Routes from Orlando, FL to Huntsville, AL?

[ependydad]

We're kicking around summer ideas and one of them includes a leg from Clermont, FL (likely) to Huntsville (likely Monte Sano State Park).

It looks like Google Maps wants to take us up I-75 to Atlanta and then over to Huntsville. But, I'd really like a different route that 1) avoids Atlanta and 2) lets me explore FL's panhandle some. Maybe something like this (I randomly grabbed and dragged Google's recommended route):
Clermont to Huntsville Directions

I'd expect to make the trip in 3 days of drive about 200-225 miles per day.

Any thoughts? Opinions?

[dkb74]

You would most likely take the Turnpike up to 75.

One word I have about I-10 in the Panhandle? BOR-ING.

A whole lot of nothing with exits few and far between..... we ran out of gas.

BUT! If you could carve out a day to spend at the Florida Caverns State Park, I highly recommend it. Was worth the boring drive.

The problem you'll have is there's no real easy way to get from the Panhandle up through AL. I have family in Dothan, and they drove down to the Caverns to visit us. I can ask her what 231 is like.

[MOD Guy]

Originally Posted by dkb74

You would most likely take the Turnpike up to 75.

One word I have about I-10 in the Panhandle? BOR-ING.

A whole lot of nothing with exits few and far between

BUT! If you could carve out a day to spend at the Florida Caverns State Park, I highly recommend it. Was worth the boring drive.
.

X2

[h20ski]

From Clermont take HWY 27 to Wildwood. Then take 44 to Crystal River. Then HWY 98 / HWY 27N to I10. That's about 200 miles. I10W to US HWY 231N to Dothan/Montgomery, AL. Stop just north of Troy 200 mile day 2. There is a campground just off of 231. Day 3 231 to I65N to Huntsville, AL about 200 miles. We live outside of Dothan, AL and I always take that route to south FL. 90 % 4 lane and 65 miles per hour.

The campground in Troy, AL is Deer Run RV park.

Have fun

[ependydad]

H20ski- what is 231 like?

Good stuff everyone. I'm not sure what we are planning days-wise. I still have to figure out my work schedule yet.

[Chuckinca]

Originally Posted by h20ski

From Clermont take HWY 27 to Wildwood. Then take 44 to Crystal River. Then HWY 98 / HWY 27N to I10. That's about 200 miles. I10W to US HWY 231N to Dothan/Montgomery, AL. Stop just north of Troy 200 mile day 2. There is a campground just off of 231. Day 3 231 to I65N to Huntsville, AL about 200 miles. We live outside of Dothan, AL and I always take that route to south FL. 90 % 4 lane and 65 miles per hour.

The campground in Troy, AL is Deer Run RV park.

Have fun

US 27 doesn't go to Wildwood.

US 27 North to Leesburg
CR 44 West to Inverness
US 41 North to Dunnellon
Hwy 40 West to CR 336 (a pretty drive thru the Goethe State Forest)
CR 336 North to US 19
US 19 and later US 19/US 27 North to Perry, FL (KOA: Perry KOA | Camping in Florida | KOA Campgrounds)

US 19 North to I-10
I-10 West to US 27 (getting around US 27 in Tallahassee)
US 27 North to Cuthbert, GA
US 82 West to Eufaula, AL (Stay at least 2 nights in Eufaula area at Lakepoint State Park 6 miles north of Eufaula)
US 431 north to Lakepoint State Park Call ahead to the Marina Store to get gate combo - Stay in "Deer Court"


Alabama State Parks

Eufaula, Alabama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
City of Eufaula > Home

And then US 82 West to Montgomery
I-65 North to Huntsville

Clermont to Perry: 190 Miles +/-

Perry to Eufaula: 200 Miles +/-

Eufaula to Huntsville: 275 Miles +/-

.

[ependydad]

Forgot to mention - I need a route and places to stay that are big rig friendly. 42' fiver and 22' truck = 58 1/2' long bumper to bumper! My last trip to Huntsville sent me up the wrong side of the mountain getting to Monte Sano- 2 ugly switchbacks after owning my camper for about a month and only towing a popup before that!

[kaschultz]

Originally Posted by h20ski

I10W to US HWY 231N to Dothan/Montgomery, AL. Stop just north of Troy 200 mile day 2. There is a campground just off of 231. Day 3 231 to I65N to Huntsville, AL about 200 miles. We live outside of Dothan, AL and I always take that route to south FL. 90 % 4 lane and 65 miles per hour.

The campground in Troy, AL is Deer Run RV park.

Have fun

This is pretty much the route I took from St. Austine, FL to Guntersville, AL. I got off 65 in Cullman. I remember 231 as not having much traffic and fruit stands on the side of the road. On the same trip I did drive through Atlanta on my way down to St. Augustine without hitting traffic. I've also flown into Atlanta rented a car and driven to Guntersville without incident. I wasn't pulling a 5er. Personally I think 95 outside of DC south is scary. People flying along at 80-90 mph and suddenly everyone stops.

[h20ski]

Originally Posted by ependydad

H20ski- what is 231 like?

231 is a split 4 lane from I 10 to Montgomery, AL. Dothan is the largest town 26000 people you have to go through (go around the circle), other than Ozark and Troy.

Good road and 65 MPH. About 2 1/2 - 3 hours from I10 to I65 in Montgomery.


Chuckinca

Thanks for fine tuning my directions.

Safe Travels.

[ependydad]

Thanks all. Seems like I've got a route and a few places to stay options. Now just to make the decision on the trip or not.