Question about I-95

[919Florida]

WE are going to be reaching Charleston WV around 5am. What is traffic like around that time and is it easy to find your way around? THen also what are traffic condition like through Charlotte, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville and Daytona Beach? Just wander what you think traffic is like. We are leaving Greenille Ohio around 1am which puts us in Charelston around 5am. Thats a little time frame for you so you know what we are doing.

Thanks for the help.
Chris

 

[JudithM]

It depending on your driving route from Columbia, SC to Savannah, GA, as to when you reach I95. I guess I am not sure what you are asking about on I95 - traffic, lodging, food, gas, etc.?

 

[919Florida]

I just want to know about the traffic conditions. AAA drew up a TripTik for us and we know nothing about these roads and were just wandering about them.

 

[JudithM]

A few things come to mind:

You might want to get gas BEFORE you enter FL. It has been our experience that gas is definitely less exp[ensive in GA than in FL.

Which way does AAA take you in the Jacksonville, FL area? If you go straight through on I95, then expect some construction & possible delays in Jacksonville. Or AAA might send you around Jacksonville on I295. We have done both & both ways work - just depends on time of day & what the traffic looks like.

If the FL Welcome Center is open, you might wat to stop & pick up Disney brochures like the current time table & other FL attraction info. Plus you will be offered a small cup of juice. And the rest rooms are clean! Have fun!!

 

[Uncleromulus]

In May, I-95 starting around Brunswick Ga. and almost all the way in Florida until I-4 was "under construction"--lots of work going on and not a pleasant drive at all.
I-95 thru Jacksonville can be a harrowing experience anytime near rush hour--locals driving like maniacs and tourists just trying to get in the correct lane!!

 

[Desnik]

We just did the drive on I95 in May. You might want to check out my previous post for info http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204984

 

[bobcat]

That's the way I drive every year. Charleston at that time shouldn't be bad, I always seem to hit it at a busy time .

Charlotte can slow down any time. There is no easy way around Charlotte. Even at 2 in the afternoon we were down to 35-40 mph.

Our worst traffic is always from Jacksonville to I4. Each trip we have encountered construction and/or a bad accident.

Overall it is a very easy drive. I usually drive all day till I reach Brunswick GA. Cheapest gas and lots of motels to choose from.

 

[albiats]

I have made this trip a number of times from NE Ohio before we relocated to Florida, and we're doing the reverse route later this week, from Fl to Oh.

The area that confused my son-in-law on his way from NE Ohio to Florida was on I-77 in Wytheville, VA where I-81 signs are also posted. He missed the turn where I-77 goes off to the right and to the south and he stayed on I-81 for a few miles.

I just checked my Rand McNally TripMaker Software and it has the ability to connect to the Internet and look for construction delays and road congestion along the way.

It shows I-77 lane closures near Stone Creek, Oh.
It shows I-77 lane closures near Newcomerstown, Oh.
It shows I-77 bridge repairs at Marietta, Oh.
It shows I-77 bridge repairs Williamstown, WV.

It shows I-77 bridge work in Charleston, WV until 9/30/02.
It shows I-77 road repairs in Charleston, WV until 7/26/02.

It does not show Charlotte, NC as a congested metro area.

It shows a congested metro area in Colombia, SC.

N of Jacksonville, FL - I-95 five different areas with road widening.

Near Jax airport, I-95 congested metro area near I-295.

In Jax, I-95 Fuller Warren Bridge over the St Johns River - bridge work, elimination of draw bridge, south bound is usually ok, unless accident.

South of Jax - congested metro area where I-295 rejoins I-95 again.

It shows I-95 and Daytona Beach as a congested metro area.

I-4 near Lake Monroe, Fl is the start of congested metro area that goes all the way through Orlando and on into the WDW area.

If you're on an Interstate in Florida and you have a problem and don't have a cell phone, there are Motorist Call Boxes along the side of the roadway, except in metro areas. They are on a post about every mile and you shouldn't have to walk more than 1 mile in either direction to find one.

As another poster stated, Gasoline in Florida is more expensive than Georgia or South Carolina, by about 15 cents per gallon minimum. For planning purposes, it is about 200 miles from the FL / GA state line on I-95 to WDW on I-4.

The state is also changing the exit signs to match the mile markers, but it is a long project, so not very many are done. For example, an exit that I use often is exit 103 and I know that it is near mile marker 353, but the sign doesn't say it yet. The sign says it is the 103rd exit from the south end of I-95, which doesn't make a lot of sense these days, but it's getting better.

hope that helps