Syracuse NY to Tampa FL

John S. wrote:
66 to 17 to 95 avoids the traffic.

This is the route we take to Myrtle Beach. Great route. But, going all the way to Florida, we find 81 to 77 best.

66 to 17 to 95 avoids the traffic.

3x 81 and 77. Tampa on the west coast. Avoid the DC area.

From your side we've used 81,66,17 to 95 to go south, brings you out to 95 at Fredericksburg, Va. Use an entirely different route from our side of the state. As far as stops, we've used South Fourty, Petersburg, Va, RVacation, Sleepy Bears, Lumberton NC New Green Acres, Walterboro, SC Savannah Oaks, Savannah Ga and Lake Harmony in Townsend Ga, all nice spots with easy access from 95. If you need an early stop on 81 at Lebannon, Pa is Lickdale just before the 78-81 junction.

Bill

Since we are further east, cannot comment on I77 vs I95. We have found the easiest/quickest between Richmond (I95) and Syracuse is I81 to I66 east to US17 south to I95. Take I295 around Richmond. This way you avoid the DC traffic. I have driven around Richmond many times and only once or twice encountered traffic, and that was due to an accident.

I've never had luck finding much of anywhere to stay between Syracuse and Harrisburg, so that might be your longest haul. Places we have stayed and would stay again include Western Village in Carlisle PA, Falling Waters WV, Candy Hill Winchester VA, RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads at Roanoake Rapids on 95 (Passport America), Bass Lake Resort Dillon SC (also PA), McIntosh Lake Townsend GA, Coastal Georgia RV Resort Brunswick GA, Crooked River State Park St Mary's GA, Walkabout Woodbine GA (also PA).

Another alternative is to travel from Syracuse to Corning, then US15 south to pick up I81 near Harrisburg which might add 20 miles to the trip. We decided to travel this route this summer to try the COE campground in Tioga PA.


We have had good luck mapping out the route and checking out campgrounds on rvparkreviews.

richmond hill Ga. Savannah South KOA, Walterboro SC, New Green Acres RV park, Ashland Va, KOA Richmond, Jonestown Pa, Jonestown KOA. all of these are pretty close to the highway and easy on easy off with pull thru sites available. We have also used Walnut Hill KOA in Stauton Va. not quite as close to Highway but still good. Hope these help.

i think the route is 295 and it is a beltway around richmond(much like the one in wash) since we were on a sunday the first time i was not as worried about traffic. coming back was a thursday so we took the loop around the city--the signs were good and i think the mileage was almost the same(within 5 miles)

I've driven by myself a few times over long distances like that where the objective was 'just to get to my destination' and what I'd do is pretty much be on the road 24 hrs but I'd stop at Wal-Mart or rest areas every few hours for food and rest and during the night catch 2 or 3 hours of sleep before getting on the road.

Everyone is different but this works well for me and I can probably drive a good 16 hours / day like that. If I try to drive non-stop and then stop for the night, I don't think I can do much more than 10-12hrs / day.

As far as 95 vs 77, my vote is for 77. We decided to do 95 at XMas because we were worried about snow in the mountains along the 77 and really regretted it when stuck in heavy traffic on the 95.

balfre1946 wrote:
My not cross over from I 81 at I 64, I 77 seems miles out of the way??

According to Google Maps, Syracuse to Tampa via I-81/I-77 is 1305 miles and the I-81/I-64 route is 1358 miles.

My not cross over from I 81 at I 64, I 77 seems miles out of the way??