Renting Car from Sanford Airport...Help!!

[ThinkTink09]

We are renting a car for the first time in FL from the Sanford Airport and I have a couple quesitons.

I'm trying to figure out the best route to take to get to the WL. We'd like to stop at a superwalmart (or similar) somewhere along the way to pick up snacks and bottled water. I've been trying to use mapquest/google maps to find the best option, but i have no idea which to pick!

From what i can see there are two ways: I-4, or the Greenway toll route. Here's the thing...I hate driving on crazy busy highways especially when I have no idea where I am. Which would be better?

I was thinking of stopping at the supercenter in sanford (10 min from the airport) and then heading to the WL. We would be arriving in Sanford at 2pm on a Saturday if that makes a difference. What do should I do?

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[sharadoc]

We are renting a car for the first time in FL from the Sanford Airport and I have a couple quesitons.

I'm trying to figure out the best route to take to get to the WL. We'd like to stop at a superwalmart (or similar) somewhere along the way to pick up snacks and bottled water. I've been trying to use mapquest/google maps to find the best option, but i have no idea which to pick!

From what i can see there are two ways: I-4, or the Greenway toll route. Here's the thing...I hate driving on crazy busy highways especially when I have no idea where I am. Which would be better?

I was thinking of stopping at the supercenter in sanford (10 min from the airport) and then heading to the WL. We would be arriving in Sanford at 2pm on a Saturday if that makes a difference. What do should I do?

Thanks for the help!!!

Easy! Definitely take the Greenway toll road. It is much, much less crowded and crazy. We never use I-4, only the Greenway/417.

If you take 417 to the International Drive/first WDW exit, you can go past a number of choices for supermarkets. The Publix, a super Walmart and a Winn-Dixie. Here's a good link to use for supermarkets:

http://allears.net/btp/grocery.htm

There are some old threads on here about grocery stores if you try a search too. I wouldn't recommend stopping near Sanford because you'll have an hour in the car so your food could spoil if you're buying anything refrigerated.

 

[lindsey]

Another vote for 417,there are signs not far after you leave airport to get on toll road. Be sure to have cash for tolls. Its a great route to WDW

 

[ThinkTink09]

Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated. Sounds like the toll road is the way to go

 

[626itch]

Absolutely take the toll road 417. I would shop in Sanford for all of your snacks and water. You really dont want to be in the touristy area trying to find your way around in a crowded unfamiliar part of town. Sanford is less crowded, smaller and easy access back onto the 417. To get to park, I would suggest taking exit 6. There are 2 exits for WDW, exits 3 and 6. Exit 3 will cost you another toll and is more crowded. Exit 6 is what we always take (live 10 minutes from Sanford) to save from another toll and you can get to anywhere in the park or any resort. Once you exit you just go straight for a couple miles and you are in. Good luck

 

[626itch]

One more thing. If you want to skip shopping altogether, there are a few places that deliver your groceries to your resort room. Not sure which ones have access to property but some will even store them in refrigerator and pantry for you so you dont have to wait. Not sure how that works. I never used it but I think gardengrocer.com was one

 

[nacho113]

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

417 is a nice easy drive as everyone has said.

Also though I'd add that we usually go grab our snacks and supplies at the Walmart in Sanford too.
We grab one of those cheap styrofoam coolers for $2-3 to keep all of our perishables in good shape while on route.
Each day when we go out, we fill a bag of with ice from the hotel and some of our drinks and snacks and keep them in the cooler in the trunk.
It's great to have an ice cold beverage waiting when you get back to the vehicle after a long day at the park or beach. My wife usually has some fruit or veggies in the cooler for health snacks on the go. (I keep a bag of M&Ms in there to keep my chocolate cravings in check , what can I say ... she's the healthy one)

We just leave the cooler at the hotel on our last day or in the trunk of the car if we have a late flight.
Best $3 we spend on our trips.