How is the Commute and Commuting tips? Winter Springs to Orlando area (Longwood: apartment)

[bluskynoise]

Thanks for all the advice on my last thread. We decided to go with an apartment community in Winter Springs FL (we actually wanted less city, due to getting to much of it here in MA)

The issue is we are both working in Orlando. I don't have a specific location in Orlando (it would make it a lot easier if I did!) as my job requires me to drive around to different places/homes in the area.

Mapquest said a 25 minute commute was a good approximation from one area to another. But I decided to ask the receptionist at the apartment community and she said avoid I-4, as it could take as long as 45 minutes!

I am fine with that for the short term, however, I wanted to know if anyone else knows if this is an accurate estimate. She also said "take the back roads" and it shouldn't be as bad, so I was wondering, does anyone have specific tips on what route to take.

I know its tough to figure out because I don't have a set destination in Orlando but any tips on commuting would be very helpful!
Thanks!

[Disney_Geek18]

I'm from this area and can tell you I-4 traffic is terrible in the mornings. If you don't mind taking toll roads, the 417 is near Winter Springs and will go around Orlando to the East, then the 408 will go into the city. The toll roads still get congested, but not nearly as much as I-4. Starting in May, Orlando will have a commuter rail to Orlando. The closet station to you is Longwood. SunRail will run 30-minute intervals during morning and evening rush hours and 2-hour off peak hours and no nightly or weekend service planned. It is our first rail system here, so I can't really say if it will be worth it to use SunRail, but we'll see. I-4 is set to go under construction in the next year from your side of Orlando to South of Orlando and will last a few years so commute on I-4 will be getting worse. Hope this helps!
SunRail - A Better Way To Go
I-4 Ultimate Project | Moving-4-Ward