Interstates clogged with traffic going to Fla. for Spring Break?
 

Hi. We are trying to make a last minute decision whether to drive from Richmond, VA to Florida over Spring Break, which is April 3-11. We are interested in seeing St. Augustine & driving to swim with the Manatees in Crystal River. Is this a mistake? Will we hit constant traffic jams and horrible crowds of people? Should we just wait for summer? THANKS

We live in Florida, and I actually think the summer would be worse. As long as you don't do Disney or Daytona, you should be fine.
St. Augustine and Crystal River should not be a problem--both not known as a spring breaker's hangout.
I think you'd like the weather much more in April than in the summer.

Let's look at some facts.

First, spring-break activities go from the Texas coast to Key West.

Second, the time period is not a constant for all schools. It can spread over a few weeks.

Third, much spring-break travel is by air.

Possible crowds? Certainly. Check with the CofC in the area where you're visiting and see if they expect spring-break traffic. Then check lodging availability.

Use that info, along with common sense, to make your decision.

Thanks to you both!
Linda

As stated, you are not going to spring break areas-but-the interstates get people from all over.

There are alot of Nbound campers and cars with the winter residents returning home (yea), too many trucks, as usual, and SBers.

But all in all no worse than other areas are all the time. Come on Down!

You really don't have much choice, but be aware that I-95 from the SC border southward can be a nightmare of congestion. Only helpful suggestion I have for dealing with it is to leave as early in the morning as you can possibly stand.

Try to drive over night or very early in the day to avoid alot of traffic on I-95; Bookhall, most spring break travel (college kids) isnt air travel. Its 4-5 piled up in cars haul tailing it down the interstate to somewhere warm. By April, most colleges spring break is over. Just watch out for the cops in SC esp in the lower portion near GA border.

Is Easter week not the most popular Spring Break week? Thanks

linda...No it is not..Most colleges spring breaks are shceduled anywhere between March 1 and March 31, most popular time mid month...

Thanks!
Obviously my week (April 5) is SOMEONE else's Spring Break, because everything is full!

Canada's (at least speaking for Ontario) spring break was anywhere between March 8 - 19th. So most who headed down just for the school/spring break are back.

alot of kids (K-12) do have spring break around Easter holiday, prob see alot of mini vans on 95.

OK it wasn't the E. Coast and it wasn't I95, but one of the worst drives of my life happened a few years ago when I headed from Chicago to Knoxville (area) TN. Didn't really think about the fact that I was embarking on Good Friday. I have never seen so many vehicles on a road...almost all of them RV's or towing trailers. It was as though someone had pulled the plug and all of the upper Midwest was just siphoning southward. And in pouring rain. It was a gruesome drive.

So I think I'll stay home on Good Friday! (or else in church!)

Would someone please tell me when I-95 isn't a traffic nightmare? I've traveled on it thousands of times during all hours of day and night and have never seen it not crowded.

GoTravel:

Around 4:00 am on a Saturday morning, near Ft.Lauderdale; almost no traffic - and that was my luck - because otherwise I would not have been able to avoid the imbecile druggie yahoo that decided to enter the highway on the wrong side and then did an U-turn a few yards in front of me!

(Happened two weeks ago)

Sometimes I think everyone on earth is jammed into traffic on I-95 betweeen Richmond, Va & Wash. DC. Makes me want to move to Montana.