mcmckissic

Hi, my husband and two small children are taking a road trip to Florida and Hilton Head Island at the beginning of April and would like some advice/opinions from the great fodorites out there. We love this site and have gotten tons of great advice recently. Here is the deal: we are leaving on Wednesday, March 30th afternoon from Michigan for New Smyrna Beach, FL and we do not have to arrive there, to meet our friends until Friday around 2 or 3 p.m. My original plan after checking out routes and distances etc. on Mapquest and other maps was to take 1-75 down to Knoxville area to I-40 over to I-26 thru Spartanburg area over to I-95 down. On Mapquest, this was their quickest route, not necessarily shortest but quickest route, which is what I want for this trip with two kids under four. I know tell me I'm crazy for not flying but we chose to drive this trip for various reasons, our first time driving down, we usually fly. So, we have tentatively booked near Knoxville for the first night off of I-40, and the second night in Brunswick, GA off of I-95, I got a cheap Priceline deal in Brunswick for the second night so this one I will have to keep. The first one I can cancel though. My question is, is this the best route to take or should we take the I-77 route down like some people are suggesting I do?? I guess it would be I-75 to I-80 over to I-77 thru the Virginia's and thru Charlotte over to I-26 to I-95?? Any opinions on this are appreciated...I want the shortest route, the least time for the kids to be in the car. I have heard that the truck traffic heading down I-75 can be real bad sometimes, especially at night. The first day will be a good chunk of night driving as we are trying to make it to Knoxville that first afternoon/evening. By the way, we are doing Hilton Head for four days the following week on our way back home to Michigan. Thanks so much for your help and for reading my long post!!!

GoTravel

The beginning of April is Easter Break week for many.

I would do whatever humanly possible to avoid I-95 that week. You would be much better off on the other interstates.

Remember, I-95 feeds about 40% of the US population between the metro populations of Miami/Ft.Lauderdale, Jax, Richmond, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philly, New York City, and Boston.

mcmckissic

OK, but since I-95 is the most direct route to New Smyrna Beach, should I take I-75 then over to the East coast??

rkkwan

I-95 in SC and GA is no problem, and not much worse than I-75 on the other side.

BTW, I agree that I-77 is a better route to take than I-75, with much less traffic. More grades, but in a car, that's not a problem.

In fact, it's also also 10 miles shorter between Toledo, OH and Columbia, SC if you take I-77 rather than original plan of I-75/40. And if you punch in those two cities to Mapquest, I-77 is the recommended route.

I know I have been suggesting you to take I-75, but I was assuming you want to stay a night near the Smokey Mountains.

But if you're going straight, then I-77 is the route I'll recommend, not I-75, not I-75/40. I apologize that I haven't suggested this earlier.

GoTravel

I would take I-75 all the way down to Ocala and then take Highway 40 to 17 South to 44 to New Smyrna Beach.

There is no reason to get off I-75 any earlier than parellel to Daytona Beach.

Mapquests advice and route would be adding around 150 miles to your trip.

GoTravel

I must be missing something here.

I-77 goes through neither Michigan or Florida. Why would the OP want to take that route?

Why wouldn't anyone just want to stay on the same interstate for 95% of the trip?

swalter518

Where in Michigan are you located? If in the western part of the state, I would suggest taking I-94 W to I-65 S to I-24 to 75. It's a very easy drive, done it from the Chicago area alot and depending on how late you drive, you could either stop in Louisville, Bowling Green, Nashville or Chattanooga. I'd hate to see you swing way far east if you are on the west side of the state.

rkkwan

Hey, people. Before making wild mileage speculations, please check you map.

Toledo, OH to New Smyrna Beach, FL via I-80/90, I-77, and I-95 is 1,105mi.

Toledo, OH to New Smyrna Beach via I-75 down to I-10 to Jacksonville and then I-95 is 1,116mi.

Toledo, OH to New Smyrna Beach via I-75/40/26/95 is 1,117mi.

Toledo, OH to New Smyrna Beach via I-75 all the way to Ocala, and then FL40 over is 1,118mi.

So, all mileage difference among these routes are all minimal. The question is which one is fastest, and best - best meaning least traffic, least curve, most opportunities for lodging, etc...

There is no one choice.

I-77 has more grades and curves, and you have to go through suburbs of Cleveland, and through Charlotte.

I-75 means Cincinnati, most truck traffic, grades in KY. And if you stay on I-75 south all the way, Atlanta is never fast to go through/around. Still further south, FL40 means non-freeway ride, and going through Ocala, FL.

But if one goes East from Knoxville on I-40, there's a portion of I-40 that's curvy and sometimes kind of slow.

So, it really depends what's the most important factor for you. For me, I'd do I-77 as that means less truck traffic than I-75, and no Cincinnati or Atlanta.

JJ5

Totally agree with swalter518, as we have done it the way she just routed and also several ways farther eas, as well. This western route is better in nearly every way. I like the Bowling Green area for an overnight stop myself.

If you are farther east to begin with that's different. Knoxville area has some tricky driving, I thought. So many ups and downs that it might be good idea to keep some car sick medicine handy, just in case.

GoTravel

This is my last post on the subject.

It is a holiday week. Stay off I-95 as much as possible.

I-95 is about an hour away from me but our local news does I-95 traffic updates during busy weeks (Daytona Bike Week, Spring Break, Bowl Game Week, Pres. Week, Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, etc) and traffic is horrendous and backed up on I-95 during certain times of day.

Not only is it a feeder from New England to Florida but a major shipping route between some of the most heavily populated metro areas in the US.

Having said that, understanding you cannot avoid parts of I-95, try to drive it very very early in the morning or late at night.

Otherwise, don't say I didn't warn you ahead of time.

mcmckissic

Thanks for all of the great responses. I am definitely on the east side of MI so will have to start out on I-75 thru Toledo but from there we will see. Thanks again and keep the ideas coming.

ThePhan

I agree with the thought to avoid I-95 at all costs that week (and most weeks). Take I-75 south all the way into Florida and cut over going down, then take I-95 going back to Hilton Head (not much choice) to I-26, I-40, and I-75 going home.

I-75 south through Atlanta is not that bad as long as you're not traveling southbound before 9:00 AM. Once in NW Atlanta, take 285 down the westside towards the airport and bypass downtown.