GULF before WDW & I-4

[happy2012]

Has anyone ever flew into Tampa stopped @ the beach then took I-4 to WDW?

We have planned to rent a car & drive to Treasure Island beach spend a few hours then drive into WDW.

What's the best time to leave the beach to beat rush hour? [I don't want a 2 hour drive to turn into a 4 hour drive.]

Just want an idea of what to expect as far as traveling on I-4. TIA.

 

[spiceycat]

depends upon the road work on I4.

the traffic until you get closer to Disney is generally not bad. of course never tried the drive in the summer.

on might add an hour - getting back and forth to I4 from the beach can take a while.

 

[Art 1]

I never have but it's very doable.

 

[happy2012]

depends upon the road work on I4.

the traffic until you get closer to Disney is generally not bad. of course never tried the drive in the summer.

on might add an hour - getting back and forth to I4 from the beach can take a while.

Thanks, I better just add extra time to be safe.

I never have but it's very doable.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Rush hour traffic on I-4 starts to pick up at about 4pmish and runs through to just before 7:00pm ish... then the closer you get to Disney, you start to get the theme park traffic... Normal traffic (even rush hour) will not turn into 4 hours unless you hit an accident.. and that no one can predict....

 

[happy2012]

Rush hour traffic on I-4 starts to pick up at about 4pmish and runs through to just before 7:00pm ish... then the closer you get to Disney, you start to get the theme park traffic... Normal traffic (even rush hour) will not turn into 4 hours unless you hit an accident.. and that no one can predict....

This info will be very helpful. I'll hope to be near WDW before 4pm. That's kinda what I was guessing anyway.Thanks for taking the time for my Q.

 

[uccats97]

I have flown in to TPA and rented a car then driven to Disney many times. I have not gone to the gulf and then driven straight to Disney though. I4 from Tampa is an easy drive. The causeways from the beach back inland are kind of a pain. Plan on an hour between the beach and I4, no doubt, and probably another hour on I4. The good new is car rentals from TPA returning to MCO are usually cheaper

 

[Detailor]

So, while the traffic gets heavier in the Orlando area of I-4 during the late afternoon/early evening time period it does continue to flow fairly well unless there's been a crash somewhere along the line (traffic's much worse on I-4 in the downtown Orlando area but you'll be much to the southwest of the worst Orlando rush hour traffic). Where you'll find a real slowdown on your route is through downtown Tampa during rush hour. I-275 goes through the edge of downtown for about 5 miles and traffic can be really slow when people are getting out of work for the day. Traffic seems to clear fairly quickly once you transition from I-275 to I-4 and the rest of the trip, until you get near Disney, is usually an pretty easy drive.

Dick Taylor

 

[happy2012]

I have flown in to TPA and rented a car then driven to Disney many times. I have not gone to the gulf and then driven straight to Disney though. I4 from Tampa is an easy drive. The causeways from the beach back inland are kind of a pain. Plan on an hour between the beach and I4, no doubt, and probably another hour on I4. The good new is car rentals from TPA returning to MCO are usually cheaper

Glad to hear you have done this drive many times! Do you go to the beach @ all from TPA or just fly in & head to WDW? If so, is this for better rates? Just curious. I was happy w/ the rates, I opted for a nicer car than I norm. would b/c the rates were nice. I'm excited!

So, while the traffic gets heavier in the Orlando area of I-4 during the late afternoon/early evening time period it does continue to flow fairly well unless there's been a crash somewhere along the line (traffic's much worse on I-4 in the downtown Orlando area but you'll be much to the southwest of the worst Orlando rush hour traffic). Where you'll find a real slowdown on your route is through downtown Tampa during rush hour. I-275 goes through the edge of downtown for about 5 miles and traffic can be really slow when people are getting out of work for the day. Traffic seems to clear fairly quickly once you transition from I-275 to I-4 and the rest of the trip, until you get near Disney, is usually an pretty easy drive.

Dick Taylor

Thank you for the help..I'm taking notes! It's good to know if we are delayed or just having too much fun to leave the beach. It never crossed my mind that TPA would have lots of traffic & I don't know why,lol!! So thanks for that!!!