quickest way to southwest florida?

like everyone else in florida on wednesday, i'm going to be hitting I4 for my trip to grandma's for thxgiving.

are there any quick ways to southwest florida? or any good bypasses to get past all the I-4 and I-75 traffic?

You could take 27 south to 80 and head West.

Fly. Sorry, I could not resist. :D I drive my wife nuts. I only wish there were more airports in FL. I would never drive anywhere.... I4 sucks!

Where are you going specifically?

We're heading to Fort Myers. I go I-4 to CR557, pick up 17 on the north side of Winter Haven, take that to Arcadia, go west a couple of miles on 70, run south on 31, to 80, 80 over to I75, then south 10 miles on I75 to their house. On a good day, with decent traffic, and no stops, it's three hours, door to door. Of course, it's "season," so traffic is a bit heavier than in the summer.

I'm seriously considering getting up at 6am on Thanksgiving, and heading down then. I'm not sure I want to fight the Wednesday traffic.

going to cape coral actually

first i gotta go to tampa to pick up my sister, then we're heading to cape coral.

would taking the tami-ami trail be a good idea? i know some places its nothing but 4 lane highway in the middle of nowhere. what is the number name of that road?

would taking the tami-ami trail be a good idea? i know some places its nothing but 4 lane highway in the middle of nowhere. what is the number name of that road?

I work in a metro area of Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and it's absolutely congested almost all the time. Avoid 41 if you can.

if you have to go to tampa, I4 is the most direct route i believe...i live in tampa and am on 75 alot, its 4 lanes wide, and open road as far as i can see everytime i have been on it..from tampa i can be in port charlotte in about 1:15 (6th gear is bliss)

Where are you going specifically?

We're heading to Fort Myers. I go I-4 to CR557, pick up 17 on the north side of Winter Haven, take that to Arcadia, go west a couple of miles on 70, run south on 31, to 80, 80 over to I75, then south 10 miles on I75 to their house. On a good day, with decent traffic, and no stops, it's three hours, door to door. Of course, it's "season," so traffic is a bit heavier than in the summer.

I'm seriously considering getting up at 6am on Thanksgiving, and heading down then. I'm not sure I want to fight the Wednesday traffic.


how is 17 going down there?

it seems to run through the relative middle of nowhere all the way to i-75 at punta gorda

I have traveled every back road all over this state.... if you have to hit Tampa, the only viable route will be the I-4 and 75 route. Any other route will cause both delay and a longer route mileage wise. If you didn''t need to hit Tampa, there are a few other ways.

I have traveled every back road all over this state.... if you have to hit Tampa, the only viable route will be the I-4 and 75 route. Any other route will cause both delay and a longer route mileage wise. If you didn''t need to hit Tampa, there are a few other ways.
yea i'm looking at the map now

i have to go to sarasota, which i guess is just south of tampa, and there are like no back roads going in that direction.


i remember the last time i had to down that way, I-4 wasn't as horrible as i was expecting but I-75 was stopped for a very long time.

yea i'm looking at the map now

i have to go to sarasota, which i guess is just south of tampa, and there are like no back roads going in that direction.


i remember the last time i had to down that way, I-4 wasn't as horrible as i was expecting but I-75 was stopped for a very long time.

Yes there are, they are just too small to be on a regular map. Those roads would merely slow you down.

i have to go to sarasota, which i guess is just south of tampa, and there are like no back roads going in that direction.

Where in Sarasota?

Hwy 301 goes from as far North as Hwy 50 and ends right at Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.

Right before 301 comes into Sarasota, it's not crowded at all.

Having traveled 301..... the interstate will still be quicker.

Where in Sarasota?

Hwy 301 goes from as far North as Hwy 50 and ends right at Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.

Right before 301 comes into Sarasota, it's not crowded at all.
"new college" is where she's going to school

some sort of ultra liberal hippie school ... i'm fairly certain she's being trained to hate men and hug trees

"new college" is where she's going to school

some sort of ultra liberal hippie school ... i'm fairly certain she's being trained to hate men and hug trees

LOL, New College is the state honors college of FL. I've seen some of the students that go there and I agree with you.

The fastest way to get to New College from I-75 is to get off at University Parkway, turn left at the light right after you exit the interstate and take University Pkwy until it ends at Tamiami Trail where you'll see Ringling Museum, New College is about 500 yds. to the right.

some sort of ultra liberal hippie school ... i'm fairly certain she's being trained to hate men and hug trees...whereas you came up with that narrow-mindedness all by your wittle self. Aw, how cute!;)

I4 to I75 is your way. Be prepared to sit in the "black hole" of traffic from Disney to 27 in Polk county on I4, for over an hour. Today, I would expect 2.5-3 hours to Sarasota.

I'm driving tomorrow, 7am.

:lol: i saw this thread again and remembered my trip and hearing the good news all over the radio...you musta had a fun LOONNGGGG ride down there.

:lol: i saw this thread again and remembered my trip and hearing the good news all over the radio...you musta had a fun LOONNGGGG ride down there.
actually traffic didn't really suck

slowed down a few times, came to a hault for a few minuites once or twice, but otherwise we made good time.

hell, i made it to tampa in 1.5 hrs


sucked for those going north on 75 though, went past some road FHP had closed the road on the northbound side, like 3 news stations had their news crews there, and the traffic was backed up for AT LEAST 10 minuites while going about 85mph in the opposite direction, had to of been like 15+ miles.

i came back saturday night though, was a breeze.

hmm, might been northbound i was hearing then...i know everyone from 75 in one direction got routed to 41 and then back to 75. my buddy took 9 hours to get from pt charlotte to st pete.

yep that was northbound. i saw the backup, no kidding we were going the opposite way for about 10-15 minuites at 80-85mph and saw nothing but stopped cars.

there were at least 3 news crews on the bridge above where it happened (laurel street?) but i never did see what happened.

it was just a ****ty day to travel...when i got on the road around 5pm it was ok, then once 275 and 75 merged i hit heavy ass rain...once i got to about 75/91 it let up...but all what you said you saw coming northbound was what i saw going southbound, and all the way through i10 it was like bumper to bumper, and little traffic going norht, buth the heavy rain making us go 35 or so sucked...then the jackass big rig drivers didnt help.