Florida routing for last leg of BB1500 attempt

[pista]

On my ride down to Florida in mid October I will try and get my IBA # via a SS1000.

My destination is about 1250 miles.

That's 250 more than I need for a SS1000. Why not put the extra miles to good use?

So I'm stepping it up another 250 miles for a total of 1500 and piggy-backing a BB1500 onto the SS1000.

At least I will give it a valiant effort.

The routing for the first 24hrs / 1000 miles has me leaving Cleveland, OH and via Lousville, KY and Birmingham, AL ending up in Tallahasse, FL. I will then get a room for the night.

That looks to be pretty straight forward via Interstate Highways.

I am open for suggestions for the next 500 miles.

It's 6hrs / 420 miles if I head east to I-75 and head South. 80 miles short for a BB1500.

Heading East to I-95 South through Daytona Beach then I-4 through Orlando to 17 South gives me the 500 miles and clocks in at 8hrs.

Appreciate any input or advice.

Thanks, Steve

 

[danh600]

My general experiences with Florida interstates.

I-10 flows the best. Some pretty long sections with no big cities.

I-95 flows pretty well except way down south like Dade and Broward county.

I-75 about the same as I95. Flows OK except rush hour around big cities.

I -4 I try to avoid. It's always bumper to bumper. There are lots of bypasses around Orlando if you don't mind paying

tolls.

 

[Uncle Hud]

I suppose you could take I-75 south to the Turnpike and Yeehaw Junction (yes, that's its real name) and go through Okeechobee to FL 70, but that is some seriously desolate countryside. You'd have tolls on the Turnpike and have to plan gas stops carefully south of Yeehaw Junction, too.

US 17 is slooooooow because it has traffic lights every 1/2 mile, and each little town will be looking at you for a speeding ticket

If you have enough flex in your schedule, traveling at night on this route might work: I-75 ---> Wildwood/Turnpike ---> Orlando/I-4 ---> St. Pete/I-275 ---> Naples. During the day, unforeseen traffic problems on this route (or torrential rain

) could derail your cert ride.

You'd also ride across the Sunshine Skyway at night on a motorcycle: ethereal.

Any convoluted route will require receipts at the corners. The IBA doesn't yet have 100% faith in your Spotwalla trace.

 

[101stpathfinder]

It really depends on where your destination is.

If it is Naples, are you looking for extra mileage before you reach or extra miles after? It also depends on time frame? If you are looking for trouble free "Easy" miles, Dan is correct. I-10 cannot be beat . Many rest stops, few major population areas, good speeds.... Even Tallahassee is off-set and shouldn't slow you down.

More importantly is the time of day. Be prepared for heavy rains for short periods. If you want to do an extra 250, take a look at your route getting here. If you want to burn up an extra 250 on Florida roads for sight seeing- consider night riding. The temp and traffic are favorable!

 

[pista]

Riding over that bridge, avoiding both traffic and downpours sounds great. But I'm not sure how night riding would work for me and it would be another challenge to a long ride I've never done before.

Considering the input so far, it may be easier to grab miles (slab miles) before getting to Florida.

So I mapped out two routes for the SS1000, both ending in Dothan, AL

1. Cleveland > Louisville, KY > Nashville, TN > Chattanooga, TN > Birmingham, AL > Dothan, AL

2. Cleveland > Charelston, WV > Birmingham, AL > Dothan, AL

Then Dothan, AL > I-10 > I-75 to Naples to finish the BB1500 looks like it would be the most favorable route to take.

My destination is Naples so I want to end my ride there as well.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Those are better ideas: put in the extra miles before Florida narrows down your route choices.

Good luck!

 

[101stpathfinder]

For sight seeing I like route #2 better. For success of your ride I like route #1. Have a good ride. Most likely we will meet up at your RTE.

 

[pista]

Thanks for the input!

I was spending a lot of time mapping out routes in Florida, hence my reason for this thread. Getting the miles in before Florida was great advice that I hadn't considered!

Tony, I'm was leaning towards route #1. Your advice confirms that may be the route I should go.

With a possible change:

In your opinion, would it make sense to add 35 more miles while saving 20 min and go all Interstates?

If I take I-65 from Louisville, KY to Pensecola, FL then head across I-10 to I-75 it's actually shown as a quicker route.

That way I'd bypass the jog to Chattanooga, TN of route #1 and the US routes between Montgomery, AL and Tallahassee, FL.

Am I going about this with the correct mindset? Should I try to stay as close to 1500 miles as possible? Or is there an even better solution then what I have mapped out?

 

[STGUY]

I'm late to this thread, but here is my suggestion :

Brooklyn - Knoxville - west side of Birmingham - Atlanta - Naples ( 1512 miles) . You could get some sleep in Atlanta after about 888 miles.

I could pm you a S&T PDF if you would like that.

Jim

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[STGUY]

Here is the Route :

 

[FJRBandit]

Thanks for the input!I was spending a lot of time mapping out routes in Florida, hence my reason for this thread. Getting the miles in before Florida was great advice that I hadn't considered!

Tony, I'm was leaning towards route #1. Your advice confirms that may be the route I should go.

With a possible change:

In your opinion, would it make sense to add 35 more miles while saving 20 min and go all Interstates?

If I take I-65 from Louisville, KY to Pensecola, FL then head across I-10 to I-75 it's actually shown as a quicker route.

That way I'd bypass the jog to Chattanooga, TN of route #1 and the US routes between Montgomery, AL and Tallahassee, FL.

Am I going about this with the correct mindset? Should I try to stay as close to 1500 miles as possible? Or is there an even better solution then what I have mapped out?

Pista -

I am in Birmingham and very familiar with the roads/slab traffic within a 400 mile radius of Birmingham.

Either route #1 or #2 is fine. Especially ending in Dothan rather than Tallahassee as you originally planned. However, Route #2 would be my preference because it avoids more population centers. I-81 down through VA is generally lightly traveled. I-75 from Knoxville to Chattanooga is a little more heavily traveled. Chattanooga to Birmingham has almost no traffic once you hit I-59. You hit I-459 South around Birmingham and miss Birmingham traffic almost completely unless you hit it at rush hour south of town . Then I-65 to Montgomery will be a little more heavily traveled. US 231 to Dothan is a breeze. There are a few small towns with aggravating traffic lights but overall traffic is very light between Montgomery and Dothan. No need to head to Pensacola, unless you just need the miles.

I would definitely avoid Atlanta altogether, especially if planned to be passing through there anytime after 2 p.m. I'm sure the Atlanta contingent would agree.

Good luck!

 

[101stpathfinder]

I ride through Atlanta quite often, I would agree that Atlanta is a concern. I try and ride it at night.

I would not stay overnight there if possible, with traffic and safety being my main concerns.

 

[pista]

I'm late to this thread, but here is my suggestion :
Brooklyn - Knoxville - west side of Birmingham - Atlanta - Naples ( 1512 miles) . You could get some sleep in Atlanta after about 888 miles.

I could pm you a S&T PDF if you would like that.

Jim

Jim, the miles look good on that route but I want to avoid Atlanta at all cost. Also I need to hit 1000 miles for the SS.

 

[JSaul]

Avoid Atlanta at all costs.

 

[LKLD]

I guess it depends on what day and time of day, as I usually get through Atlanta quite easily. Though, I always go straight through, not on the bypass.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Atlanta is a gamble, even on the weekends. Sporting events, Presidential candidate visits, or some idiot causing a crash can instantly change 5 lanes of travel into 5 lanes of parking.

FJRBandit speaks with wisdom, and the miles and miles of cotton fields on US 231 might still be in bloom that time of year.

 

[STGUY]

I'm late to this thread, but here is my suggestion :
Brooklyn - Knoxville - west side of Birmingham - Atlanta - Naples ( 1512 miles) . You could get some sleep in Atlanta after about 888 miles.

I could pm you a S&T PDF if you would like that.

Jim

Jim, the miles look good on that route but I want to avoid Atlanta at all cost. Also I need to hit 1000 miles for the SS.

My plan uses the bypass on the west side of Atlanta and if you left Ohio @ 6:00 am , you would be near Atlanta at about 7:30 pm. Traffic should be acceptable at that time. A receipt at Cordele, GA would be the 1,039 mile mark for the SS1K.