I-4 thru Orlando at lunchtime?

[bored]

I'm assuming 417 would be the alternate route to miss the lunch time rush thru orlando?. We've overnighting in Savannah and should hit Orlando around noon on a Friday. I'm assuming hit 417 to 408 to get to Universal Orlando Resort or is there a better route?

 

[sharadoc]

We love 417, never used it to anything other than WDW.

Funniest thing is that our GPS is CONSTANTLY trying to correct us to get back onto I-4 for at least 25 miles when we take 417. It's become our family joke, how long until the GPS gives in and lets us take 417 instead.

You'll need about $7.50 in tolls.

 

[zulemara]

I4 is a mess no matter what time or what day, but Fridays do seem to be especially worse. Avoid at all costs IMO.

 

[DebbieB]

I used to take a morning and go to the Belz Outlets by Universal and traffic was not bad mid-day.

 

[IlovePiglet]

If you take 417 to the 408 for Universal you will need to go down Kirkman Rd which, IMO, is even worse than I4!
I would take 417 to the 528W then grab I4 E for 2 exits.

 

[DVC-Don]

I never, ever drive on I-4 through Orlando at any time. It can get backed up for many reasons (flat tire, accident, murder) in a blink.

 

[gmeh1]

I never, ever drive on I-4 through Orlando at any time. It can get backed up for many reasons (flat tire, accident, murder) in a blink.

You hit that one right!!!! Add to that the idiots that just have to get into the right lane for 408 from the second lane over and just stop dead waiting for someone to let them in. That is the part of my commute that I absolutely dread, thankfully, I am only on 4 for about 4 exits. BTW, we try to keep the murders to the side streets.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

If you're arriving into the Orlando area around Noon you can remain on I-4. It's rare that it's backed up at that time. I can't guarantee anything of course but unless there is a bad crash somewhere, I-4 during mid-day moves just fine all the way from the northern outskirts through downtown and south to Universal.

BobK/Orlando

 

[bored]

Thanks for the info. I guess we'll just play it by ear and try to find some traffic reports online or over the radio as we get close and decide from there.

 

[bored]

change of plans. We're now gonna hit orlando around 4:00 pm on a Friday. I know I'm gonna take 417 to avoid i-4, and then cross over 528 to get close to universal.

Off of 528 do I head up Universal blvd, to go to i-4 and go east for a few exits to Kirkman?

 

[IlovePiglet]

You'll take I4 East from the 528. Get into the 2nd lane from the right, the far right lane becomes an exit only at Sand Lake Road and it gets backed up pretty bad. For Universal Blvd stay in the right lane, for Kirkman Rd you'll need the left lane.