We will be headed back to Ohio in early April from Florida. We have 2 routes close to same time/distance. First is I-75 and alternate is I-95 to I-26 to I-77 to Cleveland. I-75 is more direct, but I hate the heavy truck traffic on it. We are going from Ft Myers to Marblehead, Ohio. Also considered angling northeast and taking 321/301 to Charlotte then I-77. So here’s the question? Any thoughts on potential traffic on these routes? We will be on the road April 8-10. Not sure what to expect with all this Covid stuff. Thanks, Jim

The roads have seemed to be like a ghost town so would be surprised if you saw traffic anywhere.

You decided to ignore all the requests to stay put? Why?

As I still drive out that way fairly often (and was over there yesterday) ...I-75 through Dayton: Very few cars, a few service vehicles, and LOTS of trucks. Even more trucks than usual, I think. Same on I-70 in IN and OH.

We have found, over 19 years of traveling down to Florida and taking several different routes, that I75 all the way worked best for us. It is all good smooth pavement and not too many construction areas anymore.Barney

Not quite the same route, but some overlap. A week and a half ago we drove from Panama City Beach over to catch the I-95 to avoid Atlanta and thought of overnighting in Georgia. Traffic from the point where we got on the I-95 up to Santee SC where we ended up stopping for the night was brutal; hours of stop and go, with The Great Migration going on. The next day we opted to grab the 26 and I-77 up to the I-81. Traffic moved well on the 26 and I-77. The I-81 got pretty busy in PA as well.Also, campgrounds were full so I'd suggest booking ahead if you plan to stay in one.I hope this is helpful

Snowbird returning to Ohio | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

jcsb
Explorer
Mar 28, 2020
A friend of ours returned from south of Tampa to just north of Cincinnati earlier this week.

Travel thru Atlanta was easier than he has ever experienced and usually he goes thru on a weekend.

No real issues in Cincinnati other than some construction. Per local news travel times during rush hour the lowest in 20 years.

Construction in to Columbes still a mess, take the outer belt.

Have a safe trip
magicbus
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2020
jimwooster wrote:
magicbus wrote:
Lwiddis wrote:
You decided to ignore all the requests to stay put? Why?
Don't jump to the conclusion everyone has a choice. Where we are staying, when your rental expires you are out on the street as the owner is honoring leases that are in place but closing units as people leave. Rather than be homeless we will be returning to our home in New England. As much as I would like to beam us all home that isn't going to happen, so we too will be hitting the road taking the I-81 route to avoid the major cities.

Dave

Thanks Dave
In response that’s exactly what’s happened! So driving on the highway, sleeping and eating in the camper and filling up at truck stops will jeopardize our/others health. Thanks for being judgmental “majicbus”!! Been if FL for 4 months and need to go home. Your the first person on the blog I’ve ever had respond this way!

Maybe you need to go reread my post before you start judging people. I am in EXACTLY the same boat as you and NEVER mentioned you being a health risk to others.

As for judgemental, the only judgemental thing in my post was for LWiddis who seemed to think everyone has a choice.

Dave
Mayor30
Explorer
Mar 28, 2020
If you've never driven I-75 around Atlanta,you're in for a treat. About as bad as the Baltimore-Washington beltway.
jimwooster
Explorer
Mar 28, 2020
magicbus wrote:
Lwiddis wrote:
You decided to ignore all the requests to stay put? Why?
Don't jump to the conclusion everyone has a choice. Where we are staying, when your rental expires you are out on the street as the owner is honoring leases that are in place but closing units as people leave. Rather than be homeless we will be returning to our home in New England. As much as I would like to beam us all home that isn't going to happen, so we too will be hitting the road taking the I-81 route to avoid the major cities.

Dave

Thanks Dave
In response that’s exactly what’s happened! So driving on the highway, sleeping and eating in the camper and filling up at truck stops will jeopardize our/others health. Thanks for being judgmental “majicbus”!! Been if FL for 4 months and need to go home. Your the first person on the blog I’ve ever had respond this way!
dedmiston
Moderator
Mar 27, 2020
magicbus wrote:
Don't jump to the conclusion everyone has a choice. Where we are staying, when your rental expires you are out on the street as the owner is honoring leases that are in place but closing units as people leave. Rather than be homeless we will be returning to our home in New England. As much as I would like to beam us all home that isn't going to happen, so we too will be hitting the road taking the I-81 route to avoid the major cities.

Dave

In the past few weeks worth of posts, this is really the most interesting issue that I've seen over and over: the closures.

The closures are supposed to prevent all of us who are at home from hitting the road and traveling, but it ignores all the people who are in the parks already.

What are you supposed to do if you're:
Traveling on a trip already
Snowbirding
Fulltiming
Permanent

Where is everyone supposed to go and how are they supposed to get there?

I agree with shutting down reservations and bookings, but I disagree with booting everyone out of their camps and parks.
magicbus
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
You decided to ignore all the requests to stay put? Why?
Don't jump to the conclusion everyone has a choice. Where we are staying, when your rental expires you are out on the street as the owner is honoring leases that are in place but closing units as people leave. Rather than be homeless we will be returning to our home in New England. As much as I would like to beam us all home that isn't going to happen, so we too will be hitting the road taking the I-81 route to avoid the major cities.

Dave
dedmiston
Moderator
Mar 27, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
You decided to ignore all the requests to stay put? Why?

It happens.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Mar 27, 2020
Moved to Roads and Routes forum from 5th wheels.
JJnLilly
Explorer
Mar 27, 2020
With the Covid around traffic is down all over. We live near Canton and do the 75-301-95-26-77 from Zephyrhills home. The campground at the Charlotte Speedway was still open and a good spot to stop
sblackb7
Explorer
Mar 27, 2020
S Carolina Parks are not taking any new reservations as of today until May 7. You can only camp if you already have a reservation! You may want to check other states at this time.