Our usual route to Florida from southwest Michigan is I-69 to I-65 to Hwy 231 to I-10 to I-75.After encountering construction in and around Indianapolis seemingly on every trip I was wondering if anyone has ever taken back roads around Indianapolis? After checking the map I see a possible alternative. It would be to take Hwy 9 (at Pendleton) to Hwy 31 and back onto I-65 south of Indianapolis (at Seymour).Anyone ever take this route around Indy? How is it?I know it would take longer, even though it looks to be a shorter distance, but is it easier on the nerves?

We've used this but not lately. I have no idea if there is any construction on this route. You'll want exit 222 (new number) off of I-69. It's a diamond shaped exit with a stop light at the top. When getting back on I-65 south at Hwy 50 in Seymour it will be a cloverleaf so you'll pass under the interstate to access the ramp on the right.Just south of Pendleton, 1st stop light south of the High School on the left heading south, Hwy 9 makes a left turn that would be easy to miss if not paying attention.Greenfield is straight through with the usual stop lights.Shelbyville has a circle, If in any RV I would follow the marked truck route. It uses I-74 south for 1 exit to Hwy 44 west back to Hwy 9. It's a bit longer but takes the circle out of play for RV's.

DH recommends taking your suggested route but stay on 31 to Henryville as there is a lot of construction and very rough roads on 65 between Seymour and Louisville.If you remember, he drives for Walmart out of Seymour so he is current on area road conditions.

golfknut wrote:Our usual route to Florida from southwest Michigan is I-69 to I-65 to Hwy 231 to I-10 to I-75.After encountering construction in and around Indianapolis seemingly on every trip I was wondering if anyone has ever taken back roads around Indianapolis? After checking the map I see a possible alternative. It would be to take Hwy 9 (at Pendleton) to Hwy 31 and back onto I-65 south of Indianapolis (at Seymour).Anyone ever take this route around Indy? How is it?I know it would take longer, even though it looks to be a shorter distance, but is it easier on the nerves?If I could I would avoid I-65 all together. To much construction all the way from Indy to Kennedy bridge and on into Louisville. Lane restrictions and all especially near Louisville with the new bridge construction. Suggest I-74 to Cinci and then I-75 south. Good luck.

If you want to miss all of I-65 south of Indy there is another option. Exit 226 on I-69South on Hwy 109 to KnightstownEast on US 40 to Hwy 3South on Hwy 3 to GreensburgSouth on US 421 to I-71South on I-71 to I-265I-265 loop back to I-65.Madison, IN has a new bridge crossing the Ohio River. They built it in place while still using the old bridge for cars. Section by section they dropped the old bridge and slid the new over onto the old pilings.Wait until they get the new I-65 north bound bridge built and use the old one for south bound traffic. OH, yeah their going to take pics of your license plates and mail you the toll charge. I've heard $4-6 for a car. Probably double for a tandem axle trailer.

golfknut wrote:Our usual route to Florida from southwest Michigan is I-69 to I-65 to Hwy 231 to I-10 to I-75.After encountering construction in and around Indianapolis seemingly on every trip I was wondering if anyone has ever taken back roads around Indianapolis? After checking the map I see a possible alternative. It would be to take Hwy 9 (at Pendleton) to Hwy 31 and back onto I-65 south of Indianapolis (at Seymour).Anyone ever take this route around Indy? How is it?I know it would take longer, even though it looks to be a shorter distance, but is it easier on the nerves?65 South of Indy sucks, plain and simple. Your suggested route will have a lot of traffic lights but you won't feel like you are in a parking lot like 65 can be with the construction. If you go that way don't get back on 65 at Seymour as just South of there can be more stop than go. I'd get back on 65 around Scottsburg.

Michigan to Florida | Good Sam Community

oh_boy
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
So a quick question for all you locally in Indy.. I was planning on coming east on I74 from Danville, in 3 weeks, to the 465 bypass and south around Indy to I74 toward Cinci and then south.
Did this once a few years back. Anything major going on there at this time.
Thanks.
john_bet
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2014
oh boy wrote:
So a quick question for all you locally in Indy.. I was planning on coming east on I74 from Danville, in 3 weeks, to the 465 bypass and south around Indy to I74 toward Cinci and then south.
Did this once a few years back. Anything major going on there at this time.
Thanks.
We went that way out to the west last May from I-65. Was in Indy in late Aug. and the I-65/I-465 junction is being reworked. You may find some slow downs in that area. I do not know anything about the rest of the way around to I-74.
golfknut
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
Hmmmmm.....this news isn't very comforting.
Below are comments from a friend who drove from South Bend, IN to Georgia on 9/25. He makes this drive at least monthly. I asked him how this recent drive went.

"From indianapolis to bowling green is all a mess, i averaged under 40 mph for that stretch. It usually takes me 6 hrs to get to bowling green. It took me 8 1/2 hours. I was so exhausted i slept over in Bowling Green. This was thursday 9/25. Definitely the worst it has ever been.
US 31 is great from South Bend until you get to north of Indy. Bypasses southern suburbs of SB and Kokomo.

I will be returning tomorrow and i will be coming back 75 to 74. I'll report on those routes when I return.

I'd rather drive through Atlanta ten times than do I-65 again."

When I asked him why travel was so slow he responded....

"Construction. Lane closures. Stopped traffic. Long stretches of one lane only in Indiana and Kentucky. And it was the middle of the day. Rush hour must be ridiculous."

I assume they are making a push to get construction done before the season ends. I don't know how long the construction season is down there but up here in West Michigan the highway projects are normally done by the end of November. And they plan multi-year projects so that all lanes are open during the winter.

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