anyway to avoid I-4?

[JudithM]

We took 417 heading north from Disney about a year or so ago & did not like it. You have to stop several times in the middle of the highway to pay tolls. We prefer to get a ticket when you get on & pay when you get off like the NYS Thruway, for example. We talked to some local to Orlando Disney friends who said 417 is geared for cars that use easy pass, etc. Plus we found 417 took longer because of al lthe stops - many of which needed exact change & no signs told us ahead of time .

As for how the traffic compares to NYC, Boston, DC, etc., I would say it is different. It does not appear to be as crowded - maybe because most of I95 & I4 are two lanes, sometimes three, in each direction. However, the lanes are almost always full.

Personally after having tried the more inland route, I think we will stick to that more often. We did not find it to be much further & probably not a whole hour longer.

 

[cpl100]

Could someone please point out the fastest route (from 95S) from the Florida border. By faster, I mean in terms of time, not distance. I will be leaving Florence SC in the a.m. and driving to the Lake Buena Vista area on Friday July 18th. I would think this would take no more than 9 hours so a 9 a.m. start would bring me there at about 6 p.m. (If this is not so, please jump right in and tell me I am wrong. This is my first drive.)

Thanks so much.

 

[FloridaCat]

Florida Information: Gas up 10-15 miles before FL/GA line, much cheaper.
Don’t gas up in the Daytona Beach area as very expensive.
Have plenty of gas before entering the 417 Turnpike.
If you need gas take the SR 46 exit, first exit after the bridges. Turn left at the bottom of the off ramp and stay in left lane on SR 46. At third light turn left into Race Trak, best prices in Central FL.
Upon leaving Race Track, do not go back to I-4, but straight ahead to 417 intersection.
If need a grocery stop go past 417 intersection to Sam’s club, if you are a member. Publix is the most reasonable grocery store in the area with many stores so should be easy to find one..

 

[Uncleromulus]

All of this sort of sad in a way--just when you're finished that LOOONG drive down to WDW, you run in to major traffic hassles!!

Nothing like DC traffic of course, but just when you recover from the traffic problems around Jacksonville, you soon run up against Orlando. Not a great way to end the drive to WDW.

Be nice to see some recent travel reports when folks try these alternate routes. To me, peace of mind and a pleasant traffic flow are worth some extra time/distance. That's why we always use the by-pas around Richmond and Jacksonville. But that 295 Jacksonville by-pass now has it's own constructuon problems and from the looks of it when we went in May, probably for some time to come.

 

[FloridaCat]

A year ago 417 ended about 8 miles east of I-4 and to get to it was driving Sanford city streets and traffic.

If you are arriving on a Saturday or Sunday, I-4 is not that bad.

Application for E-Pass, toll electronic pass.

http://www.expresswayauthority.com/epass/getepass_textapp.php3