Is there something wrong on I95 in Florida?

[torinsmom]

Just wondering. Mapquest is giving me these directions--

Merge onto I-95 S via EXIT 328A toward Benson/Fayetteville (Passing through South Carolina and Georgia, then crossing into Florida) 412.5 mi

Take the SR-9A S exit, EXIT 362A 1.1 mi

Merge onto I-295 S. 25.6 mi

Merge onto I-95 S via EXIT 61A toward Daytona Bch. 77.2 mi

Merge onto I-4 W via EXIT 260B toward Orlando. 67.3 mi

Merge onto US-192 W/W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy/SR-530 W/W Vine St via EXIT 64 toward Magic Kingdom/Hollywood Studios.


So, what's up with taking me off 95 onto 295? Google directions just leaves me on 95 to I-4, which is my usual way. Anyone know if it's just supposed to be quicker or is there a detour there? We are leaving at 6 this evening and plan to drive through the night. Oh, and are they done with Jacksonville yet?

 

[plb626]

Just stay on I-95. It depends on when you are going, I295 takes you around Jacksonville especially during rush hour. We did the trip in April and there was no problem staying I-95

 

[SouthernBelles]

I live in Jax and I avoid 95 as much as possible. My inlaws live in Amelia Island and we always take 295 to and from their house. 95 always seems to be under construction somewhere and the accidents can have you stuck in traffic forever! Your only saving grace is that you'll be traveling at night. You may could check news4jax.com and see if they show any construction or issues with 95. Good luck!!!

 

[torinsmom]

So 295 will take me around Jacksonville? Will it be easy to see where to get back on 95? I hate going through Jacksonville with all the construction and the big trucks. If it will take me around all that easily, I'll just go that way.

 

[SouthernBelles]

Yes, 295 will take you around Jax and you won't have to deal with any mess! It is easy to get back on 95 South from 295. We do it all the time. In fact, I live off of 295 and head down 95 South to get to the Disney outlet in St. Augustine! It's super easy but if you have questions let me know...I'm happy to help!

 

[Jedana]

Go to: www.FL511.com. (you can call it also)

Shows you all the accidents/construction/etc in FL.

The 295 route will take you around Jax. The 95 route takes you through downtown. Avoid downtown; the 95/10/Fuller Warren Bridge exchange is always a mess.

Don't try to drive between 7-9 am or 4:30-6:30 pm. Time would be better spent eating breakfast or dinner or relaxing at a rest stop outside of town.
Just an example: due to the construction around the Blanding exit on I295, everyone is exiting on Park (exit before). The exit lane is a dedicated exit lane, and it backs up at least halfway across the Buckman bridge every afternoon--- it takes a good 30 minutes to get through it.

 

[c.w.e.m.]

Done this trip from MD last two years. First year, took I-95 straight thru JAX during day = heavy traffic. Coming home last year, took 9-A around & was smooth sailing back to I-95. Did not make same mistake this year & followed 9-A/295 around JAX. Beautiful bridge (BIG) on 295 the name escapes me tho... Good luck.

 

[SouthernBelles]

It's the Buckman Bridge. Sometimes when driving over the Buckman you can see planes landing at NAS. They get so low it looks like they are going to land in the water. You may also be able to see the military helicopters picking up guys out of the St. Johns River on practice exercises. Both are really cool to see and the kids LOVE it!!

 

[sharadoc]

295 is very easy around Jacksonville, well-marked and easy to drive. It does add time to your trip, though. The major construction in Jacksonville is done, honestly, really, it is I think it was going on for 15 years. But when we drove in January, we actually saw that it was done.

When we drive straight through, we stay on 95 through Jacksonville because we usually hit it later in the day, after rush hour. If we do a 2 day drive, we'll do 295 just to take us away from the big city craziness.

FYI - we also jump off I-4 onto 417 at Sanford. Costs about $7.50 in tolls and is much, much, much less busy than I-4, especially through downtown Orlando. The Disney exits are very well-marked and the toll booths are easy to go through - you can use exact change or a toll-taker.

 

[Jedana]

It's the Buckman Bridge. Sometimes when driving over the Buckman you can see planes landing at NAS. They get so low it looks like they are going to land in the water. You may also be able to see the military helicopters picking up guys out of the St. Johns River on practice exercises. Both are really cool to see and the kids LOVE it!!

c.w.e.m. might be referring to the Dames Point (aka Bonaparte), if she's talking about height and beauty. It is on the route the OP was talking about, around the outside of Jax via exit 362A.

The Buckman is only long and mostly flat. It's on the other side of 295, connecting Orange Park and Mandarin. If you exit onto 362B, it takes you around to the Buckman, to get back to 95. I think it's a bit longer than taking the other route.

Either way works...depends if you want high and pretty or low and sometimes exciting.

 

[torinsmom]

The time given for the drive if I use 295 is actually less than the 95 route Google gives. One is 10 hrs 44 minutes(95 only) and the other is 10 hrs 20 minutes(295)

 

[c.w.e.m.]

c.w.e.m. might be referring to the Dames Point (aka Bonaparte), if she's talking about height and beauty. It is on the route the OP was talking about, around the outside of Jax via exit 362A.

The Buckman is only long and mostly flat. It's on the other side of 295, connecting Orange Park and Mandarin. If you exit onto 362B, it takes you around to the Buckman, to get back to 95. I think it's a bit longer than taking the other route.

Either way works...depends if you want high and pretty or low and sometimes exciting.

Must be the Bonaparte - we went east around JAX & it was a tall bridge - beautiful views up there tho.

 

[SouthernBelles]

The Dames Point is a HUGE suspension bridge. In fact, when we were on the Carnival Cruise ship out of Jax I got some amazing pics of the under side of the Dames Point. It looks like the ship is going to hit it. If you go east around town they call that 9A. It said 295 so I figured it was the Buckman.