Just drove 301 to and from Charleston. No problems.

Does it still apply that this item is even MORE true if you happen to have car plates from NORTH of the Mason-Dixon Line??

You can also avoid the Jacksonville congestion by taking the exit about 5 miles south of the Welcome Center and go over to 301 there. Very little traffic there. I forget what the exit number is, but you can find it on a map easy enough. There are 3 towns that have the reputation for speed traps, and they are Waldo, Starke and Lawtey.

This is the best way we've found. We live in the south end of TV so there's no need for us to stay on 301 through Belleview and Summerville. I-75 to 44 works well for us. I-10 to I-75 is a long haul after a long 2 days on the road. As others have said, 301 through Lawty, Waldo and Starke isn't a real problem. Just watch for the signs and stay within the speed limit. Pretty much like everywhere else.

301 goes through SO many small towns, that's why all the speed changes and stop lights.

Trvia question: What states does the Mason-Dixon Line separate?

MD/Pa- But I cheated. I lived four miles from the Line for the last 30 yrs. My guess is that a huge percentage of US citizens have no idea.

I have made the drive to and from upstate NY for 10 years and I always take 301 because I know I will not get backed up for hours on I-75 traffic problems. I have never had a problem with the varying speed limit changes, although it can be annoying at the end of a long trip. The one time one a return trip I decided to try I=75 again and took I-10 over to I-75. When I got there, just as I was starting up the ramp to I-75 I noticed the traffic was at a complete standstill so we turned around and went back to 301. There had been a fender bender somewhere noth of Ocala and traffic was stopped dead for 2 hours. Enough said.

Pennsylvania and Delaware to the north and Maryland and West Virginia to the south. But I always think of the south as starting at Virginia when driving down I-95

isn't it amazing how a negative perspective can be cast aginst a community that enforces traffic laws???

Remember Waldo and Stanford ONLY give tickets to those that EARN them.

We could use a little of the traffic law enforcement here in TV.

I would take the suggestion of using 301 to just around Gainseville where I75 is very close by to access. Doing this eliminates the most extensive length of stop and go part of 301 approaching TV....in my humble opinion.

btk

There are obviously towns and lights and speed changes but it's quicker this way than riding all the way to Gainsville and back south to TV.

Speed Traps
 

What was happening was the speed limit was 65 until you reached the town boundary line of Waldo and Lawtey. Then suddenly it was 35 and the town police were right there writing 100s of tickets per day. The Federal and State government got involved saying it was an intentional trap to raise money. That it was unfair to have the speed limit change so drastically and issue $244 tickets when there is little chance to slow down. The town replied that it has jurisdiction in setting the speed limit inside its borders. The Federal government (it's a US route) made the state put up the step-down signs and alert motorists about "strict enforcement". Someone even bought billboards saying "Speed Trap Ahead". The town said it has no authority to put us step-down limit signs outside its town borders. The state of Florida was reluctant to do it because it got most of that $244 fine. Waldo also has a poorly marked School Zone (15 mph) coming into town on SR 24. There, the fine doubles. So today, in Lawtey and Waldo you'll see lots of warnings that you are coming to those towns. I believe the AAA was instrumental in getting these changes made too.

Want to see the Speed Traps in The Villages? Visit the National Speed Trap Exchange. Some are really sneaky here.

Skip :police:

We have been doing this for 7 years a few times a year. We settled on this way. 301 is very manageable if you are mindful of places like Lawtey, Waldo, and Starke...especially the first two. Don't go even one MPH over the limit. We usually get from TV to I-10 in about 2 hours give or take 5 minutes pretty consistently.

What's a trip tic ? Thought those went by the way of the typewriter.. and twinkie...Ask Santa for a GPS.

It does not matter as they will take money from anyone regardless what side of the line they live on. Equal opportunity here.

Even Professional drag racer John Force received a ticket in Waldo either last year or the year before.

VG