Best directions to Vero Beach from WDW and Kennedy??

[Leigha]

We may go from Universal Studios to Kennedy and back or go to Kennedy on our way to Vero. How far is Kennedy from Vero and what are the best directions from WDW to Vero? Thanks!

 

[bom_noite]

The website has exact directions. We were told by the WDW staff that you should:

1) Go up the Green Way to the Bee-Line.
2) The Bee Line over to I-95
3) I-95 to CR 512 (pretty sure it is 512)
4) 512 to Route 1
5) 510 to A1A

Please double check these directions on the website - I may have made a mistake as I am doing this from memory.

Using this route it is about:

20 miles on the greenway
35 miles on the Bee Line
55 miles on I-95
12 miles to the resort once you get off I-95

If you look at a map it looks alot shorter to go the FLA turnpike south to Fla route 60 and then over.

I asked a CM at Vero - is that not the best way? He said no because of traffic on 60. As a result, they always suggest the route I provided.

Next time, despite the warnings I plan to try this route as it will save about 30 or 40 miles.

Looking for anyone with experience with this alternative.

 

[Leigha]

I, too thought those directions looked like the long way!

 

[bom_noite]

Totally agree! By going the route they advertise it takes you 20 or 25 miles north on the greenway and then 15 or 20 miles south on 95.

I am not sure how slow 60 is, but, it needs to be 40 to 50 miles slow.

But, the CM at VB who should know swore that was the best way.

 

[SamR]

If you look at a map it looks alot shorter to go the FLA turnpike south to Fla route 60 and then over.

When you say you want to go from WDW to Vero, do you mean the town of Vero Beach, or Disney's Vero Beach Resort? Assuming it is the latter, then I think that the directions that you quoted from Disney's web site make sense. If you come in on Hwy 60 into the town of Vero Beach, you then have to head north about 10 or 11 miles, which effectively eliminates the more direct nature of the Florida Turnpike (as opposed to going across the Beeline and then down I-95).

I plugged both of these routes into my mapping software, and believe it or not, they came out to the exact same distance (112 miles). I'm sure this would vary a bit depending on your starting point within WDW (I chose the Beach Club since the BCV is our home resort ), and your choice between a couple of options on getting to the turnpike. However, the point remains...The route length is basically the same in miles. The time estimate shown by the routing software is a little bit shorter for the Disney-recommended route: 1 hour and 52 minutes vs. 2 hours and 1 minute.

Interestingly, if I let the software choose the route, it picks a route across Hwy 192 all the way to I-95, and then follows the Disney instructions from there. This route is noticeably shorter (96 miles), but the time estimate is actually 1 minute longer (1 hour, 53 minutes) than the Disney route (and would probably be worse than that due to congestion on the Orlando end of 192).

How far is Kennedy from Vero...

Taking the fastest route (510, 512, and I-95), it is 78 miles from VBR to KSC, with an estimated time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Have a great trip!

 

[Judique]

Originally posted by bom_noite
The website has exact directions. We were told by the WDW staff that you should:

1) Go up the Green Way to the Bee-Line.
2) The Bee Line over to I-95
3) I-95 to CR 512 (pretty sure it is 512)
4) 512 to Route 1
5) 510 to A1A

Please double check these directions on the website - I may have made a mistake as I am doing this from memory.

Using this route it is about:

20 miles on the greenway
35 miles on the Bee Line
55 miles on I-95
12 miles to the resort once you get off I-95

If you look at a map it looks alot shorter to go the FLA turnpike south to Fla route 60 and then over.

I asked a CM at Vero - is that not the best way? He said no because of traffic on 60. As a result, they always suggest the route I provided.

Next time, despite the warnings I plan to try this route as it will save about 30 or 40 miles.

Looking for anyone with experience with this alternative.

I've used the Florida Turnpike several times. It takes about 2 hours, which usually includes a gas stop at Yeehaw Junction, which is where you would get on 60 east. I don't follow 60 all the way into Vero Beach however, as the resort is about 10 miles north. Instead I get on 512 which goes north off 60 and then east towards Sebastian, which is closer to the resort. From 512, we take 510 and then onto A1A to the resort.

60 is a 2 lane road with orange trucks and 18 wheelers and a deep ditch running on both sides of it. 512 is another country road. Both can have slow traffic, but there isn't much of it. There are times that you may be able to go 50 to 60 and times you'll get cut down to 35-40. Florida Turnpike is off course a divided highway, but they have their fair share of state troopers.

I've been on the other route recommended by Disney and I've been slowwed to a stop several times by congestion and accidents, so I'll be heading south on the turnpike in July myself.

 

[bom_noite]

Thanks - I am going to try it.

Plus, no one should check-out without going to Yeehaw Junction first!

 

[trainfun]

If time is not your main consideration you might want to consider going from Cape Canaveral or the Bee Line's eastern end straight down A1A. You will be driving along the ocean and see a real mixture of Florida architectural styles, military base, etc. It does take longer, but it is a pleasant ride, especially the last 15 miles.

We've done the I-95 and A1A south from the Bee Line and we like the A1A route when we have extra time. If we are in a rush, we'll use I-95. After driving down from Long Island, NY, it is nice to get off the interstates and relax a bit.

 

[Judique]

Originally posted by trainfun
If time is not your main consideration you might want to consider going from Cape Canaveral or the Bee Line's eastern end straight down A1A. You will be driving along the ocean and see a real mixture of Florida architectural styles, military base, etc. It does take longer, but it is a pleasant ride, especially the last 15 miles.

We've done the I-95 and A1A south from the Bee Line and we like the A1A route when we have extra time. If we are in a rush, we'll use I-95. After driving down from Long Island, NY, it is nice to get off the interstates and relax a bit.

I've done this route leaving Vero Beach Resort and stopping at Cape Canaveral, going northbound. It is a nice pleasant ride for anyone with lots of extra time. We also stopped along the road and visited a beach, did a nature hike, visited an old fort (can't think of the name right now). It is not for anyone in a hurry, though.

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by trainfun
If time is not your main consideration you might want to consider going from Cape Canaveral or the Bee Line's eastern end straight down A1A. You will be driving along the ocean and see a real mixture of Florida architectural styles, military base, etc. It does take longer, but it is a pleasant ride, especially the last 15 miles.

We've done the I-95 and A1A south from the Bee Line and we like the A1A route when we have extra time. If we are in a rush, we'll use I-95. After driving down from Long Island, NY, it is nice to get off the interstates and relax a bit.

I agree- this is the ride we prefer. Lot's of beautiful towns and places to see. Takes some extra time if you just drive through, but it's much more interesting than 95. It will take a lot more time if you make stops...but hey, you're on vacation!