Has anyone flown into JAX (Jacksonville) and driven down to PC?

[collectoraholic]

Since we booked our Spring Break cruise relatively last minute, the initial plan was to drive to FL. However, I found ok pricing on flights for us, but we're flying into Jacksonville instead of MCO or even Tampa. I'm just wondering about the drive from JAX to Port Canaveral. Google Maps says it's about 2 hours 50 minutes to get from point A to point B. Is this correct? Any and all info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[jlwhitney]

Since we booked our Spring Break cruise relatively last minute, the initial plan was to drive to FL. However, I found ok pricing on flights for us, but we're flying into Jacksonville instead of MCO or even Tampa. I'm just wondering about the drive from JAX to Port Canaveral. Google Maps says it's about 2 hours 50 minutes to get from point A to point B. Is this correct? Any and all info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Well I have not flown into Jacksonville to go on a cruise since I live here....lol.

About 3 hours sounds about right. It is a super easy drive, all you will have to do is hop on 95 and go south for a long time and then follow the directions to the port...they are on disneys site. If you want a good place to stop for gas, wal mart, food that breaks the trip up you will go right through daytona beach.

Other than being a 3 hour drive its easy and the JAX airport is so small and not busy that it is so easy to get in and out of. you can almost see end to end of the terminals...there is a slight bend which is why you can't.

Warning...for on your return there is not much food after security the majority of it is before.

 

[collectoraholic]

Well I have not flown into Jacksonville to go on a cruise since I live here....lol.

About 3 hours sounds about right. It is a super easy drive, all you will have to do is hop on 95 and go south for a long time and then follow the directions to the port...they are on disneys site. If you want a good place to stop for gas, wal mart, food that breaks the trip up you will go right through daytona beach.

Other than being a 3 hour drive its easy and the JAX airport is so small and not busy that it is so easy to get in and out of. you can almost see end to end of the terminals...there is a slight bend which is why you can't.

Warning...for on your return there is not much food after security the majority of it is before.

Thanks so much! Sounds like it will be no problem. I really appreciate all the info.

 

[jlwhitney]

Thanks so much! Sounds like it will be no problem. I really appreciate all the info.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[mesaboy2]

As another J'villian, I completely agree with jlwhitney.

 

[jrm11697]

For our Fantasy cruise in May, we are thinking about driving from SC to Jacksonville and stay in hotel. Then drive to PC the next morning. Google says to just get on I-95 until you get to PC. 3 hours. Doesnt sound bad at all.

What are some good hotels in J'ville?

 

[kcashner]

In 2009 we saved hundreds by flying into JAX. As above, easy car rental, easy 3 hour drive. Do sign up for the loyalty program of whatever car company you choose--saves time.

 

[Alexander]

We've flown into and out of JAX quite a few times. It is often cheaper than flying into MCO for us. The only caveat is the drive once you land. It isn't a hard drive, just a little long.

It is a small airport, and there is not much to eat there at all. We landed once a little after 10PM and everything was closed so we ended up eating Snickers bars from a vending machine for dinner!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Sounds like a good dinner to me!.

Never flown into JAX but have driven to and from the port using I-95. Very easy and painless route. Would not hesitate to fly in there.

 

[nzdisneymom]

JAX is a great airport and super easy to get to Port Canaveral from here - absolutely agree that 3 hours is plenty of time to get to the port from JAX. Are you planning to fly in the morning of the cruise or the day before?

It's literally a straight shot down I-95 and when you get off at the exit, it's about 15 minutes due east to the port. There's nothing between getting off I-95 and arriving at the port, so if you need a restroom stop or gas or whatever, you have to overshoot the port about a mile. But as others have said, Daytona is a good stop between JAX and PC.

 

[mesaboy2]

In case anyone is wondering, there are no tolls between Jax and PC.

 

[rab1022]

For our Fantasy cruise in May, we are thinking about driving from SC to Jacksonville and stay in hotel. Then drive to PC the next morning. Google says to just get on I-95 until you get to PC. 3 hours. Doesnt sound bad at all.

What are some good hotels in J'ville?

This is exactly what we did last year from Myrtle Beach and we'll be doing it this year too. I forget which hotel we stayed in, but if you're looking for something to do in the afternoon, the Jacksonville Zoo is great. There is a playground and a splash pool in the middle for kids and its easy to get around.

I think we left MB around 6-7 and got to Jacksonville by 2, went to the zoo, found some dinner, and hit the hotel. The drive the next morning was easy. Left the hotel by 7 and were inside the terminal by 10:30.

 

[ducky_love]

For our Fantasy cruise in May, we are thinking about driving from SC to Jacksonville and stay in hotel. Then drive to PC the next morning. Google says to just get on I-95 until you get to PC. 3 hours. Doesnt sound bad at all.

What are some good hotels in J'ville?

Have you thought about Amelia Island? It is the first exit when you enter FL so the drive in the morning would be about an hour longer but it is a really pretty area. There are some clean hotels right off the interstate so you could explore a little but be right back on 95 in the morning.

I have never done the drive from JAX to the cruise port but I have done the drive to WDW literally hundreds of times. Very easy drive!

 

[collectoraholic]

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks! If I think of anything else, I'll definitely hit ya up!

As another J'villian, I completely agree with jlwhitney.

Good to know. Thanks Mesaboy2!

In 2009 we saved hundreds by flying into JAX. As above, easy car rental, easy 3 hour drive. Do sign up for the loyalty program of whatever car company you choose--saves time.

We're definitely going to keep JAX in mind when flying to FL for cruises in the future. We usually do either MCO or TPA, but being so last minute, the prices were wicked crazy! & DH travels all the time, so we've got the rental car loyalty program covered.

JAX is a great airport and super easy to get to Port Canaveral from here - absolutely agree that 3 hours is plenty of time to get to the port from JAX. Are you planning to fly in the morning of the cruise or the day before?

It's literally a straight shot down I-95 and when you get off at the exit, it's about 15 minutes due east to the port. There's nothing between getting off I-95 and arriving at the port, so if you need a restroom stop or gas or whatever, you have to overshoot the port about a mile. But as others have said, Daytona is a good stop between JAX and PC.

We're flying in the night before and staying @ the Hyatt Place Jacksonville Airport. I think my DH has Hyatt points or something & the on-line reviews for this particular Hyatt were

We'll have to return our car to Avis, which is past the port, so we'll make our gas and on-board booze stop down that way. But maybe we'll stop in Daytona Beach for a quick stretch of the legs & an AM snack and maybe a DB souvenir.

In case anyone is wondering, there are no tolls between Jax and PC.

Ooooh! Thanks for the 411! That's definitely good to know.

 

[Hedd4DW]

Yes, JAX is easy to fly into and drive to the port. We did this in October 2010. Stayed at Springhill Suites because we had 5-6 people per room. We had time to kill on the way back and stopped in St. Augustine and toured the Lighthouse and the Castillo de San Marco and there is an awesome playground not far from there.

 

[carolinagirl268]

For our Fantasy cruise in May, we are thinking about driving from SC to Jacksonville and stay in hotel. Then drive to PC the next morning. Google says to just get on I-95 until you get to PC. 3 hours. Doesnt sound bad at all.

What are some good hotels in J'ville?

We live in upstate SC and drove to PC for our recent cruise. I got a hotel through Priceline in Jacksonville and it worked out great. We ended up staying at a Quality Suites just off the I95 Baymeadows exit. I only paid about $40 including taxes and fees. There are lots of hotels at the exits south of downtown.

 

[BeeTeacher]

It is a real easy drive down 95 (altho visually BORING!). There are places to get supplies between 95 and PC--At the exit onto State road 3, in Meritt Island (Courtenay Parkway). It looks sparse, but just about 1/2 mile south there is a Target and loads of other stores, including a Publix. Less out of the way than the Cape Canaveral Publix.

If you have an extra day on your way home I highly reccomend seeing some if the sights that St. Augustine has to offer. The Fort, Flagler College, the Fountain of Youth, the lighthouse, really neat stuff.

 

[jrm11697]

We live in upstate SC and drove to PC for our recent cruise. I got a hotel through Priceline in Jacksonville and it worked out great. We ended up staying at a Quality Suites just off the I95 Baymeadows exit. I only paid about $40 including taxes and fees. There are lots of hotels at the exits south of downtown.

We live in Florence which is right off I-95. We plan to leave Florence and go to JAX for the night. Probably a rest room stop somewhere in Georgia. On road trips our 2 favorite restaurants are Chilis and Cracker Barrel. So depending on time, we will stop to eat.

There is an Embassy Suites that looks nice in Jacksonville. We will stay there (free breakfast!) and then head to PC. Then its just 3 hours away!!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

We are former Jax people and still have family there. We drive from Charlotte, NC to Jax and stay at the Hospitality Inn which is privately ran and the owners stay onsite. Continental breakfast, pool etc. $49 a night right off the freeway. Most rooms have refrigerators and microwaves. From there we are just 2.5 hours from the port as you are almost out of Jax by that time. Gas stations and fast food a plenty. Try the Sheik as it is pretty yummy! Steak in a pocket is like a philly in a pita sandwich and the best limeaide! http://hospitalityinns.com/

 

[princesscinderella]

If you don't mind the three hour drive might as well price flights out of palm beach (2:15 minute drive) or fort lauderdale (3:15 minute drive), maybe they will be cheaper. We live a few minutes from fort lauderdale airport and it is always the cheapest.