[suediff]

Driving from Baltimore, does any one know if it is faster to come down RT. 301 from RT. 10 outside of Jacksonville. OR is it faster to avoid all the lights and slow speed limits and go over to RT. 75 and then come down?

[Dandydon]

Good question and will be looking forward to some answers. I'll be heading back to MA the end of July, for a month and a half, and was going to take 301 for the heck of it. Everyone has told me about the speed traps, so I'll just stay within the limit. I've been coming down in March and April for the last 5 years and have taken 10 to 75 every time. Guess it's time for a change now that I've finally moved here permanently last September.

[tuccillo]

I think 10 to 301 is faster - it is a lot less miles. Most of the time on 301 you are going 65+ - just need to slow down for the towns. If you are going to the south side of the Villages, cutting over to 75 from 301 and then taking 44 will save you time going by avoiding Ocala.

Originally Posted by suediff

Driving from Baltimore, does any one know if it is faster to come down RT. 301 from RT. 10 outside of Jacksonville. OR is it faster to avoid all the lights and slow speed limits and go over to RT. 75 and then come down?

[rjm1cc]

301 is about 45 minutes faster as I recall.
BUT do not speed.
Lots of speed traps and lots of changes in the speed limit.

[George Bieniaszek]

I normally take RT 301 all the way down from I 10 to The Villages. Yes, you have to watch the speed traps but for a majority of the drive, the speed limits are between 55-65.

This time I changed it up just a little to avoid the traffic in Ocala/Bellview which can get on your nerves.

What I did was when I approached the northern city limit of Ocala, I took Rt 326 for approx. 2.5 miles. It connected with I 75 S and followed it down to Exit 329 which is Rt 44. Then Rt 44 to Brownwood. Will repeat on the trip north. You bypass the traffic in Ocala and it was a more enjoyable drive.

[DonH57]

Yeah. Rt 301 is not bad if it wasn't for the speed traps in Lawtey, Pedro, Waldo, and Citra. All conveniently spaced apart. Someone told us the other day about cutting over 42 east and taking 17/19 all the way up to 10 to 95 around Jacksonville. I haven't checked it out on maps yet.

[Bogie Shooter]

A previous thread:
Driving 301 or 75 from the North

[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by George Bieniaszek

I normally take RT 301 all the way down from I 10 to The Villages. Yes, you have to watch the speed traps but for a majority of the drive, the speed limits are between 55-65.

This time I changed it up just a little to avoid the traffic in Ocala/Bellview which can get on your nerves.

What I did was when I approached the northern city limit of Ocala, I took Rt 326 for approx. 2.5 miles. It connected with I 75 S and followed it down to Exit 329 which is Rt 44. Then Rt 44 to Brownwood. Will repeat on the trip north. You bypass the traffic in Ocala and it was a more enjoyable drive.

This is what I do......nice ride.

[kaydee]

Using 75 to 10 versus 301 to 10 is 50 miles longer.

[njbchbum]

With the way people have accidents on 75 - we'll stick with the traffic lights and speed traps!...unless we wind up coming down on a weekend...hubs has no tolerance for traffic lights AND the shopping public!...then it is 75 with a lot of prayers!

PS - Ocala has some great restaurants which provide a nice break from traffic lights. The more we travel back and forth, the more relaxed we are and are not in such a rush to get there.

[l2ridehd]

I have tried every way possible and 301 to 10 is the fastest by about an hour. Saturday I drove from the Villages to Virginia, leaving about 1:30 PM and it took exactly 2 hours to reach I 10 in Baldwin. And I drove 301 through Ocala. I usually go 44 to 75 and take that from exit 329 to exit 358. Tried 301 all the way and even on the weekend during mid day it was actually a few minutes faster going through Ocala. Yes you have to watch the speed limit through all the small towns, but time wise it is the fastest.

I have tried 75 all the way, 19/25 through the Ocala National forest, several versions, 301 to exit A1A on 95, 301 to 24 to 75, and I can't beat the time of going 301 all the way from the Villages to I 10. I just completed drive number 47 (one way count) and have done almost every time of day possible.

[bonrich]

Depending on what time of year you are traveling Rte 75, especially when us snowbirds fly, it could be like a racetrack on that highway. After a time of moving fast and moving in and out of lanes and still being tailgated, we ended up going on 301 and just being careful in the posted speed limit towns. The police vehicles are unmarked and not noticeable as police.

[janeg]

Route 75!

[llaran]

We always go thru the forest:

ksonville, FL
Follow US-17 S and FL-19 S to NE Co Rd 314 in Marion County
76.6 mi / 1 h 29 min

Slight right onto NE Co Rd 314
18.1 mi / 20 min

Turn right onto FL-40 W
5.1 mi / 6 min
Continue to Belleview
11.2 mi / 16 min

Slight left onto FL-35 S
11.0 mi

Turn right onto SE Babb Rd
0.3 mi

Turn left onto FL-35 S/US-301 S/Abshier Blvd
Continue to follow FL-35 S/US-301 S
9.2 mi / 11 min

Turn left onto Co Rd 466 E
2.0 mi / 4 min

The Villages, FL

[jbdlfan]

Originally Posted by DonH57

Yeah. Rt 301 is not bad if it wasn't for the speed traps in Lawtey, Pedro, Waldo, and Citra. All conveniently spaced apart. Someone told us the other day about cutting over 42 east and taking 17/19 all the way up to 10 to 95 around Jacksonville. I haven't checked it out on maps yet.

Whenever we go to St. Augustine we take 19/17. Great drive through the Forest. If you are traveling after dark, be extremely cautious of the wildlife along the road.