[thelegges]

Originally Posted by kathyspear

Why is the traffic heavier during those two weeks? Just curious ...

kathy

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

[jimkerr]

It sounds like you’re not using Waze.

[Jacob85]

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!

[Driver8]

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

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by Jacob85

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!

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

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by dadspet

Just made to trip to Ocala and the traffic to and from Ocala was Awful - bumper to bumper and average speed most of time under 30mph. If you planning a trip there I'd suggest leaving early or going up 301 (not sure if its any better since I was on I75). I wonder if it's the 4th of July visitors. I've never experienced it this bad. The weren't any obvious reason for the slow movement (no accident etc.). In Ocala Sam's some of the people we talked to said its becoming more of the norm.

As a side note the pavement on Rt 44 is becoming rough in spots. Especially Turning from Buena Vista to 44, but there are a few other areas.

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

[lindaelane]

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.

[2newyorkers]

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann

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

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.

[Two Bills]

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

[MKDiva]

Originally Posted by dadspet

Just made to trip to Ocala and the traffic to and from Ocala was Awful - bumper to bumper and average speed most of time under 30mph. If you planning a trip there I'd suggest leaving early or going up 301 (not sure if its any better since I was on I75). I wonder if it's the 4th of July visitors. I've never experienced it this bad. The weren't any obvious reason for the slow movement (no accident etc.). In Ocala Sam's some of the people we talked to said its becoming more of the norm.

As a side note the pavement on Rt 44 is becoming rough in spots. Especially Turning from Buena Vista to 44, but there are a few other areas.

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.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Laker14

as a seasonal resident of TV, I thought the congestion along those roads was due to the winter migration. If it's that bad in July, I can't imagine what it will be like in January.

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

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by 2newyorkers

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.

Good unless and accident has diverted traffic on 475.

[richdell]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

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.

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

[sheralcaswell]

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

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by MKDiva

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.

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