bypassing jacksonville and orlando traffic (I-95)

[dcibrando]

has anyone ever tried to bypass the jacksonville mess by going on 9A (exit 326A to wdw and exit 337 from wdw)?

and would it make any sense to stay on I-95 (instead of getting on I-4) and using toll road 528?

looking for ways to avoid some of the traffic chaos without adding an hour more onto the drive

any ideas of suggestions greatly appreciated

 

[ducklite]

has anyone ever tried to bypass the jacksonville mess by going on 9A (exit 326A to wdw and exit 337 from wdw)?

Just time your trip so you are there during rush hour and use the bypass. Traffic there isn't all taht bad except during rush hour.

and would it make any sense to stay on I-95 (instead of getting on I-4) and using toll road 528?

That will add an hour or more to your trip. Just take I-4 but avoid rush hour.

 

[boBQuincy]

The Eastern Jacksonville bypass (9A) is either completed or almost completed (1 traffic light) by now. It is about the same time as going through town but it sure a lot nicer!

I have continued down I-95 to 528 several times and it adds about 25 minutes to the trip. You don't actually go all the way to 528 but cut off onto 407.
It also adds about $5 to the trip but if I-4 is backed up the alternate route will be quicker and well worth the $$$.

 

[seashoreCM]

Now you can, after getting off I-95 onto the dreaded I-4, take its Toll 417 exit before Orlando and go clockwise around the horn (airport) to Disney. You will not want the Toll 408 (East West Holland Exp'y) exit.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

OT: Apparently because of a state-federal feud, the interstate highway system skipped Rochester NY and only later were spurs added into that city. So to this day, through traffic (on I-90) is spared the rush hour Rochester traffic. Practically everywhere else including Jacksonville and Orlando, the interstate goes right through the city and we all know the traffic consequences.

 

[OlderMan]

I used to use I-295 around Jax, but I-95 through Jax (to me) isn't bad.

To avoid Orlando, take I-4 West to SR 417 South--granted it's a toll road, but lightly used.

Once you're south of the Beachline (SR 528) keep an eye out for signs.

You'll be in WDW in no time!

 

[ducklite]

I used to use I-295 around Jax, but I-95 through Jax (to me) isn't bad.

DH does taht driver regularly and agrees with you. As long as you don't catch rush hour it's an easy drive.

 

[dcibrando]

wow some great responses here...

so is I-295 better (and/or shorter) than taking 9A?


Also, how much extra time (and $) is taking SR 417 to WDW?

 

[dcibrando]

would it make more sense to take avoide traffic on I-4 by taking SR 417 straight into WDW... or is getting onto SR528 (from SR 417) and then back in I-4 the best way to go?

 

[OlderMan]

Tolls on SR 417 from I-4 to WDW will probably run about $7.00, but it's money well spent to avoid I-4 traffic.

 

[izzy]

wow some great responses here...

so is I-295 better (and/or shorter) than taking 9A?


Also, how much extra time (and $) is taking SR 417 to WDW?

I just drove down through Jacksonville a few weeks ago. I took 9A going and coming, and I thought it was great. (Well, coming back I was on this road around 8 a.m., so traffic was a little heavier, but nothing like it would have been on I-95 I'm sure.) In the past, I've always taken 295. I believe that 9A was much shorter. If you look at a map, it even looks quite a bit shorter than taking 295. One word of warning, though. If you don't like big bridges, you might want to reconsider driving on 9A. It has a HUGE and HIGH bridge on it. I thought it was really neat, but I know someone who would have freaked out if we had gone over that bridge. There was just a little construction in one area and only one stoplight.

I had planned on taking 417 to bypass Orlando on the morning I left since I wanted to avoid traffic, but I left so early that morning (5:30 a.m.) that I sailed through Orlando on I-4. I'm not sure how much extra money or time it would take, but if you are going to be driving there near rush hour, it would probably be worth your sanity to pay the tolls and drive the extra mileage on 417.

 

[boBQuincy]

That is the Dames Point/Napolean Bonaparte Broward bridge and yep, it is a high one! It is often windy up there too, not a place for those with bridge-ophobia.

 

[frndofpooh]

We took 9A a few weeks ago, and it was great. There is only one traffic light currently preventing it from being designated as an Interstate (it will eventually be signed as the Eastern half of 295 when the current construction removes the one traffic light). Going south, the light was green and we never even had to slow down. Going north, the light was red but it added no more than one minute to our trip.

Before deciding to try this route, I compared the distance to staying on 95. It is virtually the same, within about a mile of each other. Depending on traffic on 95 you could gain several minutes by taking 9A, but you won't lose any time. Give it a shot!

 

[deej696]

Having lived in Orlando for several years, if I had my choice between I-4 and the 417, I choose the 417 any day, especially if you will be coming down 95 in the morning, and picking up I-4. If thats the case, I would continue to the 528, and then hop on the 417 to Disney. May cost a few bucks, and a few extra minutes, but there will be hardly anyone on the road, and it is a stress free drive...

 

[MattM]

If you are not driving on I-4 during rush hour, it is significantly faster than taking the 417 toll road. Just time your trip so that you're not driving in Orlando in rush hour, and the traffic is fine.

If not, the 417 is the next best option.

 

[dcibrando]

does it make more sense to stay on the 417 all the way to WDW or turn onto 528 then get back on I-4?

 

[deej696]

Yes I would stay on all the way to WDW...

 

[MattM]

does it make more sense to stay on the 417 all the way to WDW or turn onto 528 then get back on I-4?

Depends...

What time will you be driving through Orlando?

Where are you staying?

Sometimes, Disney is easier to navigate by using I-4.

 

[tardin1964]

Is there a time frame when the construction will be finished to remove the last traffic light on 9A???

 

[tardin1964]

bump

 

[IUHoosiers]

We just returned from WDW...going down and coming back we stayed on I-95 through Jacksonville and took I-4 all the way to our WDW exit. While Jacksonville wasn't too bad (steady, heavy traffic - lots of construction), the traffic on I-4 was CRAZY. We came through around 3PM on a Friday and left around 10:45 AM on a Thursday. Both were awful. Very heavy, stop and go traffic. Everyone would be going 60+ MPH, only a few feet between the cars and then suddenly stop....travel bumper to bumper for a mile or so and then take off again. On several occassions we saw people stop in the middle of a moving lane just to change lanes. I have never seen this before, but it is very dangerous. We saw drivers have to lock up their brakes to avoid slamming into the backs of these people. In addition, there were several aggressive drivers traveling in excess of 80 MPH weaving in out of all of this. I think we may try the toll road next time to see if it is any safer! I prefer a little less stress in my vacation!