[TomSpasm]

I have friends coming from the Raleigh, NC area Labor Day weekend, and I'm not sure what the best route is to advise they take coming down I-95 thru Jacksonville to get to the Villages. You northern commuters, what's the best route?

[Wing-nut2]

I-95 to I-295 around Jacksonville
I-295 to U.S. 301 south (watch for the speed traps on 301)
301 to 441 then cut over to I-75 just south of Gainsville or stay on 441 and end up almost in Spanish Springs.

[borjo]

Same as Wingnut (above) except can continue 441 in Belleview until a right on 301 down to The Villages. Depends where you live. If it's busy traffic time, then take 75, otherwise 301 is OK.
Thats the way the Garmin sends us. 301 is very direct but varied speeds. Just obey them exactly and take your time.

[Snead's Hat]

Skip Jacksonville, go A1A to Callahan from I95, then 301. Trust me.

[ijusluvit]

While I admit I dislike the 301 route, I also would never take again it since I've found a much less traveled and faster route to the northern part of The Villages:

I-95 past Jacksonville to St Augustine. Hwy 207 West to Palatka, Hwy 19 South to Salt Springs, Rt 314 West, to Hwy 35 South, to Hwy 441. A real pleasure compared to 301.

[justjim]

I 95 to I 4 to 42 thru DeLand into TV. With guests I try to keep it simple.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

While I admit I dislike the 301 route, I also would never take again it since I've found a much less traveled and faster route to the northern part of The Villages:

I-95 past Jacksonville to St Augustine. Hwy 207 West to Palatka, Hwy 19 South to Salt Springs, Rt 314 West, to Hwy 35 South, to Hwy 441. A real pleasure compared to 301.

I-95 past Jacksonville to St Augustine.

To right turn on US Hwy 1 (Exit 298)

To right turn on Fl Hwy 11 in Bunnell

To right turn on FL Hwy 40

To left turn on Fl Hwy 19
(the shorter and more adventurous route is to take County 445A (at Astor Park)to Fla 19).

To right on Fl Hwy 42

To left on either US Hwy 441 or (three miles further) US Hwy 301
Villages are five miles or so south.




.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Wing-nut2

I-95 to I-295 around Jacksonville
I-295 to U.S. 301 south (watch for the speed traps on 301)
301 to 441 then cut over to I-75 just south of Gainsville or stay on 441 and end up almost in Spanish Springs.

We like Wing-nut's route the best. The cut over to I75 we take is Rt. 326, shortly after 301 joins up with 441, right north of Ocala. Since we're in TV just off 466A, we take I-75 on south to 44, east to 301, north to 466A, then east to our destination.

Given that you're in the Haciendas at Mission Hills, Tom, your friends could take several different routes. They could stay on 301 til they get to 466 then head east to your place.......or take the route we use then back-track just a bit to get to Mission Hills.

Nice thing is - - - - - there are so many nice routes to take. Everyone's offered up great ones. All depends on the types of roads you like to drive and how big a hurry you are to get there!

Bill

[emconover]

Originally Posted by Wing-nut2

I-95 to I-295 around Jacksonville
I-295 to U.S. 301 south (watch for the speed traps on 301)
301 to 441 then cut over to I-75 just south of Gainsville or stay on 441 and end up almost in Spanish Springs.

You must use I-10 west from I-295 south to reach US 301 south.
The speed traps in the towns on US 301 are strictly enforced.

[Snead's Hat]

Originally Posted by emconover

You must use I-10 west from I-295 south to reach US 301 south.
The speed traps in the towns on US 301 are strictly enforced.

Folks that speed will only have the problems. Slow down, relax, vhat's da hurry?
See old Florida, get off the Interstate as soon as you can.

[Challenger]

I 95 through Jacksonville to Rt 40 ( Ormond Beach)

West on 40 to rt 19 south

to Rt 42 west to 441

20 trips from Md during last 2.5 years--- Every imaginable route and find this one to be most direct and easiest to follow . No speed traps, few built up areas , traffic lite

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by Challenger

I 95 through Jacksonville to Rt 40 ( Ormond Beach)

West on 40 to rt 19 south

to Rt 42 west to 441

20 trips from Md during last 2.5 years--- Every imaginable route and find this one to be most direct and easiest to follow . No speed traps, few built up areas , traffic lite

It has fewer turns, looks easy on the map, but adds 30+ miles and at least 45 minutes than my route above from Jacksonville to 441.

[Virtual Geezer]

Originally Posted by Challenger

I 95 through Jacksonville to Rt 40 ( Ormond Beach)

West on 40 to rt 19 south

to Rt 42 west to 441

20 trips from Md during last 2.5 years--- Every imaginable route and find this one to be most direct and easiest to follow . No speed traps, few built up areas , traffic lite

You can make this a little shorter by taking S. Fairview Ave off RT-40 just before Astor Park. Also depending on where in TV you are headed you can take a left on CR-25 at Weirsdale and that will take you right to the RaceTrac gas station on 441.

I have to agree with you that this is a very pleasant and enjoyable way to go and you can make time if you so desire. The 301 route has a lot of stop and go traffic to go along with the speed enforcement thing.

I just got through playing around with some GPS items today and have some of the routes already plotted. Using MapSource I have the interstate speed set at 67 mph, major highways at 58 mph other roads at 45 mph and connector roads set at 35 mph.

From the Florida state line on I-95:
via 207 through Palatka is 176 miles with a driving time of 3:09:57
via I-295 / I-10 / 301 is 157 miles with a driving time of 2:41:54
via RT-40 / RT-19 / RT-42 / RT-25 is 186 miles and a driving time of 3:09:03
via I-295 / I-10 / I-75 / Wildwood is 215 miles and a driving time of 3:22:33

Your driving times may very.
VG

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by Challenger

I 95 through Jacksonville to Rt 40 ( Ormond Beach)

West on 40 to rt 19 south

to Rt 42 west to 441

20 trips from Md during last 2.5 years--- Every imaginable route and find this one to be most direct and easiest to follow . No speed traps, few built up areas , traffic lite

I like getting off I-95 and taking some of the back roads - why I take US 1 and Fla 11 to Fla 40.

Two years ago, going back to CA, we got off I-75 at Tifton, GA and didn't get on an Interstate until north of Denver. Many of the US highways are four lane divided and have much less truck traffic than the Interstates.

Being retired lets you slow down and look around.
.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Challenger

I 95 through Jacksonville to Rt 40 ( Ormond Beach)
West on 40 to rt 19 south
to Rt 42 west to 441

20 trips from Md during last 2.5 years--- Every imaginable route and find this one to be most direct and easiest to follow . No speed traps, few built up areas , traffic lite

We have also tried every imaginable route and prefer Challenger's directions for a nice, relaxing drive.