I-4 Commute Time- Local Input Appreciated

[TinkOhio]

I'm hoping that some locals might offer input about an I-4 communte from Lakeland to Sand Lake in Orlando. My DD is interviewing for a fantastic summer internship at a huge corporation on Sand Lake Rd. It is an amazing opportunity for her to gain experience and build her resume. If she works from 8-5, Mon-Fri, she will be passing WDW along the way. We expect that she will hit rush hour traffic, and are hoping that she might be on the early side of WDW park traffic. Mapquest says it is a 47 mile commute. Any idea how long the commute (on average) really might take? I'm glad that she won't be crossing past downtown each way. Will she be crossing the crazy construction areas? And is there an alternate route she should take?

Thanks so much for any help!

 

[DVC-Don]

Bad. West bound traffic starts to back up by (exit 62) Disney about 2:20 - 3:00 PM and can last till late (9 PM?). It can take quite a while to get to exit 58 at Champions Gate where it clears up. East bound there is a back up by 58 to 59 starting about 6:30 AM and can last almost all morning.

 

[FCDub]

Approximate traffic information available via Google Maps. Just plug in the departure or arrival time.

 

[Capt_BJ]

suggestion

use this site to watch traffic around Orlando at your travel times for a few days ... you'll get the idea
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/traffic

I-4 from the WDW area north thru the beachline interchange is usually a rush hours problem spot ....

 

[joelkfla]

Approximate traffic information available via Google Maps. Just plug in the departure or arrival time.

On a Windows computer. I haven't found a way to do it on my Android phone.

 

[NH-to-FL]

I'm hoping that some locals might offer input about an I-4 communte from Lakeland to Sand Lake in Orlando.

Bad. West bound traffic starts to back up by (exit 62) Disney about 2:20 - 3:00 PM and can last till late (9 PM?). It can take quite a while to get to exit 58 at Champions Gate where it clears up. East bound there is a back up by 58 to 59 starting about 6:30 AM and can last almost all morning.

Unfortunately I am going to have to agree with @DVC-Don. The afternoon traffic west bound starts backing up early and sticks around well into the evening. I was reminded of that just the other day when we left Epcot just after 2pm and hit the beginnings of the back up as we merged onto I-4W from World Drive.

In addition I have seen afternoon westbound traffic on I-4 clog up coming out of Orlando down to 535. A quick check of Google maps estimated a 70 to 110 (!) minute trip from Sand Lake to Lakeland leaving at 5pm. Lakeland to Sand Lake in the morning was estimated a bit better, 50 to 75 minutes. While I usually trust Google I would guess that it would usually be on the longer side of that estimate.

47 miles is a long commute without adding the heavy I-4 traffic. Unfortunately I don't think there are any good alternative routes.

A good internship can be a valuable addition to a resume. I wish your DD the best. And tell her to drive carefully!

 

[writerguyfl]

Approximate traffic information available via Google Maps. Just plug in the departure or arrival time.

It's also available on other sites like Bing Maps. I don't know if Google and Bing use different sources for their traffic, but it's probably worth checking out multiple sites for this type of research. I'd guess that MapQuest offers similar estimates.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't live there, but I'm a crazy person for always knowing alternate routes. Could she use Turnpike/417/Poinciana/OBT at times when backups are bad, or go around north to 429 via the Turnpike? I know both of those are way longer, but all things considered, it may be faster if I-4 is a parking lot. (Of course, a short-term job that includes this kind of commute may also have value in determining if she is the kind of person who can tolerate a nasty commute. Some of us find that to be no problem, while others of us would rather be boiled in oil.)

I personally like the Waze app for real-time traffic.