Driving to Jacksonville FL what is the best route...

[Tour]

from Birmingham? I have some tell me go to Atlanta then south on 75 until you hit I 10 then east ( quickest ). Others say go to Montgomery then 231
to Dothan then to I 10. Another way is take 280 till I 75 to I 10. ( shortest).

 

[CrimsonJag]

I'd got 65 South and head towards Columbus, GA. Not sure of the direct directions, but that's what I used to do going home to Jacksonville from T-Town. Been a few years, though.

 

[derek4tide]

from Birmingham? I have some tell me go to Atlanta then south on 75 until you hit I 10 then east ( quickest ). Others say go to Montgomery then 231
to Dothan then to I 10. Another way is take 280 till I 75 to I 10. ( shortest).

If you take 280 it'll slow you down, you have to brake for farm animals. And the stench will kill ya.:driving:

 

[twjua]

When I lived in B'ham and would come down to Fla, I would go 65 to Montgomery, then you get off there and make your way over to highway 231. Take that all through Troy and Dothan and down to 10. Head East. You will get in FSU traffic, which could be fun. Now i'm not condoning speeding, but I use to fly on I-10 back in college and after.

But thats how I use to go.

 

[InsaneMustang]

I live in t-town, last year on my way to gainsville I went up to atlanta, around atlanta on 295, then south on 75 to 1-10 (I stayed in Jacksonville)

We had a perfect trip - highways the whole time. And being in birmingham that way is easy for you too.

 

[MOBILE-BAMA]

Going through Troy, Dothan, etc. is PURE HELL. I'd avoid that at all costs. I used to drive Tallahassee to Tuscaloosa and unfortunately I had to go through those towns. If you can get interstate, I'd go that route

ps. I know this doesn't directly answer your question, but when you're heading East on I-10, the stretch from Tallahassee to Lake City, there must be 30+ state troopers. Make sure you keep an eye out for those guys. They will all bunch up and take down 5 or 6 cars at a time. Every one drive carefully

 

[FAN4EVR]

Personally i've made that trip several times and I have never had any trouble going 231 all the way through Dothan and hit I 10 straight to Jacksonville.

 

[Probius]

Google maps shows the best way from B'ham to Jacksonville is to take I-20 to Atlanta then take I-75 south all the way to Florida where you will take I-10 east to Jacksonville. It says the trip is 7 1/2 hours, but they always overestimate a bit. Maybe 7 hours or so. I like to keep interstate so I don't have to slow down or stop, just hit the 'ole cruise control and go.

 

[BocaLance]

I read an article today about all the expected fan traffic heading through Dothan this week (Auburn going to Fla., UA going to Jax.) I would probably try and avoid the heavily congested Hwy 231 to I-10 route and go to Atlanta to I-75 to I-10 (ALL Interstate.)

 

[CornBiscuit]

Dothan is by far the best route. After you get to I-10 you can fly all the way to Jacksonville. The only city if Tallahassee.

 

[dayhiker]

I checked MS travel planner with interstate set to 78, 4 lane divided to 70, and other roads to 60. It said B'ham to ATL to I10 then east. Mileage = 491, drive time = 6:40.

 

[BAMMAR]

South till you smell it. East till you step in it.

 

[JeffAtlanta]

What are the speed limits on the state highways? I usually try to avoid those at all costs because they tend to be speed traps.

Unless a person is going through Atlanta at the height of rush hour, I-20 to I-285 to I-75 should be the safest speeding ticket wise. Pretty much the only part that isn't 70mph is the 285 stretch, which means a person should be safe driving 80 the whole way.

 

[GA Bamafan]

From B'ham:

280 to Hiway 80 to 96 to 75. 80 & 96.

 

[TiderInTally]

Unless you live in the Wiregrass, stay off of Hwy. 231 (from Montgomery south to I-10) if at all possible. We drive this route practically EVERY week from Tallahassee to Tuscaloosa, but only because it's the least of several evils. Getting through Montgomery on 231 (to/from I-65) is a pain, especially during the weekday, and it doesn't get any better after that. There are several large towns and small cities (Ozark, Troy and Dothan) along the way. All have police depts., and Dothan, in particular, is a nightmare - 231 is THE road everybody takes (apparently) to get around the town. Through-traffic will just make this worse.

Plus, there are lots of rural county sheriffs (in addition to State Troopers AND Highway Patrolmen AND city officers) on I-10 between 231 and Jax that prey on lead-footed tourists. You've been warned.

My advice is to stick to the interstates:

- I-20 towards Atlanta. There isn't really any "good" way to get through the ATL. On Fridays, traffic starts picking up at around 3:00, peaks at about 6:00, and tapers off to "normal" insanity levels at about 7:00-8:00. If you can, time your trip to avoid the city completely between 4:00 and 7:00 (don't forget to add an hour for the time change). If you can't, when you get close, turn on the radio, look at your map, and listen for which routes to avoid. There are basically two choices:

(1) I-20 to the I-75 interchange downtown, or
(2) I-20 to I-285 South ("the Perimeter" in local lexicon), to I-75 South.

Whichever one you choose will depend on local conditions. Personally, I prefer the more direct downtown route, especially in the afternoon/evening. Downtown traffic may be horrendous (and it is, during the workday at least), but it keeps moving at a good clip, for the most part. Not for the faint of heart, though. By contrast, I-285 is usually a parking lot in the afternoons, clogged with commuters trying to get home.

- Once you clear Atlanta, continue South on I-75 , which will shoot you out onto I-10 near Lake City, FL.

- I-10 East to Jax.

RTR, and I'll see you there!

 

[TDBama78]

here is your route. any route through atlanta is going way out of the way you gain nothing but extra miles. take 65s to montgomery,231s to dothan,84 to bainbridge,ga 27 to tallahassee, i-10 to jax. i travel for a living and this is byfar the best route. 84 from dothan to bainbridge is good road and you can cruise pretty good so dont get the idea to go on south on 231 to i-10 you wont gain anything but more miles. ,,,,,,,one morewould be togo hwy 82 from mont. thru eufala to i 75 to i-10. 1st rt. is your best bet.

 

[Isaiah 63:1]

There's only one best way, really

1)Head east on 20/59 from downtown.
2)Take the airport highway exit.
3)Park at the terminal.
4)Catch Southwest Airlines nonstop from BHM to JAX.
5)In the holdroom prior to boarding, check to see if Kyla Ebbert is flying with you. She isn't, but there are probably others of interest. Open seating has its advantages.
6)Look down from 37000 feet at everyone else schlepping various backcountry routes to JAX in their cars.
7)Order a drink and congratulate yourself.

The energy you save by not driving, you can expend by yelling during the game. The extra pro-Alabama crowd noise just might make the difference.

 

[Bamatonez]

When I lived in B'ham and would come down to Fla, I would go 65 to Montgomery, then you get off there and make your way over to highway 231. Take that all through Troy and Dothan and down to 10. Head East. You will get in FSU traffic, which could be fun. Now i'm not condoning speeding, but I use to fly on I-10 back in college and after.

But thats how I use to go.

This is the FASTEST way to go. I've been this way, and through ATL, Go this way...

BTW, Don't forget to get a parkin pass!!!

 

[TideFaninFl]

Yes, the 231-to I-10 is the way I go...the only tight spot you will have is the I-10, I-75 interchange..... stay to the left, and you should avoid some traffic.... leave early, Friday if you can.....