Best Route from VA to FL?

[catdance23]

Thanks Everyone! We're about an hour west of DC in VA. We're planning on leaving at 6am on Saturday to hopefully avoid the worst traffic from DC to Richmond although it seems like it can be 3 am and still have bad traffic.

I'll definitely tell the hubby to slow down in GA and SC.

 

[mesaboy2]

For bypassing Jacksonville traffic and construction, we take the 9A Bypass that goes towards the beaches. The mileage is the same and the road is much better than going thru JAX on I-95.

As a Jacksonvillian, I can verify this is great advice.

 

[mesaboy2]

Having been born and raised there, it's spelled Fredericksburg with an "e" between the "d" and the "r". If you can't spell it correctly don't spell it at all.

I'll start calling it F-burg then. F standing for friendly, of course.

 

[MrsScooby]

I'll start calling it F-burg then. F standing for friendly, of course.

 

[catdance23]

I'll start calling it F-burg then. F standing for friendly, of course.

 

[Quagmire]

We also laughingly call it Fred Vegas.

 

[Bushman]

Having been born and raised there, it's spelled Fredericksburg with an "e" between the "d" and the "r". If you can't spell it correctly don't spell it at all.

Lighten up, dude!

FredEricksburg (notice I spelled it correctly) IS actually a nice place, regardless of what this guy has posted.

 

[NJBILL]

Take the Auto-Train

www.travelweather.weebly.com

 

[HOTOMIKY]

I've heard bad things about trying to do I-95 all the way down from Virginia to FL. Is there a better route? If not how much time should I allow? We are thinking about staying in Savannah for one night to break up the trip. Any advice?

Oh, we are going down on the Saturday before Thanksgiving so I'm sure that will add traffic.

You could try Auto Train (Lorton, VA to Sanford, Fl). If you feel that i-95 is an issue...

We will be using Auto Train (Amtrak) in few weeks! My kids are exciting about it... )

 

[clukas]

Thanks Everyone! We're about an hour west of DC in VA. We're planning on leaving at 6am on Saturday to hopefully avoid the worst traffic from DC to Richmond although it seems like it can be 3 am and still have bad traffic.

I'll definitely tell the hubby to slow down in GA and SC.

We do Arlington, VA to PC about 4 times a year. Watch for cops from Richmond to the NC line. Now that they raised the limit to 70 it is not as bad but stay below 75.

We've never had a problem wit GA or SC but have recently heard about the photo radar about 25 miles north of the GA border.

If you're leaving at 6 AM you'll be fine, if you make 2 quick stops it will be about 12 hours. We've left early AM, which is the best, but next Friday we are leaving around noon and not looking forward to the additional traffic.

 

[Windermere]

We live in NoVa and have decided on the last few trips that the Autotrain is the way to go.
Before that we used to avoid the beltway at all costs. I think we would go south on 7100 then hit 95. Usually left at 10pm and drove through the night since DH is able to nap for a few hours in the afternoon before leaving.
Not sure how far south you could take 15 and then make it to 95.

 

[mysteryguest]

Not sure how far south you could take 15 and then make it to 95.

You can take Rte 15 all the way to I-64, or go Rte 15 to 522 in Culpepper to I-64. From I-64, east towards Richmond to 288 South to I-95.

If you are already 1 hour west of DC, taking Rte 15 or any alternate route to avoid DC would be advantageous. Even Rte 17 to Fredericksburg to I-95S would get you south of the HOV lane bottleneck gridlock around Potomac Mills and beyond the worst congestion.

But like others have suggested and I suggested on page one, the Autotrain is the way to go.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

I've driven from NC to FL 2-3 times per year. Unless there is construction or an accident, it isn't bad. Here are my tips:

Savannah is a good place to stop. If you stay at the exit near the airport there are tons of hotels.

The worse place to drive is between DC and Richmond. It is just one big long parking lot. You can't really avoid that though unless you go way out of your way. I have a GPS and whenever I hit a slowdown I pull off and find drive on parallel local roads for a couple miles, then head back to 95 and get back on if the traffic isn't stop and go.

Also, SC and GA are both notorious speed traps and if you have a cruise control just try and go the speed limit.

Jax can be congested - there are ways to get around if you get there at a bad time. I don't do 295 - if your driving south there is a new road with a big bridge to the east of downtown that is a good alternative. For a while you have to drive on a non-highway, but if downtown traffic is congested it is a good alternative.

Finally, if you are going to Orlando first (as opposed to Canaveral) when you get to Orlando, if it is anywhere close to rush hour, get on the Expressway right near Sanford, and take it all the way over to Disney. It will cost you money it tolls, it is more miles, but it is the same time if it isn't rush hour and saves you money if it is. My GPS never wants me to go this way, but I am from Orlando originally and you don't want to be on I-4 during rush hour. You should also get an E-pass transponder so you can breeze right through the tolls. I believe you can order them online, or pick them up at a Publix.

I've heard bad things about trying to do I-95 all the way down from Virginia to FL. Is there a better route? If not how much time should I allow? We are thinking about staying in Savannah for one night to break up the trip. Any advice?

Oh, we are going down on the Saturday before Thanksgiving so I'm sure that will add traffic.