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User Content => Road Trips => Topic started by: tidecat on January 31, 2015, 10:10:56 PM

Title: Louisville, KY to Ocala, FL
Post by: tidecat on January 31, 2015, 10:10:56 PM
There is an event I want to attend in Ocala on a Saturday night (February 28).  What I was planning on doing was driving to Chattanooga Friday evening, then from Chattanooga to Ocala on Saturday.  After the event on Saturday, I was planning on driving back to Valdosta to spend the night.  On Sunday I would drive back to Louisville.

Any suggestions on routing? The biggest decision point seems to be whether or not to go through Atlanta or go around it.  It's been about 13 years since I've been to Atlanta, but I have driven both I-285 and I-75/85 before.


iPhone
Title: Re: Louisville, KY to Ocala, FL
Post by: Alps on February 03, 2015, 05:57:10 PM
For a Saturday or Sunday, I wouldn't think taking 285 would be necessary. Google suggests an interesting variant on I-65 to I-75 that you might consider for one of the days: TN 29-111-52-51, KY 163-90. A few minutes longer, 30 miles shorter, and maybe a nice change of pace.
Title: Re: Louisville, KY to Ocala, FL
Post by: hbelkins on February 03, 2015, 08:31:31 PM
For that matter, taking US 150 out of Louisville to Mt. Vernon is an interesting drive. Most of it is improved, so you'd make good time.
Title: Re: Louisville, KY to Ocala, FL
Post by: NE2 on February 03, 2015, 08:33:32 PM
Every U.S. Route is not only improved but hard surfaced.
Title: Re: Louisville, KY to Ocala, FL
Post by: slorydn1 on February 04, 2015, 12:41:26 AM
I just did the stretch from just south of Louisville KY on I-65 from I-265 to I-75 in Chattanooga this past weekend as part of the western edge of a large lap around Appalachia and even though there are several work zones traffic was pretty decent all the way through KY and TN.

There is a real PITA stretch about 15 miles long just north of Bowling Green where the left lane of I-65 southbound is sent over to the northbound side, and the right lane traffic stays on the southbound side.

The southbound traffic that is now on the northbound side goes through several spots where there are Jersey barriers set very close to the lane on either side. Going through there at 60 mph gives one the sensation of flying an X-wing down the trench of the Death Star-if you flinch just this much you'll be bouncing off of concrete in nothing flat, LOL.

Back in my younger days when I lived in the Chicago area we would do our yearly Miami trip every Christmas break. The stretch of I-24 from Manchester TN, up over the Monteagle grade down to Chattanooga has always been my favorite part of the trip. We would always go straight through Atlanta on I-75/I-85 (the beltway always seemed just as congested as the mainline so the extra mileage just didn't seem to make sense).


I am not sure how it is there now, I have only been through Atlanta once in the 25 years I have lived in eastern NC and that was back in 2010 when I went to my son's basic training graduation at Ft Benning. I do seem to remember that although the traffic was extremely heavy (it was about 4pm on a Thursday) it was flowing at about 45 mph through the heart of downtown.
Title: Re: Louisville, KY to Ocala, FL
Post by: I94RoadRunner on March 23, 2015, 03:31:25 AM
I usually take I-10 west through Tallahassee and then turn north along US 231 at Marianna to Montgomery going on my yearly road trip between Minneapolis to Tampa. Then run I-65 the rest of the way to Louisville. Of course being a baseball player as well mandatory to stop and buy at least one bat for the upcoming season while in Louisville!