 north>10 and 301 all the way to 10.
have also tried (south to TV) driving through the Ocala National Forest at midnight. This was way way to scary ( I thought my wife who was freaked out by the darkness was going to.....) ((sorry I digress)).
My question is: Is this the best way if you are leaving or entering TV during normal (somewhat) daytime hours?[/I]thanks. I do like going north early, in the morning, up 75 to Gainsville 24 to 301 north in waldo. I do not bother going this way heading south, I just stay on 301 cause it is late, dark and I am tired.

Barefoot 05-17-2010 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzper (Post 265321)
Just checking this route out for our ride down next month. I'll be in a 16' rental truck and am considering avoiding the 301 hassle this time.

When you come down thru Ormond Beach then across using 42, do you cut the corner at RT. 25 or go a bit further over to 441 then head south?

Since you'll be heading to Belvedere Village, a suggestion would be to take 42 and continue taking it west of 441. Instead of heading south on 441.

You could take 42 to Buena Vista and go south on BV to CR 466. Turn right and go west on 466 a few blocks ... and then turn left on Belvedere.

Have a safe trip.

Army Guy 05-18-2010 07:35 AM

Another Vote for I-75
 
Yes Waldo is known world wide as being the speed trap capital of the world. That is basically the town's only source of income. Also Baldwin going in the other direction is just as bad.

Army Guy

coach 05-18-2010 08:02 AM

I have made the trip at least 30 times over the last six years and have tried them all. I like 301 to I-10 to 295 to I95. From the Dunkin Donut on 466 to I-10 takes me two hours. From I 10 to Exit 14 in Ga. is one more hour.

Just go the speed limit on 301 especially Waldo, Starke and Lawdy. Those three towns give tickets. I know!!

Jazzper 05-18-2010 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefoot (Post 265393)
Since you'll be heading to Belvedere Village, a suggestion would be to take 42 and continue taking it west of 441. Instead of heading south on 441.

You could take 42 to Buena Vista and go south on BV to CR 466. Turn right and go west on 466 a few blocks ... and then turn left on Belvedere.

Have a safe trip.

Thanks, PJ.
Considering the late hour that we'll be arriving, I think I'm going to opt for the shortest distance and the better lit roads then just be careful down 301.

Also, because this will be our last trek down - I'll be officially retired by then (WOO-HOO!!) -- this will be our last time driving to/from Delaware since flights are so cheap.

See ya in a month!!

GeorgeIII 05-31-2010 07:06 AM

Some statistics
 
Chris and I drove down from NJ last week, arriving on Wednesday. We got off I-10 at Rt. 301 South at 11:33 AM, and we religiously followed the speed limits all the way down to TV. At 12:33 PM we were at the intersection of Rt. 301 and Rt. 20, having traveled 51 miles on 301. An hour later (1:33 PM) we were on 27/441 at Del Webb's Spruce Creek - 95 miles so far. We arrived at the intersection of Morse Blvd and 27/441 at 1:43 PM having driven 101 miles since exiting I-10 onto Rt. 301. Traffic was light to moderate - basically not a factor, and wonder of wonders, we mad no health stops during this stretch. When we exited I-10 onto Rt. 301, our GPS had our arrival time estimated at 1:21 PM. We actually arrived at 1:47 PM.

Bottom line - 101 miles, 2 hours and 10 minutes to Morse Blvd. Perhaps next time we drive down we can document the "stay on I-10 to I-75" route. Of course, personal driving preferences play a huge role in deciding which of the many alternatives to take, but I thought it would be helpful to document the mileage and time. No matter which route you may take, please arrive safe and sound.

George

wej0319 05-31-2010 07:20 AM

My wife and I travel to the Villages frequently from North Carolina. I prefer I-75. I take Rte 121 (2 exits past 301) off I-10 pick up Rte 236 that takes you to I-75 at the High Springs exit. Only two small towns and the drive is very easy.

GeorgeIII 07-21-2010 08:46 AM

Chris and I drove down from NJ again last week. This time we stayed on I-10 all the way west to I-75, then came south on I-75 to Exit 341, whereupon we wound our way east to 27/441 (via routes 484, 475 and 42, passing the northern end of Buena Vista) and south to Morse. This route took us 2 hours and 30 minutes to travel 159 miles, cruising along at about 75 MPH until we left the interstates.

In an earlier posting I documented the time and distance when we took the 301/27/441 route from I-10 to Morse Blvd. That route took us 2 hours and 10 minutes over 101 miles, and, yes, we passed 7 local constables in the Waldo/Lawtey/Starkey area.

There was no question in my mind that the I-10/I-75 route was considerable longer than the 301/27/441 route, but I had hoped that the much faster driving speed would equate the drive times. Not so for us. I suspect that we will take 301 from now on until we can get down here full time. Chris will just have to continue to point out all of those speed limit changes along the way.

George


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