[rodie]

Is there more than one way to get to the Tampa airport? Need to go during rush hour and did not want to get delayed too much.

[Carl in Tampa]

Leave The Villages and head for Tampa on I-75. As you approach Hillsborough County take the I-275 exit. (I-75 bypasses Tampa.)

In order to avoid the heavy downtown Tampa congestion at rush hour you will leave I-275 and move over to the parallel road of Dale Mabry Highway.

Your first opportunity to do this will be at the Bearss Avenue exit; the second will be the Fletcher Avenue exit. I recommend the Fletcher Avenue exit to the West (right turn.)

Fletcher goes straight to Dale Mabry, which is well marked. Turn left (south.)

As you pass the baseball field on the right and football stadium on the left you should move into the second from the right lane. As you pass the next traffic light move into the right lane for a right turn on Boy Scout Blvd. There should be "To Airport" signs there.

As you approach the airport there will be signs for an exit to the right to take you to the airport.

The advantage of this route is that although Dale Mabry has traffic lights, the rush hour traffic will be moving north while you are moving south, and you will avoid the I-275 congestion in downtown Tampa.

It should take under two hours.

[Gat0r]

Well done Carl,from Tampa Bay myself I followed your directions in my mind and found them true.

[Mudder]

There really is only one way to get there from here and the traffic will be a big issue. 75 to 275 you can cruise along til you cross Dale Mabry, then you're stuck. If you try side roads it's worse. It's only that way for a couple of miles.

[Mudder]

Yep, those were good directions, Carl, but I still don't think that way is any better than staying on highway. Have done both. Also it depends if you're talking about morning or evening rush hour. Either way, you'll be there in about two hours. Good luck.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Yep, those were good directions, Carl, but I still don't think that way is any better than staying on highway. Have done both. Also it depends if you're talking about morning or evening rush hour. Either way, you'll be there in about two hours. Good luck.

Ooops. You are right. I was thinking in terms of evening rush hour.

Both I-275 and Dale Mabry are congested during morning rush hour.

[rodie]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Yep, those were good directions, Carl, but I still don't think that way is any better than staying on highway. Have done both. Also it depends if you're talking about morning or evening rush hour. Either way, you'll be there in about two hours. Good luck.

Sorry, I was talking about in the morning. Does that make a difference?

[mrfixit]

Calm and Peaceful......

Interstate 75 South to....your choice of exits listed below...

>>>Exit at mile marker 279 which is Highway 54 ...
(Wesley Chapel)
which will take you South to Highway 56

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

>OR>>>>MY FAVORITE<<<<<<< ( Just South of the new Rest Area)

>>> Exit at mile marker 275 which IS Highway 56
(lotsa food and shopping) (and you still end up on Hwy 54, don't ask)
This NEW Exit gets you OFF of I-75 ...
....only one mile north of the I-75 and I-275 split.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Then simply GO WEST from either of the exits ...
until you reach The "SUNCOAST PARKWAY" ( Toll) Highway 589

...GO SOUTH on Suncoast Parkway....
...........it will become VETERANS PARKWAY closer to Tampa Airport.

Just Before you reach Highway 60 .(for Clearwater)..do not exit to 60..

..STAY ON the VETERANS Parkway...and follow the signs for AIRPORT...
..there is a DEDICATED Exit to AIRPORT.

Very Easy.....Light Traffic on Suncoast and Veterans

AND ..When Coming BACK to Villages.. it is a Breeze getting back on the
Veterans/Suncoast (589) toll roads.

Try it, you may like it.

[rodie]

Originally Posted by mrfixit

Calm and Peaceful......

Interstate 75 South to....your choice of exits listed below...

>>>Exit at mile marker 279 which is Highway 54 ...
(Wesley Chapel)
which will take you South to Highway 56

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

>OR>>>>MY FAVORITE<<<<<<< ( Just South of the new Rest Area)

>>> Exit at mile marker 275 which IS Highway 56
(lotsa food and shopping) (and you still end up on Hwy 54, don't ask)
This NEW Exit gets you OFF of I-75 ...
....only one mile north of the I-75 and I-275 split.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Then simply GO WEST from either of the exits ...
until you reach The "SUNCOAST PARKWAY" ( Toll) Highway 589

...GO SOUTH on Suncoast Parkway....
...........it will become VETERANS PARKWAY closer to Tampa Airport.

Just Before you reach Highway 60 .(for Clearwater)..do not exit to 60..

..STAY ON the VETERANS Parkway...and follow the signs for AIRPORT...
..there is a DEDICATED Exit to AIRPORT.

Very Easy.....Light Traffic on Suncoast and Veterans

AND ..When Coming BACK to Villages.. it is a Breeze getting back on the
Veterans/Suncoast (589) toll roads.

Try it, you may like it.

Is highway 56, getting over to 589, a four lane road, two each way?

[Phanatic Luvr]

I don't know what time your flight is but if you leave The Villages by 5:15 or 5:30am and make it to Wesley Chapel by 6:30am, you should be relatively good to not hit too much traffic. If you are any later, its a mess.

[mrfixit]

Originally Posted by rodie

Is highway 56, getting over to 589, a four lane road, two each way?

the overhead exit sign reads as follows.....

.....................EXIT 275
......................56
............LAND O LAKES........
...........TARPON SPRINGS
..............1 1/2 Miles

Yes...Hwy 56 Exit at Mile Marker 275 is an all 4 lane (2 each way) Blvd.

You will be on this road ( 56/54 ) for 10 miles. 15 minutes

You will then go South on Suncoast (589) / Veterans..
you will be on Suncoast/Veterans (589) for 18 miles. 22 minutes.

You will use EXIT 1A and follow signs to Airport . About 6 minutes you will
be picking up/ dropping off your guests.

When leaving to come back to Villages.....
......Head out on George Bean Parkway ( the main loop road around )

Take the "Florida 589 Toll North/Veterans Expy" Ramp
.......................................to the "Florida 60 West/ Clearwater"....

Keep RIGHT at the Fork and follow signs for ..
..."Florida Toll N./Veterans Expressway" ......
...............AND ..............Merge onto "FL 589 Toll N."

..It is so easy that even I can do it- without getting any single finger waves.

Happy Travels.

[Mudder]

Sun Coast Parkway probably will be the best way during morning rush hours even tho it is not a direct route. I forgot about that way, we did it a few times but in the end I think it took about same amount of time.

[gatherer47]

Somewhere last week I read about an exit to Dale Mabry is closed-don't know if that affects trip to airport

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by gatherer47

Somewhere last week I read about an exit to Dale Mabry is closed-don't know if that affects trip to airport

You are correct. The Dale Mabry exit off of southbound I-275 is closed and will remain closed for the next few months.

[wmkhut]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Sun Coast Parkway probably will be the best way during morning rush hours even tho it is not a direct route. I forgot about that way, we did it a few times but in the end I think it took about same amount of time.

There IS a BIG slow down on Suncoast Parkway in the mornings beginning about 7:30 a.m. from Gunn Hwy south to airport and I-275 merger.
Many times traffic is at a standstill and if there is an accident, UGH!
Yes, Dale Mabry exit is closed off I-275 but there are detours to alternative exit.
Probably getting off at Hillsborough and going over to Dale Mabry would be an option.