Montgomery AL to Tampa
Google map shows two routes from Montgomery: 1) south on 231 thru Dothan AL OR 2) east thru Columbus GA and south thru Albany GA. which is the easier route pulling 5th wheel? thanks
Forum Discussion
- what Ivylog said!
- 231 is very good, slow thru Dothan, and Deer Run is a good stop over. 19 is 4 lane and light traffic. I don't use the Suncoast Pky. US 41 runs just east of it with no tolls. 98 or 52 will get you to 41. I75 south of the Wildwood junction is under construction all the way to the 54 exit in Pasco Cnty. Just drove it Saturday and it was a mess. I am in Land O Lakes area just north of Tampa. Normally I would cross over to 75 from 19 via Williston great RV Park there for a stop over if you need it. But 75 is a mess as I said above. 98 just South of Homosassa will take you right to 41 at Brooksville and 41 will take you right to Tampa. You can also cut over to I75 on 54 in Pasco. 54 is 4 lane from 41 to 75. Don't get on the Suncoast Pkwy at rush hour. It can be a parking lot.
- On our way to Crystal River, FL from SW Michigan we always take 231 through Dothan and continue on 231 all the way to I-10. In fact, we go right past Anderson, IN along I-69 on our way. I think this route is a bit faster because you're doing I-10 east/west with no stop lights. I will admit that Dothan is a slowdown though.
If you need a nice overnight campsite along the way I'd like to suggest Deer Run RV Park north of Troy, AL. It's inexpensive, paved pads, FHUs, cable TV for under $30/night. Good Sam will save a few dollars too. We often stay here going north and south.
http://www.deerrunrvpark.com/
US-19 is a very good 4-lane road south of I-10. And johnhicks is correct, don't stay on US-19 south of US-98 (too many lights/traffic). Definitely pick up the Suncoast Parkway/589 shortly after getting on US-98. It'll take you right into Tampa. - After years of running to TPA pretty much along this route we have come to prefer and are partial the Columbus 520/82 to Albany--- then GA 133 on the east side of Albany off US 19 (Doe Run, east side of Moultrie, Berlin, Morven) down to I-75 at Valdosta.Nice ride through cotton and peanut farms of south GA.
To us its a bit more direct than the Dothan/ I-10 alternative.The roads we've listed here are all great. The Columbus route seems a bit less hilly- there are a few small rolls from Ft Benning to Richland but nothing of significance).
We've run this route for 40 years- even before the 520 super slick was built. We've made the run down to central FL along this way with motorhomes (x3), TT's (x2), a TC and a fiver. We like the ability to hit the large commercial pull offs along the way in Columbus, Dawson, Albany, and Moultrie. Look for fresh pecans - I would use 231 to 84 to 27 to I-10 briefly. 19 south to 98 to Suncoast parkway. Majority are 4 lanes and 25 miles shorter.
- Don't be tempted to go through Tallahassee if you go that way; pass to the north on I-10.
US-19 from I-10 all the way down to Homosassa is perfectly fine four-lane with very little traffic until you get to the Crystal River / Homosassa area but it's not heavy traffic; just south of Homosassa you can jog over on US-98 and pick up the Suncoast Parkway down to Tampa. It's a toll road but not all that expensive. Do _not_ go any farther south on US-19.
I don't see any reason to go all the way over to I-75 with it's insane drivers. - Toss-up!
Both are acceptable. - They're both about the same. Both are going to take you to 75. Have about the same number of towns to navigate. Don 't remember any two lane roads either way. Been both ways many times.
