Anything but I-4

[vet51]

Hi everyone, I hope this is the right spot for this question. We travel to Florida from upstate NY every year but we normally fly. This past winter we traded in our park model bought a 2016 Sunseeker so we could travel and see the country. In March we took it to St Augustine and the Orlando area. As many of you know I-4 from I-95 to Orlando is a construction nightmare. We used the toll roads as much as we could on the fly but we still spent a lot of time on I-4. What is the best route to take to avoid as much (or all) of I-4, we have a sunpass for the RV already. I saw what I thought might be an alternate route to Orlando (we're staying at FT Wilderness) from I-95 before we reached the I-4 exit on our last trip. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Darugs]

Originally Posted by vet51

Hi everyone, I hope this is the right spot for this question. We travel to Florida from upstate NY every year but we normally fly. This past winter we traded in our park model bought a 2016 Sunseeker so we could travel and see the country. In March we took it to St Augustine and the Orlando area. As many of you know I-4 from I-95 to Orlando is a construction nightmare. We used the toll roads as much as we could on the fly but we still spent a lot of time on I-4. What is the best route to take to avoid as much (or all) of I-4, we have a sunpass for the RV already. I saw what I thought might be an alternate route to Orlando (we're staying at FT Wilderness) from I-95 before we reached the I-4 exit on our last trip. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Every time we go to Disney, I mention to the DW about taking routes other than I-4. We watch Google traffic and 90% of the time end up staying on I-4 because it still is faster. Went in July and September and found the construction minimal and tolerable. Typically, do not even slow down except on the return trip at the I-4/I-95 merge. Construction through Jacksonville is another story - take I-295 (beachside) and save your coach from the worst roads in Fla.

We go to WDW/FW 4-6 times a year, have a SunPass, and come from coastal SC in a motor coach.

[KansasFR3]

I think I would try this route.

I used to live in Daytona Beach area and would travel out 92 out to DeLand, then over to 44 heading westbound across central FL to avoid the whole Sanford area where it seems to bottle up on I4. Been about 10 years since I've been back through that area, but I'm sure its still bad. This route might be a little longer, but I bet its less stress, which I tend to favor nowadays.

Also, if you want to avoid Daytona and break off a little further north, US40 heads west out of Ormond Beach towards Gainesville. And coming south down I95 into FL, may want to look into US301 or 17/19 across central Florida. Link to that route.

[CarpeDiem]

We go to Orlando frequently to see the grandkids. I heartily agree that the I295 east (to Beaches) is longer but 100% better than going through Jacksonville. I4 is getting a little easier each time we go. I wouldn't worry about it.

On another note I here they have a completion date for the I4, sometime in 3012.

[GL1800Rider]

I have lived in Florida 50 years and this is how I would go to avoid I-4 and it is all 4 lanes minimum. Going toward Jacksonville:

I-295 West toward the airport
I-10 West
US 301 South
State Road 326 West just North of Ocala
I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike
Turnpike South to US 27 South to the beginning of Hwy 192 which will take you right to Disney.
There are tolls on the Turnpike but you are getting off at the 3rd exit so it won't be too bad.

There will be a little bit of congestion on 301 going thru the town of Starke but not bad.