[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by Bubbalarry

That route my friend is the best. I not only posted it earlier but drove it, so your absolutely correct.

Bubbalarry & SteveZ

I returned to NY this way a week or so ago. You're both right - this seems to be the fastest way to go. I made it past Jacksonville in just a little over 2 hours, state line in 2 1/2 or better.

I'm a convert. I liked this way a lot.

Since my house is in Liberty Park I'm pretty near 466A. I took that to 301 then down to 44A to 44 to get on I-75 there. I think it was 12 minutes to I-75 from my house! From there (Exit 329) it was 53 miles to the gainsville exit (382). The roads around there (120, 331 & 24) were very good. And then slowly through Waldo, and on up 301 to 10. Really a quick way. I'm coning down again this week and will use it then too.

Thanks.

[jerseygirl008]

Two weeks ago, I returned north using the route described by Pete: through the Ocala National Forest. From 95 below Ormond Beach, take 40 W, then 19 So. through the forest, then 42 W to 25 W into Lady Lake. It was a beautiful and quick ride. Much better than 301. That was a nightmare of speed limits changes, lights, lane changes, etc.

This is my new and best route. Hope this helps.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by jerseygirl008

Two weeks ago, I returned north using the route described by Pete: through the Ocala National Forest. From 95 below Ormond Beach, take 40 W, then 19 So. through the forest, then 42 W to 25 W into Lady Lake. It was a beautiful and quick ride. Much better than 301. That was a nightmare of speed limits changes, lights, lane changes, etc.

This is my new and best route. Hope this helps.

Chris - I used to go via 40 to 19 to 42. Last time I tried the way Bubbalarry suggested, and it's really faster, by probably 1/2 hour to 1 hour. And the 30 or so mile on 301 are at the top where the lights and towns are lightest. You make a turn in Waldo (the 1st speed trap town), and head over toward Gainseville and get on I-75 and can move very quickly. Like I said, I'm converted.

[diskman]

Hey guys this is 2008 try google maps which gives you choices of highways or roads and a great map. :bigthumbsup:

[SteveFromNY]

Diskman, thanks for the tip, but all the map programs send you down 301 all the way from 10 to 466 and in a word that route stinks. Or at least quite a few folks out here are of that opinion.

[jerseygirl008]

SteveNY and Bubbalarry: I will try your suggested route in a few weeks. Sounds like a possible keeper. I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the info.

[ijusluvit]

Hey Folks,

No one has mentioned the route I took last week. I've tried them all and this is the best. I-95 thru Jacksonville to exit 311, Rt 207. It's a new divided highway much better than Rt 40. Take 207 through Palatka to Rt. 19 south thru the Ocala Forest to Salt Springs. Take a right on CR314 to Silver Springs. Left on CR35 to 441 to TV. The only place that's slow is thru Palatka, about 10 minutes out of the whole trip. This route was 20 to 30 minutes faster than any route I've ever tried. It's at least as open as the Ormand Beach-Rt. 40 route but 20-30 miles shorter, hence the time savings

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Hey Folks,
No one has mentioned the route I took last week. I've tried them all and this is the best. I-95 thru Jacksonville to exit 311, Rt 207. It's a new divided highway much better than Rt 40. Take 207 through Palatka to Rt. 19 south thru the Ocala Forest to Salt Springs. Take a right on CR314 to Silver Springs. Left on CR35 to 441 to TV. The only place that's slow is thru Palatka, about 10 minutes out of the whole trip. This route was 20 to 30 minutes faster than any route I've ever tried. It's at least as open as the Ormand Beach-Rt. 40 route but 20-30 miles shorter, hence the time savings

Sidney and Hyacinth, I'm counting on you to check out this route and let me know what you think.

[chelsea24]

Bare. Barefoot. Barefoot my dear friend. You need RUBY! hahahaha ;D

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Hey Folks,

No one has mentioned the route I took last week. I've tried them all and this is the best. I-95 thru Jacksonville to exit 311, Rt 207. It's a new divided highway much better than Rt 40. Take 207 through Palatka to Rt. 19 south thru the Ocala Forest to Salt Springs. Take a right on CR314 to Silver Springs. Left on CR35 to 441 to TV. The only place that's slow is thru Palatka, about 10 minutes out of the whole trip. This route was 20 to 30 minutes faster than any route I've ever tried. It's at least as open as the Ormand Beach-Rt. 40 route but 20-30 miles shorter, hence the time savings

I have taken 207 a couple of times and agree it is a very pleasant ride. I went 19 all the way to 40 and did not take the turn at 314. I find all of the different ways that I have tried to take a shade over 3 hours from the state line down to TV. Taking the "BubbaLarry Route" got me from the state line to TV in 2 and a 1/2. I think what makes it quicker is the use of the 2 interstates for a large part of the trip. And if you live in the southern part of TV you can go down 75 to exit 329 and take 44 across to 301 north to 466A.

[MikeH]

Having lived in Ormond Beach prior to moving to The Villages and having made the trip a "few" times, I recommend:

I-95 to Rt-40 in Ormond Beach (don't remember exit number)

Stay on 40 West until you pass over the St. John’s River at Aster

About a 1 – 2 miles past Aster go left onto 445A toward Alexander Springs

Take 445A about ½ mile & turn left onto 445

Stay on 445 (through National Forest) until it dead-ends at 19

Turn left onto 19 and go about 5 miles to light at SR-42

Turn right onto 42 until you get to 441/27 (take about ½ hour)

Depending where you're going in The Villages:

You can turn left onto 441/27 and after couple of miles you'll see The Villages---can't miss it.

OR:

Cross 441/27 and stay on 42 until Buena Vista Blvd (about the third stop light)

Turn left onto Buena Vista Blvd. and start having the fun of your life in The Villages.

[The Great Fumar]

95 to 301 up by state line.......follow all the way to villages...

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by chelsea24

Bare. Barefoot. Barefoot my dear friend. You need RUBY! hahahaha ;D

Chels has a talking GPS named Ruby. You ask Ruby for directions and she instructs you what roads to take. Ruby gets angry if you ignore her directions! Seriously. Ruby told us to take one route to get to Cassadaga and a different route to get back home. How weird is that? Useful little gadget, that Ruby, but tempermental and inclined to be bossy.

[MikeH]

Ruby sounds like my wife! ;D

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Ruby sounds like my wife! ;D

1rnfl Mike, hope your wife doesn't read TOTV!