No thanks. We had to travel through Atlanta for nearly 20 years going from Mobile to Charlotte. I know all the ins and outs. If I can avoid going through there, I will.

Flying today I'd rather stand in a DMV line same vibe same sense of urgency 3rd world facilities and customer service nonexistent. Then you board avoiding folks stuffing the overhead with chickens, goats, and pigs in crates.

Thank you for this information! I travel from WV same way and I-95 is the worst. I am going to use your route when I come down to TV for my closing! I have to keep reminding myself I'm retired, I have time to stop and smell the roses, and I don't have to get anywhere in a hurry!!

Alternate to i-95
 

Ironically, our families are in Akron and central MD.
The alternate north/south routes are Rt. 17 or Rt. 1 along the coast and picking up Rt. 301 in Belleview.
Rt. 301 is a beautiful drive, but it's a country drive up to Columbia SC where you pick up I-77, which is a straight shot up to Akron.
Any alternative to interstate is going to be slower, overall, but you're moving.
Have family that comes down quite often, from Chillicothe OH. They always take I-75. They just make sure to leave around 4 or 5 in the morning and stop on the south side of Atlanta for the night and get out early again the next morning.

Google maps, on phone or car, direction to and from, offers many routes, and talks to you where to turn and not turn.

Google maps gives alternative routes when the traffic is bad. It will tell you the time for each route.

Great advice. You would be amazed how relaxed driving is at that time of day.

Take 26 east from Columbia to Orangeburg then pick up 301 South.

Google “US Highways”. They are multi-state highways that can run border to border in some cases. Example: US41 runs from Miami to the Upper Peninsula. Try ‘em. Slower, yes, but you see so much more.

95 to 26 to 77 to 81, depending where you are headed

From i77 across i26 in SC before you get you get to i95, you can exit and take 301 all the way into The Villages. Of course it is going to take you longer but you won’t be sitting in traffic. Kinda fun once in a while to see the “old main highway” now a thing of the past.

If you have an extra hour, from Akron, to Columbus, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, The Villages. Or from Charlotte, take I-85 to Atlanta, then I-75 to here.

One nice shortcut from I-95 is to take Highway 200 just after you cross into Florida on I-95. Highway 200 is four lane, fast, and nearly deserted. It will lead you to Highway 301, which will take you right to The Villages. You don’t have to go around Jacksonville that way.

I am not familiar with these parts of 1-95 and other highways. Most of alternatives are back/winding roads with a lot of lights. Best idea is not going through major cities(particularly Atlanta) during rush hour.

Best alternative is American Delta United etc.

We just came up on I-75 to I-71 to Northeast Ohio. Been doing that one. Decent road but be sure to take by pass around Cincinnati/Covington because of the construction through Cincinnati. If you time Atlanta right you can usually blow straight thru.

Waze best times to leave
 

Waze will also suggest best times to leave, you can choose day and time and get an idea of different drive times.