Driving to SW - take BeeLine 528 or I-4?

[Scoutdog]

We'll be drivng in on a weekday morning from New Smyrna Beach to SeaWorld, trying to get there as close to opening as possible. Anyone have suggestions on taking the BeeLine 528 vs Interstate 4. Google maps says I-4, but I have to suspect travel could get backed up coming in from the northern suburbs and through Orlando. Would taking Interstate 95 down to 528 and across past the airport make more sense, or will that have bad traffic too?

Thanks!

[RabFlmom]

We'll be drivng in on a weekday morning from New Smyrna Beach to SeaWorld, trying to get there as close to opening as possible. Anyone have suggestions on taking the BeeLine 528 vs Interstate 4. Google maps says I-4, but I have to suspect travel could get backed up coming in from the northern suburbs and through Orlando. Would taking Interstate 95 down to 528 and across past the airport make more sense, or will that have bad traffic too?

Thanks!

Good question. We come in from the South so always go 528. It usually is not bad getting in that way-especially with the Sun Pass so you don't have to get in the toll lines. I would think I-4 would have lots of issues unless you are going to the park on the weekend. Weekend days would be fine at that hour. Drive time on I-4 I avoid like the plague!

[drenalin'junkie]

I-4.We come in from Jax to SW/USO/WDW we even come that way to go to Busch Gardens.We've never saved time going any other way and we tried a lot.

[DOOM1001]

It's about 40 miles longer of a trip to do I-95 to the Beachline,so take I-4 and if you don't care about tolls take the Central Fla.Greeneway to avoid I-4 getting closer to downtown,then get off and take the Beachline west.

[Scoutdog]

From New Smyrna Beach my options seem to be:

Take State Road 44 west to I-4, and take that to SeaWorld. Which Google says is 73 miles and 1:40.

Take State Road 44 west to 415, take that south past Sanford Airport to the Greenway 417, take that to 528, and take that to SeaWorld. Which Google says is 77 miles and 2:00.

Take State Road 44 west to I-4, take the Greenway 417 bypass, take that to 528, and take that to SeaWorld. Which Google says is 87 miles and 1:50.

Take I-95 south to 528, and take that to SeaWorld. Which Google says is also 87 miles and 1:45.

Based on that the I-95, then 528 seems a safer bet from traffic problems on a Friday or Monday morning. Especially since New Smyrna is south of Daytona and the I-95/I-4 exchange. Now if we were coming from Daytona maybe I-4 makes sense.

Am I way off base, here? We'll be taking 528 from the Orlando Airport, to I-95, to New Smyrna when we arrive so I guess that will give us a good indication of how far that route is. Last year we took 44 to I-4 from NSB to hit Universal and it seemed to take forever :-)

[DisneyDreamn]

Having grown up in the area I will tell you most locals will take the
I95/Beachline route. 44 isn't as bad since the expansion but I4 can
be a real crap shoot! When we leave for SW on Friday staying at MGV
and we will be on the beachline for sure!
Have Fun,
Reba

[Scoutdog]

Where's MGV?

PS: We plan to be at SW Friday too.

[DisneyDreamn]

sorry, MGV= Marriott Grande Vista
The weather is going to be WONDERFUL!!!

[Scoutdog]

The weather was beautiful. We had a great time, but we disappointed that Shamu's Express kids coaster was closed (at least in the morning when we were on that side of the park). You have any idea if it was open in the afternoon?

Hope you had fun too!