snail
south west Florida
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Joined: 08/22/2003
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Any comments appreciated about the best route from the Fort Myers, Fl area to Birmingham, Al. We usually take I75 to I 10 then west to US 231 north from the Mariana, Fl area to I 65 and on to Birmingham. Sometime we run I 75 to Atlanta and I 20 to Birmingham. I was recently told a better way is to take US 82 through Georga to Columbus then US 280 on to Birmingham. Any comments as to which is best.
We drive a 38 ft dp and tow a Ranger.
Thanks for your assistance.
DRIVE A 2001 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR WITH 330 HP CUMMINS AND TOW A RANGER 4X4. TRAVEL WITH SPOUSE AND PET TINKER BELL OUR CORGIE.
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agesilaus
North Florida
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I've done all three, Columbus and beyond on the secondary roads can be mighty slow.
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Cheddarhead
Northern Wisconsin
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We drove across 82 last fall in a small van and I did not care for it at all. I would not want to pull my 5er accross it. In Alabama it was like an average county road in places. It seemed like it took forever to get to I-75 and we were still in Geogia.
The year before when we went down, We went down through Dothan on 231 to I-10 and caught 19 just east of Talahassee and followed that down to Chiefland and then took 27 over to Ocala to I-75. That was a nice drive and quite a bit was 4 lane that was uncrowded.
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beagledoc
North Carolina
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Unless they have recently fixed it, I-20 east of Birmingham is one of the roughest stretches of interstate I have ever pulled our rig on.
* This post was
edited 05/22/08 05:49am by beagledoc *
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firecoach
Orlando, FL
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75 to 82 then to 280 did this with my 30' TT and will be doing it in my 40' DP in about a week and half. Roads are not bad and while you have traffic lights it's not bad.
2003 Newmar 40' Dutchstar, 2008 Jeep Liberty with a Roadmaster all terrain with blue ox base plates using a Air force 1
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LarrynBarb
NE Kansas
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Joined: 01/15/2005
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If you are not in a big hurray and enjoy seeing some interesting places and beautiful scenery, here is another suggestion.
We recently drove our 39' coach with an Explorer Spot Track toad and went from the Port Charlotte area up I75 all the way to Ocala. Then we got off the interstate and took highway 27 northeastward. We went all the way to Perry. Then we took Highway 98 and followed it down and along the coastline. This is really a very pretty and relaxing drive along the shore. Carabelle, Eastpoint, Apalachicola are great little towns to visit.
We had been forewarned in advance that this area from Apalachicola to Pensacola would be absolutely overwhelmed with all of the spring breaker party goers and that it would not be advisable to go that direction.
Must say that it was crowded at that time but it was not at all infested with unruly heavy crowds. This entire area was fabulous and very pretty and interesting to see.
You would probably want to go northbound from the Panama City area on Highway 231 and cross over into Alabama.
Just another option to consider.
We'll definitely go that way again soon.
Larry
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snail
south west Florida
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LarrynBarb wrote:If you are not in a big hurray and enjoy seeing some interesting places and beautiful scenery, here is another suggestion.
We recently drove our 39' coach with an Explorer Spot Track toad and went from the Port Charlotte area up I75 all the way to Ocala. Then we got off the interstate and took highway 27 northeastward. We went all the way to Perry. Then we took Highway 98 and followed it down and along the coastline. This is really a very pretty and relaxing drive along the shore. Carabelle, Eastpoint, Apalachicola are great little towns to visit.
We had been forewarned in advance that this area from Apalachicola to Pensacola would be absolutely overwhelmed with all of the spring breaker party goers and that it would not be advisable to go that direction.
Must say that it was crowded at that time but it was not at all infested with unruly heavy crowds. This entire area was fabulous and very pretty and interesting to see.
You would probably want to go northbound from the Panama City area on Highway 231 and cross over into Alabama.
Just another option to consider.
We'll definitely go that way again soon.
Larry
Your right, we've taken that same route and love it. Actually most of the time we do run up 27. We really like St. George Island and that area. Lots of great seafood and laid back area.
thanks, think we'll just go up 231 like usual.
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Ky Danny
USA
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We took the scenic route home from Ft myers this year. We got on Veterans Expressway 589 in Tampa near the airport. It's a fairly new road so you need a recent map to find it. It turns into Suncoast Pkwy (toll) Where it connects to US 19/98. We took 98 along the coast but you could take 27 from Perry to I-10. The only downer is the tolls are pricey if you have more than two axles.
DW: "Honey, How did we get to be so old?"
DH: "Lucky I guess, it sure beats the alternative"
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BEVAR
Lake Worth, FL
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I am doing just that today. I drove thru Bham to Montgomery on 65, bailed onto 82 to 231 and am now in Bainbridge GA for the RON.
The roads in MGM and BHM are absolutely awful. Even down to speeds of 30 MPG we got beat to death so bad the water heater sprung a leak and some shades in the back came loose.
I went up 75 to ATL and then over and it was just great. That's what I will do from now on for ever.
Beave
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