Road trip , Boston to PG (Ocala, Callahan: vs, safe, moving)

[double6's]

Originally Posted by Montycjv

Thanks all for the advice. I've rethought my plans and will now get on the road by 6:00am Thursday morning and begin the drive south from New York. That should put me in the DC Metro area around 11am....then hopefully clear sailing from there.


I'm not going to push it...driving in daylight only so I'll find a motel along 95 South wherever I end up...then into PC/Punta Gorda by 4pm on Friday. At least that's the plan.


Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all...safe travels. I'll be glad to hit warmer weather this weekend, woke up this morning in Middletown NY and it was 3 degrees!

good plan..don't push yourself if you don't have to..and safe travels to you too..and Merry Christmas!

[Montycjv]

WILL DO!! Thanks!

Originally Posted by blare246

That's a good time to hit the DC area. Midday has far less traffic! Something to remember...when you're driving in southern Virginia (around mile marker 20), keep an eye on your speed. The cops in Emporia seem to make most of their money by nabbing speeders.

Safe travels!

[MikMal]

Originally Posted by blare246

.... Something to remember...when you're driving in southern Virginia (around mile marker 20), keep an eye on your speed. The cops in Emporia seem to make most of their money by nabbing speeders.

Safe travels!

OMG, how could I have forgotten that! Absolutely! They will stop you for only a mile per hour or so over the posted speed limit. The whole legal system there is into it. By time you arrive at your destination, you'll already have several letters from lawyers that will get the speeding fine reduced to an inspection violation (burned out headlight, etc). For a fee, of course.

[JERSEY MAN]

Just made the trip from Punta Gorda to Ocean County, NJ. Straight thru solo drive 1200 miles 17 hours. Left at midnight, arrived 5PM. The DC traffic stunk at 2PM. Drove about 300 miles at a time, stopped for gas, pee, on the road immediately.

[SeaRay35]

Originally Posted by JERSEY MAN

Just made the trip from Punta Gorda to Ocean County, NJ. Straight thru solo drive 1200 miles 17 hours. Left at midnight, arrived 5PM. The DC traffic stunk at 2PM. Drove about 300 miles at a time, stopped for gas, pee, on the road immediately.

Just went through D.C. 4:15 on Monday it actually wasn't to bad considering it was moving. Beginning of Virginia was the worst, thank God for the express to by pass some. Stopped for dinner in Virginia after exiting express and smooth sailing afterwards.

[SJNE17]

I recently made a drive from CT to SWFL. This was my route in a nutshell (i.e., you'll have to figure out best route to get to my starting point, as I can't speak to driving from Boston):

287 South
78 South
81 South (78 turns into 81)
77 South
26 East (pretty sure it was East--just head towards the Atlantic coast, e.g. Charleston)
95 South
200 West
301 South (200 turns into 301)
Once in Ocala, cross over to 75 South (via the 27 or 40) to whatever SWFL town you need to get to.

By the way, there's a new Bass Pro Shops in Gainesville. You could take the 24 off of 301, stop in for a look-see if you're so inclined, then hop on to the 75 and head due south...

Good luck! Watch out for speed traps. Bring a good radar detector like a Valentine 1. It saved my bacon on more than one occasion.

[manugit]

So much advice , here's our plan . Out of bean town at 10 pm on 12/25, mass pike to 84' S...to rt 15 Merritt parkway in CT.....to rt287 , go over tapenzee bridge garden state parkway, New Jersey turnpike to 95.... 95 to Fayettevilee NC..for some zzzzz's .plenty of time and plenty of stops for wife and Fido too. No need for speed , next day, I95 to Jacksonville, then west on rt 10 to rt 75 S to P G ....anything I missed.. It's I95 basically all the way ?

[SeaRay35]

Originally Posted by manugit

So much advice , here's our plan . Out of bean town at 10 pm on 12/25, mass pike to 84' S...to rt 15 Merritt parkway in CT.....to rt287 , go over tapenzee bridge garden state parkway, New Jersey turnpike to 95.... 95 to Fayettevilee NC..for some zzzzz's .plenty of time and plenty of stops for wife and Fido too. No need for speed , next day, I95 to Jacksonville, then west on rt 10 to rt 75 S to P G ....anything I missed.. It's I95 basically all the way ?

You like the Merritt? We would normally take 684. As fara as 10 W to 75S it brings you at little out of the way than 301 and a bit longer but all highway if you don't like to go through towns. Safe travels!

[daFrogMan]

Morn, you may want to take another look on the I 10 west to 75. I go I 10 (after the loop of 295 west at J-ville) but only for a few miles and then pick up 301 South. Drops you just north of Ocala on 75. Never ran 10 all the way west to 75. Seems like you go really far west.


Also, to get around DC I go 495 vs 295 that the GPS takes me. Avoids a lot of traffic close to DC.


BTW, again 301 is full of speed traps. But it is nice to get off the speedway (interstates) and enjoy the scenery. I do about 1050 miles in just about 18 hours this way (bout 40 miles south of Philly, take the Rt 50 bridge over the Chesapeake, drops you at Annapolis). That is w/o rushing, lots of P stops, gas, etc.


And yes, basically 95 all the way until Jacksonville.

Be safe!! Let us know how you make out!

Originally Posted by manugit

So much advice , here's our plan . Out of bean town at 10 pm on 12/25, mass pike to 84' S...to rt 15 Merritt parkway in CT.....to rt287 , go over tapenzee bridge garden state parkway, New Jersey turnpike to 95.... 95 to Fayettevilee NC..for some zzzzz's .plenty of time and plenty of stops for wife and Fido too. No need for speed , next day, I95 to Jacksonville, then west on rt 10 to rt 75 S to P G ....anything I missed.. It's I95 basically all the way ?

[SeaRay35]

I had taken the 10 to 75 before. I actually think it is a longer ride as far west as it goes like you said 301 in many areas is 55-65 so not so bad unless you are going through towns.