Need Help - Real Drive Time Between St. Pete and Miami (Tampa: wedding, construction)

[FloridaKash]

Mapquest says the drive is about 4 1/2 hours. Is this accurate? What are people's real life experience with driving from Tampa Bay to Miami? I can;t drop my dogs off until 9am that morning and the latest I can arrive in Miami is 1:30pm. Thinking i may need to see if I can drop the dogs off a day early.

Thanks

[ferret111]

4.5 to 5 sounds about right. 75 doesn't go through the heart of any of the Southeast Florida cities, so traffic shouldn't be all that bad. Just remember that Alligator Alley has a toll. I don't know much about 95/Turnpike down near Miami.

[cheerbaby112]

If you have a GPS, enable toll avoidances and you will get there sooner because most of the back roads it takes you on have no cops and your bound to speed!

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Figure about 4 hours from St. Pete to I-95 (Fort Lauderdale) with your cruise control set to 79, all pending traffic & construction along the way. 9-1:30 might be tight because you have to get from the kennel onto 275. Then off the highway to your location on the other end. Also depends on where in Miami you're headed. If west, then you can continue down 75 or Tpke. If east, then you might need 95 at some point.

Traffic down there isn't too terrible during early afternoon but if you are leaving Miami, get out by 3 PM or be ready to sit in traffic. If you have Sunpass you can use an express 95 lane down there but you'll need to know the entry/exit spots as they are limited.

As soon as you get off the highway in Miami, somebody is going to make a right hand turn in front of you from the far left lane. Do not honk your horn. They carry guns. Where in Miami are you going?

FYI http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic/

[BucFan]

Agree. 4.5 hrs. But depends on where in Miami.

[Maggi07]

Yep, it takes my dh 4.5 hours when he has to head that way for work.

[FloridaKash]

Headed to the cruise terminal to take a cruise with the kids for our wedding anniversary.

Thanks for the responses. Ugh, sounds pretty tight. The cruise has embarkation no later than 2:30 and I can;t drop the dogs off before 9am. Sounds like I may need to see if I can get the dogs into the kennel a day earlier.

I saw on the map there is a toll ... looks expensive. lol I see there is also South 41 which you can take across (at the very bottom). Mapquest only ads 10 minutes for taking this route. Thoughts?

[ferret111]

There's a one-time toll of 2.50 each way. I've never taken 41 all the way across, only to about Ochopee. Then again, I've only driven to Miami once.

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Saving on a $3 toll to get to your cruise ship? & on 41 no less? If you do, do not speed through the reservation. I'm not going to worry about you speeding Tamiami Trail once you hit civilization, however, as the lights will slow you down.

275 S to 75 S (turns E) to 595 E to 95 S (alt 595 to Tpke S to 95 S (NOT to Tpke extention)--I'm pretty sure T & 95 connect at Golden Glades but double check that) (GG can be confusing, take your time thru there if it connects) 95 S to 395 E to US1 S (right turn) to Port (Port Blvd aka NE 6 St) E (left turn) over little bridge, Park, Unload Car, send kids thru metal detector (they look suspicious). Enjoy.

PS, Didn't realize this was for a cruise. Leave yourself some time. Allow for accidents (not yours, knock wood), rest stop (ok, that accident would have been yours hehehe), roadway construction, etc. Not worth rushing to relax.

[newguy101]

drop the dogs off a day early, leave about 7;30. take 41 get gas at naples not a lot on 41, enjoy the drive and your cruise...travel motto"if it can go wrong on a tight schedule it will" hope the pool is heated LOL