Northeast to Florida with a trailer.. Best route?
 

Bought another car down in Florida and going to Cannonball it with a co driver. Since I will be trailering, I would like to avoid the tolls as much as possible. I will be coming from Mass... 84 is an option, 81, should I just go over the Tappan Zee? Don't mind adding an hour or two onto the drive. Will be leaving Mass on Thursday afternoon and driving straight through. Then loading upon arrival on Friday, then heading straight back home..

Thanks

what part of florida?

Not sure what part of Florida you heading to but just as an FYI.... Daytona Car show is happening this weekend, Fri-Sun. . It is literally 5 minutes off of I-95 at the Daytona speedway. https://turkeyrun.com/ 5000 show cars / swap meet etc....

I did the drive 2 years ago Taunton to Sarasota. I went 95 to the Tapenzee, then south and down 81 and crossed over through I think either north or south carolina and picked up 95 down to Jacksonville then went I10 if I recall down past Gainsville and Ocala into the Tampa then Sarasota area.

Going to Spring Hill- west of Orlando.

MrGTO- pretty much the same route- Plainville MA. I figured the pike to 84 to 81... although 95 to the Tappen Zee wouldn’t be bad....

I am heading down April 01, be in FLA April 02, load and go

Mass hole here and running 95 is the quickest but I would be leaving at 2AM .

If that’s not an option I run 84 and cross the Beacon bridge.

It adds small amounts of time if 95 is clear but saves a ton if there is an issue or business hours traffic, construction etc

YMMV, check Waze and good luck.

Agree that 95 is the quickest... however, I’m trailering down and back. So, need other options to keep costs down...

Major delays in Wilmington Delaware I95 Southbound!!!!!!!
Use 495 through Wilmington!!!

If you plug your trip into Google Maps it gives two options: I-95 with tolls or I-81 without tolls, but the I-81 route adds another 100 miles and about another 1 1/2 hours to the drive.

I've driven 95 many times to Florida. From what I've witnessed, if you're from the northeast and like to tail gate and speed in the left lane. expect long delays in S.C. when going south. The H.P. will park you in the median grass and strip your ride down to the floor insulation. They don't care about drugs going north, they want the cash going south.

I drive from Connecticut to my winter home in Ormond beach. The way I go adds 100 miles but is much less stressful and only a few tolls. . I go 84 to 81 to 66 to 17 and get on 95 in Fredericksburg V.A. I take the 295 loop around Richmond and the only traffic I have is going through Jacksonville.

I do the same as Frank R when I'm towing.

I live right off of I-95 in N. MD. Have travelled to FLA more times than I can count, quite a few pulling a trailer. Once you hit below Fredericksburg VA it should be no problem. DE is busy but moves along ok. Tolls in MD will suck your ezpass dry. I cant imagine what they are in NY/NJ? MD suburbs of DC is very bad South Bound during morning rush hr. Traffic from the Wilson bridge all the way to Fredericksburg is HORRIBLE just about anytime. I would avoid that all cost. Frank R. may be on to something. 81 through PA is a pretty easy ride. Once you hit below that area I think tolls are pretty much non existent unless you hit the FLA turnpike.

on the lighter side, my car came from just north of Orlando, Umatilla.

I went to Knoxville last fall, and I went 495 to the Pike, to 84 and then 81 all the way down.

Pretty easy ride.

I've made this trip countless times over the years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNlfcVpogZg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2x5k3dM04U


Your best bet is to just use Waze and have it calculate the fastest truck route based on live traffic

I'd rather pay some tolls than hit heavy traffic any day

Once you get into FL, I'd bypass Jacksonville by getting on FL 200 then take it to US 301. Follow it to get to I-75 (Ocala area). Then can go to US 98 over to Spring Hill.
I hate driving through large cities.
(Ocala is almost too big)


:)

I would follow Frank R's route

There is no "best route" as I drive them all with family in MA and FL. You will most likely hit night construction and other "stuff" to delay you.

I-84 going out to NY has some big hills going into PA. I-81 is a lot of big hills in VA.

I-95 is nothing but traffic, it is much flatter, but has more services should you get into trouble.

Here is my route.

I-84W to Rte 209S just as you get into PA - goes through the Pocono Mtns. I actually jump off at Rte6 just over the NY/PA line and follow to where it meets 209 S - just more scenic, but traffic can be slow. You can go to Scranton and stick to highway driving and pick up I-81S, but more miles/time. 209 S cuts this out and by car, saves me about 1 hour. 209S can be slow/touristy, but has plenty of places for food/gas, and is still faster than going to Scranton in my book. Last trip through Scranton about 2 years ago had a lot of construction.

Rte 209S to Stroudsburg is where you will jump onto I-80W for a short hop and look for PA 33 south - keep you eyes open as it'll come up fairly quick and if you happen to be in the high speed lane next to a tractor-trailer that blocks your view of the exit, like I did once, you'll be going a route your did not plan for.

Follow PA 33 to US-22W/I-78 W which will take you right into I-78 W.

Follow I-78W to I-81 S

Follow I-81 S to I-77 S going through NC and into SC.

I-77 S to Columbia, SC and I- 26 E to I-95 S. This will take you into FL.

In FL, I-95 S to I-4 to Orlando.

So however you go, don't expect a fast speedy trip. Last trip from Charlotte to Kingston, RI was 16 hours. Charlotte to FL, about mid-state is around 12 hours. I would also make sure I have something like AAA for road emergency use if your insurance policy does not offer road assistance. If heavy traffic, even more. I'd plan on 2-days down and 2 days back and hope for the best.

In the last 38 years & almost 4 million accident-free transport miles, I can honestly say I have run that route over 100 times. I know the areas with the cheapest fuel & the safe spots to sleep for a few hours!

Frank R has it about right. I would tweak his route just slightly if you are really into cutting a few miles here & there without undue stress on the truck & trailer.

You can knock 20 miles off by getting on 17 up by Winchester instead of going down to I-66 & then 17. I only take 295 around Richmond if it is rush hour. I-95 is 6 miles shorter. If you are headed to the east side of Florida, take I-295 around Jacksonville to I-10 to SR 301 down to Gainesville or Ocala, then onto I-75. A few small towns with traffic lights, but no problem & now that the state took the police force away from the city that was living off tickets, it is much safer to go that way! You do NOT want to go down I-95 to I-4 through Orlando....Constant construction traffic jams for over a decade.

There are times, I will go all the way down to I-77 on I-81 just to change up the view!:D

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

Good ol Waldo!

:D

Just went through there to the Gatornationals.
(in a RV, 4 lanes mostly, not much traffic)

:)