[Cuzzant]

……without using I-4 through Orlando/Lake Buena Vista. Prefer not to be on 4 or 75 at all, but I know that would necessitate lots of smaller roads and add travel time.

I'm not familiar with alternate routes, other than 4 to 75 then into Sarasota. Don’t really want to travel single lane roads unless necessary.

I was looking at taking 17 W to 46 W to 441 W to 33 S to 4 near Lakeland, then 75 to Sarasota. Google maps telling me that’s 177 miles and 3:11 with no traffic.

Sanford to 4 to 75 to Sarasota (most direct) is 155 miles and just under 3 hours in ideal conditions. Not sure how construction/traffic is on 4 from Sanford to 75. I really dread driving that route.

Looking for suggestions from you all.

Any and all help/suggestions appreciated. Will be traveling in Feb if that matters.

Thanks everyone.

[Arcenal813]

You can avoid I-4 altogether, but I-75 is pretty much your only option unless you want to spend copious amounts of time driving through the woods on single lane roads, which you say you'd rather avoid.

I-4 to I-75 from Sanford to Tampa is miserable throughout. It SHOULD take you two hours to get to Tampa, but it can take 3 to 4 on any given day.

My suggestion, as someone who used to commute to USF from the SR-46 area, would be to go through Tavares, Howey-in-the-Hills, Okahumpka, and catch I-75 all the way down to Sarasota. Minimal single lane roads, and I-75 from there to Sarasota is generally a breeze.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sanf...d27.336465!3e0

This route is pretty much the same as I-4 to I-75 in terms of time, and MUCH less stressful.

[Cuzzant]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

You can avoid I-4 altogether, but I-75 is pretty much your only option unless you want to spend copious amounts of time driving through the woods on single lane roads, which you say you'd rather avoid.

I-4 to I-75 from Sanford to Tampa is miserable throughout. It SHOULD take you two hours to get to Tampa, but it can take 3 to 4 on any given day.

My suggestion, as someone who used to commute to USF from the SR-46 area, would be to go through Tavares, Howey-in-the-Hills, Okahumpka, and catch I-75 all the way down to Sarasota. Minimal single lane roads, and I-75 from there to Sarasota is generally a breeze.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sanf...d27.336465!3e0

This route is pretty much the same as I-4 to I-75 in terms of time, and MUCH less stressful.

Thank you.

Any suggestions or tips about travelling west from Sanford across to 75.....speed traps, tolls, lots of traffic lights, etc?

[kyle19125]

Just take the 417 from Sanford at SR46, Rinehart Rd, 46-A or 17-92/Lake Mary Blvd south down around Orlando to the end where it dumps you off on I-4 West just past the EPCOT exit and usually the last of the heavy traffic around WDW/Universal/I-Drive. Continue on I-4 to I-75 South and onto Sarasota.

[Arcenal813]

Tolls would be on that new 429 leg going from 46 to Kelly Park. A very short distance. If you want to avoid it, you can do what we all did prior to the toll road extension:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sanf...d27.336465!3e0

Speed traps, yes. I can think of one nasty one. Yalaha on SR 48. The speed limit fluctuates at random between 55 and 35 for seemingly no reason, and the cops are waiting, and hiding. Don't let tailgaters get to you.

If you take the route I just posted here, there are quite a few lights along US 441 and on the first stretch of US 19 in Tavares.
If you take the previous one, it's a bit more country, and there are very few.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Just take the 417 from Sanford at SR46, Rinehart Rd, 46-A or 17-92/Lake Mary Blvd south down around Orlando to the end where it dumps you off on I-4 West just past the EPCOT exit and usually the last of the heavy traffic around WDW/Universal/I-Drive. Continue on I-4 to I-75 South and onto Sarasota.

That's been very hit-or-miss of late. Getting onto I-4 from the 417 is a mess, and is gridlocked until past Haines Creek more often than not.

If they get lucky, sure, that works. But I-4 is just too unpredictable. I can understand wanting to avoid it.

[Cuzzant]

Originally Posted by Kyle19125

Just take the 417 from Sanford at SR46, Rinehart Rd, 46-A or 17-92/Lake Mary Blvd south down around Orlando to the end where it dumps you off on I-4 West just past the EPCOT exit and usually the last of the heavy traffic around WDW/Universal/I-Drive. Continue on I-4 to I-75 South and onto Sarasota.

Thanks for your input.

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

Tolls would be on that new 429 leg going from 46 to Kelly Park. A very short distance. If you want to avoid it, you can do what we all did prior to the toll road extension:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sanf...d27.336465!3e0

Speed traps, yes. I can think of one nasty one. Yalaha on SR 48. The speed limit fluctuates at random between 55 and 35 for seemingly no reason, and the cops are waiting, and hiding. Don't let tailgaters get to you.

If you take the route I just posted here, there are quite a few lights along US 441 and on the first stretch of US 19 in Tavares.
If you take the previous one, it's a bit more country, and there are very few.

Thanks again.
The speed trap sounds like the one(s) on 301. Frequent change in speed limits and local cops in waiting.

[bmw335xi]

Join 2022 and use google maps with live traffic on… it will tell you the fastest route in real-time.

[Cuzzant]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Join 2022 and use google maps with live traffic on… it will tell you the fastest route in real-time.

BMW, figures.

Really? WTF do you think I’m looking at, a paper map?

If you read the OP CAREFULLY, you would see we are traveling in Feb. I like to know alternate routes ahead of time so I have options if traffic is bad, accidents, etc. Plus, I’d like to hear from Floridians who are familiar with this drive.

So next time, don’t bother to reply to a post of mine unless you have something relevant to add.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

That's been very hit-or-miss of late. Getting onto I-4 from the 417 is a mess, and is gridlocked until past Haines Creek more often than not.

If they get lucky, sure, that works. But I-4 is just too unpredictable. I can understand wanting to avoid it.

Too late to edit. I meant Haines City, and not Haines Creek — two very different places. Oops