I-95 or Florida Turnpike?

[Doinitwell]

Coming from the north through Georgia you can take either I-95 or the Florida Turnpike. I know there are tolls on the Turnpike, but I am willing to pay them if it is a shorter trip to the port. Which is the better route?

 

[bawpotter]

95 is best option, it goes the closest to the port. It is still around 10-15 miles from 95 to terminal, but it is closest option.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Alot depends on your exact direction of travel. Coming straight down the east coast? 95 is probably better. Coming through west or central georgia? 75 to the turnpike may be better.

 

[Doinitwell]

Alot depends on your exact direction of travel. Coming straight down the east coast? 95 is probably better. Coming through west or central georgia? 75 to the turnpike may be better.

I would be coming through the Atlanta area.

 

[WinstonC]

Options for Atlanta to Port Canaveral, according to Google Maps:

1) I-75 to I-16 to I-95: 533 miles and 8 hours 55 minutes

2) I-75 to Florida's Turnpike to FL 528: 491 miles and 8 hours 21 minutes

3) I-75 to I-16 to various state and federal highways through south Georgia to I-95: 482 miles and 8 hours 11 minutes

Option 3 is technically the best in terms of time and mileage. However, it requires a lot of semi-local driving through rural south Georgia once you leave I-16. Option 2 is slightly longer, but you're on interstate almost the entire way, though you will have to pay tolls on the Turnpike.

 

[erionm]

Options for Atlanta to Port Canaveral, according to Google Maps:

1) I-75 to I-16 to I-95: 533 miles and 8 hours 55 minutes

2) I-75 to Florida's Turnpike to FL 528: 491 miles and 8 hours 21 minutes

3) I-75 to I-16 to various state and federal highways through south Georgia to I-95: 482 miles and 8 hours 11 minutes

Option 3 is technically the best in terms of time and mileage. However, it requires a lot of semi-local driving through rural south Georgia once you leave I-16. Option 2 is slightly longer, but you're on interstate almost the entire way, though you will have to pay tolls on the Turnpike.

Don't know the area, but I would suspect that traffic lights could eat away at the 10 minute difference between #2 and #3.

 

[carolina_yankee]

Options for Atlanta to Port Canaveral, according to Google Maps:

1) I-75 to I-16 to I-95: 533 miles and 8 hours 55 minutes

2) I-75 to Florida's Turnpike to FL 528: 491 miles and 8 hours 21 minutes

3) I-75 to I-16 to various state and federal highways through south Georgia to I-95: 482 miles and 8 hours 11 minutes

Option 3 is technically the best in terms of time and mileage. However, it requires a lot of semi-local driving through rural south Georgia once you leave I-16. Option 2 is slightly longer, but you're on interstate almost the entire way, though you will have to pay tolls on the Turnpike.

Without looking at the routes, I can say that some of the state roads in Central GA don't have many stoplights, but you do slow down when you come to towns, cell phone coverage may be lacking (no AT&T, for instance, in all of Ben Hill County), and I was personally happier taking as major a route as I could through GA. There are more services, and you get into a groove if you can stay on limited access roads.

For tolls, you could order a Sunpass in advance so you don't have to stop, or even slow down in some cases.

Dirk

 

[erionm]

For tolls, you could order a Sunpass in advance so you don't have to stop, or even slow down in some cases.

Plus most toll plazas in Florida have an automatic discount for electronic tolls.

FYI: There are two upcoming toll increases in Florida.
Tolls on roads operated by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise are going up on June 24th.
Tolls on roads operated by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority are going up on July 1st.

 

[IrishCowboy]

We've done it both ways. At the I-75/I-10 interchange, we sometimes head south going thru Orlando and other times we head west thru Jacksonville. About the smae time each way, but cheaper going thru Jacksonville because you avoid toll roads and sometimes there is a backup at toll plazas. As long as you are not hitting Jacksonville during rush hour and have no need to go thru Orlando, Jacksonville is the better route.

 

[fsugirl333]

We live in Florida and have travel to both Atlanta and Port Canaveral several times. My suggestion is I-75 to the Turnpike. It has been our experience that I-95 has more traffic than the Turnpike. Also, from Atlanta I believe that is a more direct route.

Traci

 

[WinstonC]

For tolls, you could order a Sunpass in advance so you don't have to stop, or even slow down in some cases.

We live in Florida and have travel to both Atlanta and Port Canaveral several times. My suggestion is I-75 to the Turnpike. It has been our experience that I-95 has more traffic than the Turnpike. Also, from Atlanta I believe that is a more direct route.

When I lived in Nashville and Birmingham, we always took I-75 from Atlanta to the Turnpike into Orlando, or we'd stay on it all the way to south Florida. If you want plenty of options for food, gas, rest stops, etc., then that route is probably your best bet. I also like that the Turnpike (generally) sees less traffic than I-95, and the point that another poster made about cell phone coverage makes sense, too.

I *love* my Sunpass Mini. I got it over a year ago and have used it on two roundtrips from Atlanta to Orlando. The tolls are cheaper, and you don't have to stop to pay them or worry about having cash on hand. Also, the Mini cost me just $5, and I got that refunded in toll credit when I activated it online!

 

[ratt1345]

IrishCowboy, if they take I-10 off of I-75, they actually go east not west. If they go west, they will go towards Tallahassee not Jax. Just don't want to confuse someone who isn't familiar with the area.

I still agree with that if you are wanting to avoid the tolls!!!