Clermont to Fort Walton Beach...

[Poorman]

On our January trip we wanted to drive from Clermont to Fort Walton Beach. ( I was stationed at Eglin AFB in the late 60's) We want to drive around our old stomping grounds. AAA gives a real long ,all highway route. But it looks as though it is way out of the way. I know it is around 400 miles, but does anyone know a quicker more direct route? There are routes like 98, and 20 that look as though they may be shorter, but not if they are well traveled or go through a lot of small towns.

Thanks for any help.

Rich

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

My wife travels the Winter Garden to FWB route a few times a year to visit her mother; we both used to live there too. The fact is that the fastest route is definitely Turnpike to I-75 and then west on I-10. You just can't beat expressway driving on the other routes. She just drove it this past Friday and it took her 6 hours of driving time plus about 15-minutes for gasoline/snacks. By the way, Tallahassee/Leon County has expensive gasoline prices and she fills up just west of Tallahassee where US90 crosses over I-10. There are large truck stop/gas stations on either side of the interstate there.

The alternate I've used (for variety, not time-savings) would be from Ocala to take US27/US27A northwest over to US19 at Chiefland and then north to Perry. At Perry you go west on US98 until you meet SR267, you use that to connect to SR20 and then head west on SR20 to Niceville. The road is well-maintained and especially straight west of Tallahassee but the speed limit is much lower, a slow vehicle in front of you can back you up and if you're over the speed limit, you 've got to worry about the FHP.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Poorman]

Thanks Bob.

I just high lighted that on my map. It is about what I thought we would have to do to go the non interstate way. How much extra time does it take to go that way? We want to go to some of the beaches in Destin we went to, way back when. We also lived in Crestview, wow the memorys are coming back now.

Thanks for your response.


Rich

 

[rie'smom]

Hi.My family spent the summer in Destin about 30 years ago. My dad's family is from the area. On a trip from WDW several years back,my husband and I took the 98 route. It was long but very enjoyable.

 

[ducklite]

I've driven Clermont to Tally a couple of times. From our neck of Clermont it's 27 north to the Tpke to 75 to 10. It takes me about four hours to get to Tally, it's another 2-3 to get to FWB from there depending on traffic. I have a friend in FWB and it takes her about 6.5 hours to get to the Citrus Bowl. She takes 98 to 331 to 10 to 75 to the tpke to the 408. Because it's almost all 65-75 mph on the interstates, it saves time even though it's not as "direct."

Anne

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Rich, going the SR20 routing I described probably only adds another hour or so to the journey. The mileage savings somewhat offsets the lower speeds you'll do. It's not a bad drive and you don't go through that many towns considering the distance.

If you have a lot of time the US98 routing all the way is beautiful. You're beside the Gulf a lot of the distance and this is definitely old Florida until you hit Mexico Beach and Panama City.

You've definitely got to see Destin! You won't recognize the place. It's bigger than FWB and the place went condo-crazy. Whether you go I-10 or SR20, head south on US331 from Freeport to US98 and head into Destin that way. You won't believe what you see. It's doubtful you'll recognize anything except maybe the East Pass as you drive over it. The Eglin part of Okaloosa Island is still undeveloped however the hurricanes of the past 10 years have flattened many of the huge snow white sand dunes that used to be there.

BobK/Orlando