[Carmpat]

We left on July 3 and we got on NJ turnpike to I-295, to Delaware Rt 1, to DE 299, US Highway 301, VA 207, to I-95. Then to I-295 West in Jacksonville to I-10 to US Hwy 301, to FL 24 through Gainsville to I-75 South and get off the Villages exit,

Right now we are in Virginia as we stopped to see friends but normally this is the route we take to get to the Villages. We don't like 301 because of the traffic lights but hate I-95.

[janmcn]

There's a very nice Best Western at Exit 22 in Lumberton, NC that takes dogs up to 80 pounds for an extra fee. This is exactly eight hours north of TV. One of my favorite pet-friendly websites is www.bringfido.com. I find their reviews to be very accurate. This Best Western gets five bones.

[cjc145]

Originally Posted by JSR22

We will be leaving 7/21 from NJ to TV. What route has the least amount of traffic? I think it would be best not to travel I95 on the weekends with people going to the beach. Suggestions?

I travel 3 - 4 times a year from up north to the villages because I have a 11 year old Lab Tobey. I have on every road in Florida and this is the best fastest way to go. This is a much better way than route 301 or any other.
If you send me a private email I can give you my phone number and explain better.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
--------------------------------------------------
A) 145 Glenbrook Dr, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054-1045 US
--------------------------------------------------
New Jersey Turnpike S toward Delaware (Portions toll). (go 34.76 miles)
7. New Jersey Turnpike S becomes I-295 S (Portions toll) (Crossing into Delaware). (go 5.56 miles)
8. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward Newark/Baltimore (Portions toll) (Crossing into Maryland). (go 93.83 miles)
9. Merge onto I-495 W/Capital Beltway/I-495 OUTERLOOP via EXIT 27 toward Silver Spring (Crossing into Virginia). (go 19.01 miles)
10. Keep left at the fork to go on I-495 S/Capital Beltway. (go 11.15 miles)
11. Merge onto I-95 S via EXIT 57A toward I-95 S/VA-644/Richmond. (go 85.74 miles)
12. Merge onto I-295 S via EXIT 84A on the left toward Rocky Mount NC/Richmond Int'l Airport. (go 43.31 miles)
13. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward I-295 S/Emporia/Rocky Mt NC (Passing through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, then crossing into Florida). (go 570.1 miles)
14. Take the I-10 W exit, EXIT 352D, toward Stockton St/Lake City. (go 0.73 miles)
15. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward JAX Beaches/Daytona Bch. (go 40.43 miles)
16. Take the SR-207 exit, EXIT 311, toward St Augustine Bch/Palatka. (go 0.32 miles)
17. Merge onto SR-207 S toward Hastings/Palatka. (go 19.3 miles)
18. Turn slight right onto US-17 N/SR-15 N/SR-20 W/SR-100 W.
- US-17 N is 0.1 miles past Bland Rd
(go 2.67 miles)
19. Turn left onto N 9th St/SR-20.
- N 9th St is just past N 8th St
- If you reach N 10th St you've gone a little too far
(go 0.33 miles)
20. Turn slight right onto Crill Ave/SR-20 W.
- Crill Ave is just past Carr St
(go 2.28 miles)
21. Turn left onto SR-19/S Sr-19. Continue to follow SR-19.
- SR-19 is just past Florida Dr
- A Child's Castle Christian is on the corner
- If you are on Crill Ave and reach S Moody Rd you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 22.48 miles)
22. Turn slight right onto CR-314 W.
- CR-314 W is just past NE 133rd Pl
(go 10.56 miles)
23. Turn left onto N County Road 314A/CR-314A. Continue to follow CR-314A.
- CR-314A is 0.8 miles past NE 170th Ave
- If you reach NE 157th Ct you've gone about 0.4 miles too far
(go 7.14 miles)
24. CR-314A becomes SE Hwy 314A. (go 7.7 miles)
25. Turn right onto SE Hwy 464C.
- SE Hwy 464C is 0.5 miles past SE 90th St
- If you are on SE 95th Street Rd and reach SE 170th Avenue Rd you've gone about 0.6 miles too far
(go 4.01 miles)
26. SE Hwy 464C becomes SE 135th Ave/CR-464C. (go 0.03 miles)
27. Stay straight to go onto SE 135th Ave. (go 0.53 miles)
28. Turn left onto E Highway 25/E Hwy 25/CR-25/SR-25. Continue to follow CR-25/SR-25.
- CR-25 is just past SE 122nd Pl
- If you reach SE 124th Pl you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 8.38 miles)
29. Turn right onto Griffin Ave.
- Griffin Ave is just past Hood Ave
- If you reach Fennell Blvd you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 0.85 miles)
30. Turn slight right onto Avenida Central. (go 0.2 miles)
31. Turn left onto Rio Grande Ave (Gate access required).
- If you reach Alverez Ave you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 0.78 miles)
32. Turn left onto Del Mar Dr.
- Del Mar Dr is just past Bolivar St
- If you reach Prado Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 0.25 miles)
33. 501 DEL MAR DR is on the left.
-----------------------------------------------

[JC419]

My husband and I have taken I10 to 75 on our trips to TV and have found it works much better than 301. miles traveled is longer but it is a nice ride at highway speeds and not really longer in time. Good luck.

[MLBellis]

AUTO TRAIN ...... The best of the best!!!

[Skip2MySue]

Originally Posted by cjc145

I travel 3 - 4 times a year from up north to the villages because I have a 11 year old Lab Tobey. I have on every road in Florida and this is the best fastest way to go. This is a much better way than route 301 or any other.
If you send me a private email I can give you my phone number and explain better.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
--------------------------------------------------
A) 145 Glenbrook Dr, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054-1045 US
--------------------------------------------------
New Jersey Turnpike S toward Delaware (Portions toll). (go 34.76 miles)
7. New Jersey Turnpike S becomes I-295 S (Portions toll) (Crossing into Delaware). (go 5.56 miles)
8. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward Newark/Baltimore (Portions toll) (Crossing into Maryland). (go 93.83 miles)
9. Merge onto I-495 W/Capital Beltway/I-495 OUTERLOOP via EXIT 27 toward Silver Spring (Crossing into Virginia). (go 19.01 miles)
10. Keep left at the fork to go on I-495 S/Capital Beltway. (go 11.15 miles)
11. Merge onto I-95 S via EXIT 57A toward I-95 S/VA-644/Richmond. (go 85.74 miles)
12. Merge onto I-295 S via EXIT 84A on the left toward Rocky Mount NC/Richmond Int'l Airport. (go 43.31 miles)
13. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward I-295 S/Emporia/Rocky Mt NC (Passing through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, then crossing into Florida). (go 570.1 miles)
14. Take the I-10 W exit, EXIT 352D, toward Stockton St/Lake City. (go 0.73 miles)
15. Merge onto I-95 S via the exit on the left toward JAX Beaches/Daytona Bch. (go 40.43 miles)
16. Take the SR-207 exit, EXIT 311, toward St Augustine Bch/Palatka. (go 0.32 miles)
17. Merge onto SR-207 S toward Hastings/Palatka. (go 19.3 miles)
18. Turn slight right onto US-17 N/SR-15 N/SR-20 W/SR-100 W.
- US-17 N is 0.1 miles past Bland Rd
(go 2.67 miles)
19. Turn left onto N 9th St/SR-20.
- N 9th St is just past N 8th St
- If you reach N 10th St you've gone a little too far
(go 0.33 miles)
20. Turn slight right onto Crill Ave/SR-20 W.
- Crill Ave is just past Carr St
(go 2.28 miles)
21. Turn left onto SR-19/S Sr-19. Continue to follow SR-19.
- SR-19 is just past Florida Dr
- A Child's Castle Christian is on the corner
- If you are on Crill Ave and reach S Moody Rd you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 22.48 miles)
22. Turn slight right onto CR-314 W.
- CR-314 W is just past NE 133rd Pl
(go 10.56 miles)
23. Turn left onto N County Road 314A/CR-314A. Continue to follow CR-314A.
- CR-314A is 0.8 miles past NE 170th Ave
- If you reach NE 157th Ct you've gone about 0.4 miles too far
(go 7.14 miles)
24. CR-314A becomes SE Hwy 314A. (go 7.7 miles)
25. Turn right onto SE Hwy 464C.
- SE Hwy 464C is 0.5 miles past SE 90th St
- If you are on SE 95th Street Rd and reach SE 170th Avenue Rd you've gone about 0.6 miles too far
(go 4.01 miles)
26. SE Hwy 464C becomes SE 135th Ave/CR-464C. (go 0.03 miles)
27. Stay straight to go onto SE 135th Ave. (go 0.53 miles)
28. Turn left onto E Highway 25/E Hwy 25/CR-25/SR-25. Continue to follow CR-25/SR-25.
- CR-25 is just past SE 122nd Pl
- If you reach SE 124th Pl you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 8.38 miles)
29. Turn right onto Griffin Ave.
- Griffin Ave is just past Hood Ave
- If you reach Fennell Blvd you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 0.85 miles)
30. Turn slight right onto Avenida Central. (go 0.2 miles)
31. Turn left onto Rio Grande Ave (Gate access required).
- If you reach Alverez Ave you've gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 0.78 miles)
32. Turn left onto Del Mar Dr.
- Del Mar Dr is just past Bolivar St
- If you reach Prado Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far
(go 0.25 miles)
33. 501 DEL MAR DR is on the left.
-----------------------------------------------

Wow, now there are some detailed instructions. Sounds exciting and certainly breaks up the boring parts of the trip. Will give this way a go the next time we head North and of course return South shortly thereafter
Thanks
Skip 2

[shcisamax]

I was with you until you left St. Augustine. I cut across Ocala National Forest.

[jimbo2012]

Interesting route "SR-207 S toward Hastings/Palatka"

It only adds 10 miles. I have to try it next time.

---

Originally Posted by JC419

My husband and I have taken I10 to 75 ... and not really longer in time.

Taking I 10 to 75 takes the same time etc. than I 10 to 301.

Going out to 75 off I 10 is actually 55 miles longer, but because you can go faster is only 30 minutes more.

So 301 is shorter faster.

[Ted Skolits]

I agree with this post also. Only problems with 95 are some cities during rush hour. Beach scene was not an issue. I did 95 last summer and no problem regarding shore traffic. I was going to Flemington, NJ

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by JSR22

We will be leaving 7/21 from NJ to TV. What route has the least amount of traffic? I think it would be best not to travel I95 on the weekends with people going to the beach. Suggestions?

did it several times NJ to villages, I95 was the best way, use the beltways around the cities though. Google mapping will give you time estimates based on traffic on the chosen route

[jerseyvillager]

Use the complicated directions above until you get on InterState 10. Stay on 10 to 301 South. Obey the speed limit and you will survive the 301 stretch. I would be shocked if you don't get lost using the detailed directions above. Good Luck! One way or another all roads lead to The Villages.