Riding from Ft. Myers to Key West, then up I-95

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

I am planning to ride in mid/late September from Ft. Myers to Key West to get to my starting point of my first IBA qualifying attempt. My starting point is Key West and ending in Massachusetts. I have tentatively planned to run up I-95 through Florida. I have never been through that neck of the woods and would appreciate any knowledge from the locals as to areas/times of typical congestion or big traffic issues along I-95. Similarly, if you know of alternate routes north that would conserve time, I'd be happy to hear that, too.

I'll take any useful suggestions about riding in Florida Key West that you may have! Cheap but reasonable place to overnight one night, food, etc! TIA!

 

[Randy]

Are you looking to go to Key West to do anything except have it as a starting point on an IBA ride? If you don't really have a need to do Key West (and the relatively slow/boring ride from there to the mainland), and if you're looking to do an all-superslab IBA run, then, you could avoid I95 and venture up 75 towards Atlanta (avoid Atlanta rush hours at all cost) then 85 to Charlotte then 77 towards Roanoke to pick up 81 to get you going north and then you could cut across at various different points depending on where you were going in Mass.

I charted out an easy run up to Boston using this method and it is 1711 miles from Ft Myers to Boston rather than 1654 from Key West to Boston.

 

[El Toro]

I am planning to ride in mid/late September from Ft. Myers to Key West to get to my starting point of my first IBA qualifying attempt. My starting point is Key West and ending in Massachusetts.

Weather... You're planning your run for the thick of the hurricane season. Probably won't be an issue, but when planning for a major iron butt type ride, stuff that is predictable is always good to deal with in advance. How about a run up through the middle of the US, and then loop through Canada, into northern New England, and finally down to MA? You can probably get your desired length without running the route to the Keys twice (modest speeds even without hurricane). An added benefit of the Canadian and northern New England route is that you will pick up some good Fall foliage and changing scenic vistas.

Just a thought.

 

[wfooshee]

Unless you have a reason to go to Key West, like you have to see it while you're in the neighborhood, just head north from Ft. Meyers, stay on 75 to Atlanta, pick up 85 northward. It meets 95 south of Richmond, VA. While you're riding the congestion of 75 through Florida, you'll wonder why anybody would recommend that route. Trust me. 95 is worse!

If you do go to Key West, take the Florida Turnpike north to 75, then continue as above. (Turnpike has way fewer semis.)

And keep an eye on the tropical section of weather.com for a few days prior.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Thanks, I know it is the height of hurricane season, just crazy enough to dare to tempt Mother Nature. I picked Key West just to say I'd been, since I haven't and figured the overseas bridge would be a nice ride. Somebody PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong! My wife will be in Ft. Myers at that time, perhaps that would be just as well if Key West is a pain in the *** and not worth it unless I were flying and staying there. My plan was to take 95 north to I-26 East in SC, then head over to I-77 north to I-81 in Pulaski, VA. Then up to I-84 in Scranton, PA until in Mass.

 

[Randy]

Save Key West for another day. It's only 300 miles from Ft Myers. After you do your IBA ride, you'll think nothing of leaving Ft Myers early in the a.m., trekking to Key West to have a sammich, then head back to Ft Myers.

Which IBA ride are you trying to do SS1000 or SS1500? If you want to do the 1500, Ft Myers to Pulaski, VA to Scranton, PA to Boston, MA is a little over 1600 miles.

 

[squeezer]

Listen to Randy here. Starting in Key West, staying on 95 through Richmond -- both of those things sound like planning for failure. I've been stuck in those places for loooong periods of time that would have knocked me out of any IBA ride. They did, in fact, hurt my rally scores.

Here's one you can do without going too far from home. Then you can visit Key West without stressing about the slow traffic or drawbridges.

New England 1000

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Listen to Randy here. Starting in Key West, staying on 95 through Richmond -- both of those things sound like planning for failure. I've been stuck in those places for loooong periods of time that would have knocked me out of any IBA ride. They did, in fact, hurt my rally scores.
Here's one you can do without going too far from home. Then you can visit Key West without stressing about the slow traffic or drawbridges.

New England 1000

Staying inland to AVOID 95 north of South Carolina. But thanks for the advice.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Save Key West for another day. It's only 300 miles from Ft Myers. After you do your IBA ride, you'll think nothing of leaving Ft Myers early in the a.m., trekking to Key West to have a sammich, then head back to Ft Myers.Which IBA ride are you trying to do SS1000 or SS1500? If you want to do the 1500, Ft Myers to Pulaski, VA to Scranton, PA to Boston, MA is a little over 1600 miles.

Doing the 1500, Randy. Still gotta get those darned FIAMM blasters mounted first, though!

 

[wfooshee]

Listen to Randy here. Starting in Key West, staying on 95 through Richmond -- both of those things sound like planning for failure. I've been stuck in those places for loooong periods of time that would have knocked me out of any IBA ride. They did, in fact, hurt my rally scores.
Here's one you can do without going too far from home. Then you can visit Key West without stressing about the slow traffic or drawbridges.

New England 1000

Staying inland to AVOID 95 north of South Carolina. But thanks for the advice.

You should also avoid 95 south of South Carolina.

Really.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

I got the picture.....stay the hell away from I-95 altogether. Thanks

 

[rockmurf]

When I did the IBA we started in St Pete, down to naples, over to Miami, up to jacksonville, over to Tallahassee and back to st pete. all on major thoroughfares. The key is not to do it during the rushhours and see if you can check on construction on any of the routes. Be sure to bring baggies to keep your receipts and records dry. good luck.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

From looking back at the map, perhaps I-75 to I-85 would be better. Obviously avoiding Atlanta at all cost during anytime near peak hours. I am very familiar with the route I-85 in SC to I-77 to 81 then I-84. Just looking for further suggestions about I-75 through from Florida to northern Georgia. Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[trimmantom]

I did an IBA ride from north of Atlanta to Key West back up 95 to Melbourne.

Do Not Go to Key West to start. You will blow you're time immediately before you start.

They're are a 150 cops in 150 miles from homestead to key west waiting to give out performance awards.

 

[BrunDog]

Nice place to visit, but not good for IBA ride. Everything moves sloooowwwwllly in the Keys. It's a good thing when you want to relax, not so good when you are doing an IBA ride and time is important.

-BD

 

[2wheelingdawg]

if you want to leave Ft. Myers, take 75 - I-10 - 295/95 around Jacksonville. Then 95 to 26. There is ALOT of construction on i-75 in ga. You can go to Ocala, fl and pick up us 301 to jacksonville, but you will make better time 75-10. 301 has a huge amount of truck traffic and MANY opportunities for a performance award in all the towns with Buford t. Justice. I drive a truck and our company routes us the shortest distance. From Tampa to Charlotte it is I-75-us301-10-95-26-77. Our drivers that run from Atlanta to Florida regularly are always bitching about the backups in the construction zones all down 75. Plus it is summer time, and alot of cages on the road returning from seeing the mouse(disney and family vacations). Of course if you leave Fort Myers around 7 pm you should be allright until you get to charlotte around sun up.

 

[2wheelingdawg]

plus if you decide to go through Atlanta, on the weekends half the interstate is shut down on 75/85 in downtown, due to repaving. It is a frigging nightmare on traffic, especially if you are watching the clock.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Thanks dog and dawg. This is one of the many reasons why I love this place. Nowhere else would you ever be able to get such inside information on things. I appreciate the heads up. Looking forward to qualifying, not sitting in traffic or busting the front end in construction zones.

Still open for anyone else's suggestions/road knowledge for route planning between Florida and Charlotte, NC!

edit-thanks trimmantom!

 

[yowser]

I agree with the rest, avoid Key West.....I went from Palmetto, Fl.-Emporia Va. and back for 1616 miles on my ss1000, and bb1500. We went 75-10-295-95, traffic was great even around Jacksonville. 95 tore up my back tire because it is grooved for rain dispersion but it was nice when it did rain on us. Sounds like it gets bad around Richmand though. I know 75 is under construction for much of Ga. and there was a bunch of construction on 95.

I would just map out a route and ride it. We had to change our route last minute because we had origionally planned to go through Mississippi, Alabama, Ga, and La. but there were so many bad storms=tornados we decided to go the east coast route.

Any way, good luck, I think I will be getting my IBA cert. back soon as they just cashed my check yesterday!!!!