Community Forums

Concord · 01-07-2018, 07:04 AM

Having lent out son and daughter in law our rig for relocation purposes last summer and never having retrieved it last fall, we are embarking on a trip to retrieve it from the snow drifts and head south in it for a few months.
I feel confident that my son properly winterized everything. He got it out and started it up night before last.
So, I'll be looking for the smoothest, quickest (least traffic) way (I like playing Charles Kuralt) to Florida... what's new this trip? No set time to be back!

Lakehouse 2 · 01-07-2018, 05:21 PM

Concord, I don't like a lot of heavy traffic or I95 in general so I would look at taking I90 west to I79 south to I70 west to I77 in Ohio and then head south. A word of caution, I90 in NY can get a lot of snow because of "lake effect" from Lake Erie so watch the weather. I90 is usually well maintained when not snowing. It's when the snow is coming down at 2 or 3" an hour that it gets dicey. Once you are 50 to 75 mile south of Lake Erie things usually improve considerably. I like I77 because there just a few cities to contend with. I usually take I485 west around Charlotte as that area always seems to have a lot of construction. At Columbia SC go east on I26 to I95 into Florida.

twinboat · 01-07-2018, 05:31 PM

You can also head south, down I 81, from Syracuse. Gets you away from the lakes.

Pusherman · 01-07-2018, 05:34 PM

Once you get to Rome, NY, pick your way to I81 South to I 75 South. Depending where you're going to (assuming FL) there are other routes from I81, such as cutting over on I64 to I95. I81 will get you south the fastest.

I have taken 3 different routes to FL, I95, I81 to I75, or the I79 route to I77. Don't like the I95 around Washington due to too much traffic, unless you do the I81 to I64 and bypass DC. The I79 route takes you thru the mountains of WVA. This is my least favorite route. Depends on weather. You can go I90 to I75 to the west thru Ohio, and this isn't bad either. And amazing not that far out of the way. Again, check the weather and pick which route will keep you 4 wheels down.

I choose any of the 3 routes dependent on weather. I like the I81 route the best, and then cut down to FL on several routes depending on where you expect to land.

kenandterry · 01-07-2018, 05:47 PM

You didn’t identify where in Florida you’re heading, but....

Given where Rome is in respect to I-81, it’s a no brainer

I-81 South to I-66 East (next part avoids anything Washington)
to Hwy 17 South East to I-95 South (just outside Fredericksburg)
I-95 South all the way to Florida!
What could be simpler.....pretty much the flattest route too.

Hope you have reservations down here

Pusherman · 01-07-2018, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenandterry

You didn’t identify where in Florida you’re heading, but....

Given where Rome is in respect to I-81, it’s a no brainer

I-81 South to I-66 East (next part avoids anything Washington)
to Hwy 17 South East to I-95 South (just outside Fredericksburg)
I-95 South all the way to Florida!
What could be simpler.....pretty much the flattest route too.

Hope you have reservations down here

Did you mean I81 to I64 East to I95 South to avoid Washington? Looks like I66 will drop you right off in DC. I64 gets you closer to Richmond.

Concord · 01-08-2018, 06:46 AM

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll sure consider them when I get there.
Rory

kennyb79 · 01-22-2018, 06:09 PM

i agree with the traffic on I95 south of DC to richmond its terrible, avoid it. you could take 81 to Roanoke and then head south to richmond, and i95 that way. but watch the weather, 81 south gets fog and ice, and even though you are used to bad weather, they really aren't so when it snows in the southern states its terrible driving for all. there is also a "new " highway, from Roanoke down towards Myrtle Beach that was a nice route we drove a few years ago, it wasnt even on the map as a highway then that was very nice

Concord · 01-23-2018, 06:06 AM

Thanks for all the good suggestions! 12 to 8 in NY was a little rough, but once we got to I-81 things went very well. Winter chased us all the way to Florida. We are now in Sebastion inlet in FL, and summer is here! Am posing a picture of shoveling out my rig in the Adirondacks.