Travel on Route 301
 

Coming down to the Villages in a few weeks and got my trip-tic from AAA. Driving down 95. When I get by Jacksonville,
I noticed they have me "avoiding" 301 and they told me it just might be the ticket capital of the USA. Re-routed me taking 10 west till I hit 75 and then south to the Villages.
Anybody been on 301 lately?
Would save me about an hour driving if I can use 301 but if it is as crazy as AAA tells me, the extra 52 minutes might be well worth it!

Bob

301 is fine and will save you time versus taking I-10 to I-17 south. But you really have to pay attention to all the speed limit changes.

Bill :)

I've driven both ways and I prefer going over I-10 to I-75. I would say that going over to 75 is indeed a bit longer, but...301 is a mass of stop lights and varying speed limits. I don't know if it's one big speed trap, I have no evidence of that, but I find it maddening with all of the local traffic to deal with. I prefer to keep moving between 70-80mph and you're never going to be able to do that on 301.

capecod - Here's another option: Take 301 until you get to 326 which is just a bit north of Ocala. Then it's just a short hop over to I-75 south. It kinda 'splits the difference" - you'll have some of the speed limit changes and small towns to deal with but you'll avoid the traffic in Ocala, Belleview, etc.

Like mack stated, though, if the potential for consistent speed and no traffic lights are the priority, then you're best to skip 301.

Bill :)

There is nothing wrong with 301. Speed limit areas are very well marked. Speed limits are reasonable, just observe them. AAA has had this mentality with regards to this subject for years. It started when there were real speed traps with obscure signage and unreasonably low limits. The local towns made a lot of money on the fines. Things have changed.

I travel 301 frequently and see very little police presence. By the way, if you travel faster than the limit you will be very conspicuous. Most drivers will set their cruise control and stay out of trouble. (I wish they would do likewise in TV).

Took I10 to I75 once and got backed up in traffic, so ever since have used 301, but you do have to be alert to the speed traps - Lawtey and Waldo come to mind, but there are a few others. Four lane all the way; been taking the drive fairly often for the past two years and no tickets (I'm knocking on wood). After a long drive on Interstates, I like to slow down a little for the last leg of the journey. Have a safe trip!

I heard that Waldo is the ticket capital of the world. Just obey the speed limits and you should be fine.

I've done the drive from the Boston area...22 hours as I recall. At the end of a long third day of driving, I wouldn't be looking to add an extra hour. Just obey the speed limit and you'll be fine. Getting off at Exit 326 is a good idea.

I use 301 going to and from The Villages. The distance is approximately 100-110 miles and you have to be mindful of the speed limits. I tried many other routes and have settled on 301. The traffic lights are not all that bad, spaced out to the point that you can drive 5-10 miles in places at 55-65 MPH between stoplights. Definately be careful because there are a number of towns that pride themselves and even have roadside signs that state that their towns are speedtrap communities. Ocala can be busy along with Bellview as a previous poster stated. Enjoy the ride, approximately 2 hours to 2:15 to cover the distance is not too bad of a drive.

It won't save you any time and probably longer timewise....It is shorter , but alot of small towns and stop lights and signs, but I have been that way and it does show you another side of Florida and takes you in the middle of Horse country...Interesting restaraunts this way also...If you are not in a hurry you can go this way...

No more speed traps
 

Used to be a big speed traps :police: at Waldo and Lewtey (either side of Starke) but the federal government got after them and said they can't change the speed limit from 65 to 30 right at the town line and sit and give tickets out all day to fill the town's coffers. So now, the warnings are better, 65 to 50, then 50 to 40, then 40 to 30; it gives you lots of time to slow down. Been that way many times to get to I-95 and haven't seen one speed trap since all the new signs when up years ago. Still, when the speed limit sign says 30, you better do 30, not 35. They are small towns and you're through them in a few minutes. Truckers love this route, BTW. Little traffic and no traffic lights north of Ocala (except Starke).

Southbound on 301, once you get down to SR 326 (Oak Rd.), go west and hop on I-75 South to Belleview and avoid all the Ocala traffic.

Going north, others like to go (east) over to Altoona on CR 42 and go north on SR 19 to Palatka, then east, over the St. John's, to East Palatka and SR 207 to I-95 at Exit 311. But you have to navigate Jacksonville that way. Or take US 17 north out of Palatka and go around Jacksonville on the I-295 (West Side). That's much better.

Different strokes, for different folks. :thumbup:

Skip

Wow!
Thanks one and all for the help. Great suggestions.
This will be our 1st winter in FL and we're really looking forward to it and not having to shovel any snow!
Thanks again everyone! You've been very helpful.
Bob and Patty Baker

Like others have said "watch your speed" and what goes in other parts of the country does not work here. When you see the signs don't think that they give you 5 or 10 over because that does NOT work. If it says 40 you better be doing less to be on the safe side.

Be under when you hit the traps and you will be fine.

VG

We agree. After driving Interstates all the way from Ontario, we like to slow down and enjoy the lovely horse farms.

No matter how you look at it, or the route you choose, its still a 3 hour ride when you cross over into Florida from Georgia. I like 301 also, but can get to you when you know the last 3 hours of your 12 hour day is coming to an end. We call into Belleview Pizza, so we have a pizza waiting for us when we get there. (20 min before The Villages) Yummy