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. 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?

 

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)

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

"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.