USF to West Shore Mall Commute (Tampa, University: school, university, living)

[beka790]

I have a job lined up at West Shore mall and I'm going to be going to USF this fall... I'll be living just north of the school. Mapquest is telling me that I-275 will be the primary way to get there.
What times should be avoided on that highway? Are there alternative routes that you can suggest during those hours?

[cheerbaby112]

there are alternative routes but i only know them because I have a GPS system. I live in new tampa and its takes me 15-20 minutes to get their with no traffic.....during 8-10am and 5-7pm i avoid driving because it takes about 45 minutes.

[ferret111]

The biggest traffic jams will be between Downtown Tampa and the aiport. Your best bet would to get off at MLK and take that west and then take other streets to the Westshore area. There's a bus route (the 45) that goes from Westshore Mall directly to the big terminal just north of University Mall. You might want to check that out since the time it takes the bus to get across town might be close enough to how long it would take you during rush hour.

[LKJ1988]

It's hell anyway you drive it.

[Keeper]

You can get off at Columbus too and go straight to the Mall. Rush hour is going to be nasty no matter which way you go. Dale Mabry is also an alternative. Get a map and check out different ways to get to and from.

[ferret111]

There's no ramp from 275 to Columbus, though. You'd have to get off at Floribraska and go down Tampa for a mile or so.