Most Painless Route From MCO to Daytona

[Kevenswife2]

I'm looking for the easiest way from MCO to Daytona (Speedway Boulevard). My daughter has been accepted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and we're going for a tour before she starts.

How much change will I need for tolls?

I've rented from Hertz. Is there an advantage to picking up my car from one side over the other. (quicker getting out of the garage and on my way, etc?)

 

[bumbershoot]

417 to 4 IMO. 417 is a toll road. Whenever I go to Orlando and I'm driving I bring a roll of quarters and ten ones, and that more covers all of my tolls. I'd do the same for your trip, and know that it will *more* than cover your tolls.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Having family that lived in Daytona, I have driven between the two many times. The most direct route is I 4. You will take I4 back up to 95. I 4 deads ends into 95 when you are driving north. When you hop on 95, you are only going to be on 95 for a mile or two. You get off of 95 very quickly! Now with that said, *I* avoid I4 like the plague now. People drive like nut cases in FL in general but in my experience pretty much all of the worst things I have seen have been on I4. Also a good bit of the I4 you would be using will be under construction. There are no tolls on I4 or 95. We have witnessed some pretty horrific accidents on I4. Most recently a SUV just ahead of us hydroplaned and hit both the guard rail and the jersey wall on each side of the roadway, hitting each twice!!! It was super scary to witness and we were thankful he didn't hit anyone else!!
I now drive out the beachline expressway (528?) To 95 and then go up 95. It takes probably an extra 20ish minutes, but I feel like the traffic going that way flows SOOO much better and it is more manageable.
I have commuted back and forth from both WDW (and at times Melbourne) to Daytona many times using 95 and 95 is much easier to navigate IMHO. there will be a few tolls on the Beachline, but like $3 each way...
Good luck with your trip.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Also you don't need to use 417 to get to I4. You can pick up I4 near Disney Springs.

 

[Kevenswife2]

I prefer to avoid I-4 as well!

 

[stitchlovestink]

I prefer to avoid I-4 as well!

I'm sorry. I just reread your original post and see you are trying to get to Daytona from the airport not Disney. You can still use the beachline expressway (528) to I95. It's not a bad drive. Have. Done it quite a few times.
417 will take you to I 4.
Safe travels!

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

We avoid I4 like the plague.

You can try one of two ways. Both are tolls.

528 to I95.
or
429N to 537 to FL46E to CR 437 to FL44E through Deland, then Hill Rd up to 92E to Daytona. It's 65 mi 90 minutes.

We usually take those backroads to and from Disney, as we really hate I4. It's not a time waster or saver, but we do avoid a lot of bad traffic. Only problem is all those little towns where you really have to watch your speed!

 

[keishashadow]

417 to 4 IMO. 417 is a toll road. Whenever I go to Orlando and I'm driving I bring a roll of quarters and ten ones, and that more covers all of my tolls. I'd do the same for your trip, and know that it will *more* than cover your tolls.

Got tired of waiting for FL to accept EZ pass we already have & finally ordered a Sunpass last year. So nice to not have to stop @ the tolls.

We take that route to Daytona unless there is heavy constructions.

The 'back way' via 415 doesn't take that much longer.

After cruising from Port Canaveral take I-95 up, not a pleasant ride.