Potential Relocation from Raleigh

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

The main problematic area is I-275 from the 60 Exit to roughly I-4. Doesn't seem to matter what time it is, there are always bottlenecks there.
Aside from that, my commute from North Pinellas into Downtown Tampa, St-Pete, etc., is quite nice. Orlando, where I recently moved from, was MUCH, MUCH worse.

The I-275/I-4 junction is the worst, but there are a lot of rough patches. I-4 all the way to I-75 is bad, I-75 between New Tampa and I-4, Dale Mabry, the Howard Franklin bridge, Bruce B Downs… Hillsborough between Sheldon and the Veterans is awful, I guess you must take a different route to downtown. The Veterans itself used to be very bad before they removed the toll booths, but thankfully it’s pretty good now.

I agree Orlando is worse though, which is a little odd being a smaller city.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by cpeck18

My wife and I have been thinking about moving to Florida or the Nashville area from a suburb of Raleigh. We've read several other Tampa threads here but wanted to just see what else people could share about moving to Tampa, and the suburbs to focus our research on, based on a little about us:

We both work remotely so don't have any restrictions on location. We're 31, looking to start a family, and prefer the quieter scene to super dense urban areas (lived near DC before Raleigh). That said, we want to be within an hour of an airport and a performing arts center (for touring Broadway shows). Looking for a home that would be on at least half an acre. We love to be able to walk everyday on either a greenway or just a safe city street. Love the outdoors. Would like to be within 10-15 minutes of a newish shopping center with groceries/gym/home depot/restaurants/etc. Definitely prefer the suburbs to downtown, and for hurricane/storm surge reasons would probably not want to live too near the coast. Anyone have thoughts on Lakeland?

Two reasons we're contemplating leaving Raleigh. One is that we don't exactly love the area (it's fine), and two is that our state income taxes are over 50k annually. We know Florida would be maybe a touch more expensive in cost of living, definitely in insurance, etc - but those won't come close to the income tax savings. So we've started looking at states without an income tax.

Thanks in advance for any comments you could share!

Yes! I live in Lakeland and you should check it out. Lakeland DOES have the R.P. Funding Center where many shows of all types come. Lakeland is also only about 40 minutes to downtown Tampa to the Straz Center. Lakeland has NUMEROUS parks and trails in and around lakes where you can experience nature, and a huge beautiful new park is set to open later this year called Bonnet Springs, which will be off the charts for nature trails and more. Also the traffic here is a fraction of what it is in Tampa/Pinellas. Overall real estate is less here and you should be able to easily get a large lot on the southside especially with your budget. I lvoe the topography here, we have rolling land, and so many lakes it feels coastal. Lakeland is also basically an "urban forest" with huge old trees everywhere.

Give it a look, I think you would be surprised how nice it is here.

[Lillie767]

Well, bless my soul. I've been down here for more than 10 years (visiting more than thirty years) and I thought it was the Howard Franklin Bridge. I never saw it written; only heard it on the traffic reports.

Better get those traffic reporters to enunciate more clearly, especially those final consonants.

[castlechurch]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

The I-275/I-4 junction is the worst, but there are a lot of rough patches. I-4 all the way to I-75 is bad, I-75 between New Tampa and I-4, Dale Mabry, the Howard Franklin bridge, Bruce B Downs… Hillsborough between Sheldon and the Veterans is awful, I guess you must take a different route to downtown. The Veterans itself used to be very bad before they removed the toll booths, but thankfully it’s pretty good now.

I agree Orlando is worse though, which is a little odd being a smaller city.

Yes, those are all bad during rush hour, but outside of that they are really not an issue at all. The I275/DT/I4 interchange is always a bit backed up, but really not terrible most of the time. The ramp from the Veterans to I275 towards Orlando/DT Tampa is always backed up too, but manageable most of the time.

Overall Tampa is really not that bad in regards to traffic. But those listed in your post are pretty much the hot spots for traffic during high travel times.


As to the Lakeland question....it is OK. It has made a lot of progress, but it still is not a city that offers a lot of variety in restaurants and entertainment, you have to go to Tampa or Orlando for those if you are in Lakeland. Now, it does have the advantage of being about 1/2 way to Orlando and Tampa, so you can take advantage of both cities....but the city itself does not have a lot to offer compared to either Tampa or Orlando. It has the RP Center, but that is about it. It has good outdoor areas, but so does basically all of Florida, so it is not really unique in that regard.

Lakeland does have a nice small downtown area, it is pleasant to walk around and has some good restaurants. If you are looking for a nice, growing town you could certainly do worse than Lakeland.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by cpeck18

We love to be able to walk everyday on either a greenway or just a safe city street. Love the outdoors.

If you are planning on living in Florida year-round:

Please visit Florida for an extended time during the months of May, June, July, August, and September when it's 90+ degrees and 10,000% humidity and being outside feels like you are sitting on top of a masterfully lit charcoal grill. Then let us know if you still "love the outdoors" in Florida. The heat and humidity here are on another level from Raleigh, DC and anywhere else in the country (that includes Texas and Tennessee). Remember that many people leave Florida in April and don't come back until November because being outside here during many months is not an option if you are heat intolerant. People have this idea that they will move to Florida and live outdoors 24/7 365. In fact, many people hibernate at home in the AC between April and November and most outdoor events in Florida are held from November to April for that reason. If you love sweating for 6 months a year, then pack you bags, NIRVANA awaits!!!!!!!!!!!

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

The I-275/I-4 junction is the worst, but there are a lot of rough patches. I-4 all the way to I-75 is bad, I-75 between New Tampa and I-4, Dale Mabry, the Howard Franklin bridge, Bruce B Downs… Hillsborough between Sheldon and the Veterans is awful, I guess you must take a different route to downtown. The Veterans itself used to be very bad before they removed the toll booths, but thankfully it’s pretty good now.

I agree Orlando is worse though, which is a little odd being a smaller city.

I take Tampa Rd/Hillsborough to Memorial/Independence, to Veterans (I think it turns into Memorial? That whole stretch changes names so I just never bothered learning them…) to 275. 275 from Memorial to I4 is always terrible, but aside from that, I never have major issues.

[sinatras]

You wrote the following in your original post:

"We love to be able to walk everyday on either a greenway or just a safe city street."

Walking every day outdoors in Florida is not possible for those who are heat intolerant; since you did not mention whether you enjoy stifling temperatures, I was offering information. As I said, for six months of the year, outdoor activities are out of the question for many Floridians.

Good luck and best wishes on your relocation journey!!!!