[Sidney Lanier]

For you guys who 'commute' by car from the Northeast to TV coming on Interstate-95 down the East Coast, can you suggest any good routes (as well as which ones to avoid) after crossing into Florida? Many thanks!

[villages07]

Sid...the most direct is I95 to west on I-10 at Jacksonville (may have to get on a 295 bypass route off of 95 to get to 10). I10 to US301 South....301 to either 441 or 466 depending on your ultimate Villages destination.

The 301 stretch is not fun...lots of speed limit changes and small towns; also, it is notorious for speed traps.

I did the drive from DC to TV in Summer 06....took us about 15 hrs driving time in two days; we have a friend who does it in 13.5 hrs in one day but I wouldn't do that ride with him. To quote handie, too skeery.

[Barefoot]

Susan & David

from a Newbie. I didn't realize you were coming down this soon. I sent you a PM with my telephone number.

One of the site hosts gave me the following directions:
When taking I-95 to Jacksonville:
Get on I-295 NORTH of Jacksonville for about 15 minutes.
Go to I-10 West and take it to CR 301. We followed 301 all the way down to 466 and then it is 5 minutes to Belvedere.

Like V07 said, 301 has a lot of speed limit changes and small towns, but we were so excited we totally enjoyed it. ;D
Good luck with your drive.

[Pete]

My suggestion is take I 95 down to Ormand Beach and take State Rt. 40 across Ocala National Forest to Silver Springs, west of Ocala, turn left at the Silver Springs traffic light and go to Bellview, turn left (south) on 441 to TV. I think this is a better route than the
I 10 -301 route.

Just an opinion.

[Frangyomory]

Pete's directions sound good. We took I95 from Virginia to 301 and then came through 466.

Mapquest is a great means for directions for free also.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by Pete

My suggestion is take I 95 down to Ormand Beach and take State Rt. 40 across Ocala National Forest to Silver Springs, west of Ocala, turn left at the Silver Springs traffic light and go to Bellview, turn left (south) on 441 to TV. I think this is a better route than the
I 10 -301 route.

Just an opinion.

Ths is the route I always use when I take I95 south. The left at the Silver Springs traffic light is CR 35. If you are headed to the Marion county or the "south" part of TV, take the right in Belleview onto CR25 and take the left onto 441 and the right onto US301 in Belleview and that will take you to 466 where you can take a left and end up in the middle of TV. If you are going to the Marion county part of TV, take the left at the Shell station on US301 on to US42.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

Ths is the route I always use when I take I95 south. The left at the Silver Springs traffic light is CR 35. If you are headed to the Marion county or the "south" part of TV, take the right in Belleview onto CR25 and take the left onto 441 and the right onto US301 in Belleview and that will take you to 466 where you can take a left and end up in the middle of TV. If you are going to the Marion county part of TV, take the left at the Shell station on US301 on to US42.

I'm heading down I-95 Saturday, arriving in TV on Sunday 11/18.
I've done 301 a few times and not liked it much. I've had a preference for the 295 bypass around to 17 to Palataka then 19 south thru the Ocala forest.
But I'm going to try this route as the stretch of 17 is worse than 301, but shorter. 19 is a beautiful, empty road that reminds me of a ride thru a western pine forest. But this ride across 40 looks like a good choice.
Thanks! I'll post with my opinion once done.

:bigthumbsup:

[jtdraig]

We do the 295-10-301-466 route. It can be painful but it seems to be the best of all the alternatives for us. We have tried them all....we drive up & back at least twice a year.

[The Great Fumar]

Bring 95 down to 301 and take it all the way to THE VILLAGES...You'll love it and you won't get lost......

[Smp45]

Driving from North of New York City Pittsfield, Ma to be exact---- Would anyone know of nice motels that would be Pet Friedly along 95. Thanks, smp

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by Smp45

Driving from North of New York City Pittsfield, Ma to be exact---- Would anyone know of nice motels that would be Pet Friedly along 95. Thanks, smp

I had no problem at South of the Border (NC/SC border)

[Bubbalarry]

Why not I-95 south to I-295 S to I-10 W to Rt 301 to Rt 24 W to wards Gainesville, FL., to Rt 331/121 S & W to I-75 S to Wildwood exit or an exit before it.

At Wildwood take 301 N to Rt 466A go right or farther N to Rt 466 and go right.

This puts you on RT 301 for only 38 miles. It's close to the same miles but at least with I-75 you can drive upto 70/75 MPH.

Going thru Ormand Beach, and onto 42W adds 40+ miles and almost an extra 40+ minutes.
You will have to go thru Deland, which is just as bad as Rt 301 with traffic cops.

I am leaving for New Jersey this Sunday and plan to use these directions in reverse. My home in TV is 1 mile from RT466A so its easier to go through Wildwood for me.

[Russ_Boston]

Here is what I'm going to do:

Plan A -
I will drive my car from now until it draws it's last breath (about 140,000 miles already), have the car towed to the junk yard, take a taxi to the airport, fly to Orlando, rent a car for two days, drive to TV, rent a villa for a month, buy a new car, return the rental, take the car to buy a golf car, drive the golf car around to scout for a new house, buy my permanent residence and then live happly ever after!

Plan B -
Drive 1262 miles in a car? Are you kidding?
See Plan A!

[bamafan]

How long is the drive to TV once you get on 301 off of I-10?

[DickY]

Looking at my AAA trip tick its about 100 Miles.
Take exit number 343 towards US-301 / BALDWIN / STARKE. Drive for 0.2 miles.
Go STRAIGHT to get on US-301 S towards LAWTEY / STARKE. Drive for 17.4 miles.
Go STRAIGHT on US-301 N. Drive for 0.4 miles.
Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards US-301 S. Drive for 81.4 miles.
Turn LEFT onto E COUNTY ROAD 466. Drive for 4.2 miles.
Turn RIGHT onto MORSE BOULEVARD. Drive for 0.1 miles.
Take the roundabout and exit at the FIRST exit onto MORSE BOULEVARD. Drive for 0.6 miles.
Take the roundabout and exit at the FIRST exit onto LAKE SUMTER LANDING. Drive for 0.3 miles.
You have reached 1000 Lake Sumter Landing, Lady Lake 32162, Florida

It wasn't a bad drive. After looking at the posts here I was very careful on obeying the speed limits. :cop: