Best route to Florida in January

i know someone that always uses 81 south to 77 south . I think he said it worked well for him because it stayed away from larger cities.

Im sure others will will confirm it or not.

I use 81 down to I66 and east to highway 17 then onto I95 south at Fredericksburg.

I have not taken the route you have outlined, but I have done 3 different routes since buying a place in Florida back in 2010. My favorite is 81 south to 77 south to 26 east to 95. It can get busy around Charlotte if I hit that section around rush hour, but I've never been hit with back-ups like I've seen on 95. I'll be heading down that way again Jan. 1.

I always go 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. The road south of Harrisburg PA is a nice scenic road with plenty of places to overnight.

Went that way once. Seemed like a long way around with little benefit.

Should be fine, but I95 isn't bad at all if you can time it around the Philly, Baltimore, DC and northern VA traffic. I've never had a problem with traffic on I295.

We live between DC and Baltimore and we usually leave the house around 10 or 11 in the morning to head to Florida. That puts us through northern VA by 11:30 or 12 and around 295 by 12:30 or 1.

Coming home we usually stop at Carolina Crossroads for the night, then leave there around 9 in the morning. That puts us through Richmond by 10:30 or 11 and through northern VA by 12 or 12:30.

We try to miss traffic both ways cause traffic here is HORRIBLE.

spoon059 wrote:
usually stop at Carolina Crossroads for the night,

Do you stay at a campground there?

Terry 25 wrote:
Went that way once. Seemed like a long way around with little benefit.

Depends on where you are leaving from. For us in western NYS, this is one of the most direct routes, and it is a pleasant ride. We have friends that drive west to Rt 79 and then south, which makes no sense to me. We tried it once but didn't like it at all. Not enough places to stop for food, and restrooms. They think we're nuts for going down Rt 15 to get to 81, but I enjoy it. So, everybody eventually finds their own favorite route.

I go that way all the time. Works good for me. I have done the 81-77-26-95 way but it has more hills and kills my fuel mileage.

I don't have a problem with food or toilets, I'm towing a Travel Trailer! That was funny. I go 15 to 29-17 and hit 95 before 12. Going N I wait til 9 to hit Richmond and come N.