From October to May, you get the seasonal visitor traffic traveling from the south to north, end of month, and north to south first of month. One year we decided last minute to fly into Tampa on April 1, at 9pm. Traffic was bumper to bumper all the way to TV. We arrived at the house 1:15am.

Ocala always slows down no matter what time of day. Big joke is everyone must be going to Hobby Lobby

It sounds like you’re not using Waze.

The reason there are so many accidents is because the people drive about 90 miles an hour. I call it the Indianapolis 500! It needs to be expanded also!

Living on the historic side, driving route 27 all the way up to Ocala is a breeze. Usually 35-40 minutes.

70 is a suggestion on either turnpike or 75. Just to keep up with traffic, 80 is the norm.

Pick up 475 where a466 ends. Pleasant drive to Ocala, easy access to either downtown or the highway 200 corridor.

Ocala Trips
 

Speaking of trips to Ocala - I have stopped using either I-75 or 441/27 (which becomes 301). The traffic and speeds on both are not what I want. Instead I go up county road 475. It is a two lane road, but goes through some beautiful horse farm country, and has very few lights or stop signs. Traffic is never bad (occasionally a slow truck is on the route, but most trucks using the route are fairly fast) I've never been tailgated on the route that I recall, but if I was I can pull over. The route can be googled.

I am in the north so I take road 42 to 475, turning right at the 3-building town of Pedro. But those further south can take 301 to 42, then go left, or can take 466 out to 475, or those even further south can take 462 out to 475.

Google is telling me this route takes 5 minutes longer than 441/27/301 to reach the main street (in the southeast part of Ocala where 301 enters the city). I did not compare it with I-75 since that route leads to the western part of Ocala, so it really depends on if you want that part or not.

Bonus: This route takes you through "natural local farm" country where you can buy local vegetables at a country produce business and local meats at Meats of Marion.

We travel to Ocala this way often. If there is a backup on I75 everyone is now using this way as a shortcut. It use to be such a sweet way to get to Ocala. Now that more people know about this way there is sometimes a 30 car backup at the stop sign in Pedro.

We have always used 301. Nice drive, and no hassle.

Get used to it.
 

I know three people who make the commute daily and they say every day their commute gets worse and worse. It’s all the building in the villages and Ocala. With no new road improvements.
It’s greed that it all comes down to with basically no oversight.

Yes. But in January it’s only worse coming south.

Good unless and accident has diverted traffic on 475.

I didn't know about 475. I'll have to try it.

Traffic
 

I always just take 301. Even with lights, it’s faster than I75 and a lot safer

There is that over use of the word greed again……….