Central Florida roads

[CaptainJoe]

Going to take a trip to Daytona for bike week, then Titusville for a launch. After which will head to the Keys in March.

 

Question....

are there any back roads worth riding in central Florida or should I just turnpike it? (from Titusville to the Keys?)

 

 

***** UPDATE! ****

 

Follow this link for info on the

Daytona Bike Week/NASA launch/Florida Keys Ride! :

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/venturerider-regional-rallies/95836-daytona-bike-week-nasa-launch-florida-keys-ride.html

Edited January 27, 2015 by CaptainJoe

[gez]

In my opinion, Central Florida, Lake County in particular, has the best there is in the state for motorcycling. Head into the National Forests and any road that circles the many lakes in that area.

[M61A1MECH]

Going to take a trip to Daytona for bike week, then Titusville for a launch. After which will head to the Keys in March.

 

Question....

are there any back roads worth riding in central Florida or should I just turnpike it? (from Titusville to the Keys?)

 

Maybe a bit of clarification is needed in your question.

Are looking for roads to ride just for the pleasure of riding, or are you looking for an alternate route from T'ville to the Keys that does not involve the Interstate, you would be going a long way out of your way to get to the "Florida Turnpike" from T'ville, I assume you are generically using the word Turnpike for Interstate?

 

To answer your question that I thoink you asked, tere are some North/South roads on th eeast coast other than I-95, but you are not going to get anywhere very fast, US 1 and A1A are one choice, but lots of traffic and slow speed zones, like 35 MPH. There really are no north / south routes west of US 1 or I-95, there are some roads but they go thru housing developments are straight and would not be condusive to motorcycling.

 

If it were me, I would be headed down I-95 to I-75 and what ever is south of Miami.

 

If you think going north and south is tough here in FL, try going east or west.

[CaptainJoe]

Trying to build in one days buffer in case the launch is delayed a day. I need to make reservations in Key Largo and mid keys in the next couple of days.

on I-95 it's 270 miles 4 hrs. by car, so +5 hour ride by bike. Titusville-Key Largo

 

If it goes off on schedule 3/12/15 will need to fill in 24 hrs.

 

couple years back I travelled around the east side of Lake Okeechobee and was mostly looking at a retaining wall 20 feet high.

[CaptainJoe]

Is I-95 as quick (around Miami) as the Florida turnpike?

[djh3]

Although it involves a few toll roads (I personally hate them but some times are best option) look this one over. It gets you west of I95 and probably less traffic and congestion and confusion closer to Miami. Brake Pad is probably best versed in road options in this part ofthe state.

[Daveand Barbie]

When going to the Keys, we always use the Florida Turnpike. It runs parallel to I-95 and the volume of traffic is far less than I-95. It is a toll road, but, in my humble opinion, is well worth the cost in the reduction of traffic and hassle alone. The turnpike, along with what they call the Homestead Extension will put you right on to US1 at Florida City. From there, it is a short drive to Key Largo.

 

We we drive the turnpike all the way from the the far north end(Wildwood) to Florida City. We have a SunPass and are able to not stop at any of the toll stations, which saves a bunch of time and fuel cost as well. At 7mpg, the cost of the toll is offset by the fuel savings(it is 80 miles shorter than going I-75) and the time savings is a plus.

 

In in my opinion, nothing beats the turnpike.

[cowpuc]

I like riding Aligator Alley, camping in the Everglades, listening to the gators crunch stuff all night, checking out the flocks of weird looking birds and seeing BIG fish in the ditches.. Of course,, that would be the long way around for going from Daytona to the Keys but I would do it....

[M61A1MECH]

Dion's route looks pretty good, pick up the Turnpike where it intersects I-95, I was thinking you wanted to go due west from Titusville to get the Turnpike, that would be out of the way, but the Turnpike will get you out to the west side of Miami and be less traffic and probably quicker.

I seldom venture that far south, and forgot that the Turnpike went so far east.

 

Depending on when you in the area, may we can hook up, I am only about 25 milles south of Daytona and 25 miles north of T'ville. Launches are as about as predictable as the weather, often they postpone sometimes several times or for several days, so planning on seeing one if you only in the area for a few days will be a crap shoot at best, good luck, they are mpressive to watch I will say that.

[djh3]

Yea Steve, thats kind of what I was trying to do. Get them over the other side of 95 and out of the Miami "city" traffic.

Will have to say I have seen a few night shuttle launches all the way from over in my place. They are impressive. by the way, what are we shooting up. I didnt know we were launching anything.

[M61A1MECH]

Yea Steve, thats kind of what I was trying to do. Get them over the other side of 95 and out of the Miami "city" traffic.

Will have to say I have seen a few night shuttle launches all the way from over in my place. They are impressive. by the way, what are we shooting up. I didnt know we were launching anything.

 

 

I am not sure what is going up, do not follow it much now that the shuttle is over.

They launched a Space X cargo ship a few weeks back and Saturn 5 last week.

[CaptainJoe]

Thanks Guys,

Will be posting info(a formal invite) on the trip tomorrow...

Just made my reservations for 4 days at Kingsail Resort.

Been a looooooooong day...

 

Info on launch...

launch at Cape Canaveral : Targeted Date: March 12, 2015

 

Mission: Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)

Description: Launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. on an Atlas V 421 launch vehicle, the Magnetospheric Multiscale, or MMS, mission will study the mystery of how magnetic fields around Earth connect and disconnect, explosively releasing energy via a process known a magnetic reconnection.

Edited January 27, 2015 by CaptainJoe

[CaptainJoe]

I like riding Aligator Alley, camping in the Everglades, listening to the gators crunch stuff all night, checking out the flocks of weird looking birds and seeing BIG fish in the ditches.. Of course,, that would be the long way around for going from Daytona to the Keys but I would do it....

 

Yeah...right Puc..

Knowing you, you'd be the one crunching on a fried gator...

(wasn't that in Adam Sandler's WaterBoy movie)?LOL

[BlueSky]

I always use the turnpike. I95 isn't too bad though, multi-lane but traffic is heavier. On the turnpike, on the north end you get a ticket when you get on and pay when you get off. Most of the other toll stops have been eliminated and they photograph your plate when you pass through and mail a bill to you. I drove to FL as far south as Key West during the week of thanksgiving and sure enough, I got a bill in the mail. Much better than having to stop at every booth.

[CaptainJoe]

Thanks Guys,

 

All of this is good to know.

 

It will give us some options depending what happens with the launch.

 

T-minus 6 weeks and counting!

[leo3wheel]

Joe, From Titusville, we can ride south on I-95 to 192W, 441S, 27S, 997S to Route 1. GPS may have a better suggestion for getting to 441S. This way we can avoid the interstate and turnpike around Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

Edited January 28, 2015 by leo3wheel

[CaptainJoe]

Joe, From Titusville, we can ride south on I-95 to 192W, 441S, 27S, 997S to Route 1. GPS may have a better suggestion for getting to 441S. This way we can avoid the interstate and turnpike around Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

 

Hey Leo,

Yes that sounds doable. Trying to get some alterative route(s) and things to see if the launch goes off on time. (we'll have all day Friday and Saturday to fill). We can't check into Kingsail till 3pm Sunday. There's the Everglades park that Cowpuc suggested... sounded interesting to me . Also, when Steve an I rode across alligator ally a few years back, they had airboat rides...I'm thinking that would be... fun.

 

See what you can find out.

 

It's 323 miles from Titusville to Kingsail Motel so... if we had to, it could be done in one day.

[leo3wheel]

Recall from last trip that many of the smaller inland roads are straight and have 65 mph speed limits. So we can still make good time on the smaller roads, if those orange trucks can get out of the way.

[BlueSky]

I drove 997 to Highway 1 at Homestead or Florida City to go to the Keys after crossing the everglades on 41 from Naples at Thanksgiving and it was an interesting road. Just don't even think about getting on #1 north of Homestead towards Miami. Your clutch won't last the trip. Neither will your left wrist!

[Hummingbird]

I didn't read all of the responses but I will say after 22 years of trips to Florida I have learned that most of the roads ARE back roads. You will do your self a favor by staying off the interstates in Fla. and especially stay off State Route 19 on the Gulf coast. From WeekiWachee South is nothing more than a death wish for anyone on a bike on 19

[M61A1MECH]

The big problem with driving on 19 south of Weeki Watchee is not the old folks behind the wheel, it is their parents behind the wheel, you really have to watch out for the blue haired ding bats that is for sure, does not matter if in a car or on a bike, they are out to get you.

[CaptainJoe]

I drove 997 to Highway 1 at Homestead or Florida City to go to the Keys after crossing the everglades on 41 from Naples at Thanksgiving and it was an interesting road. Just don't even think about getting on #1 north of Homestead towards Miami. Your clutch won't last the trip. Neither will your left wrist!

 

Nor would my patience... LOL

was driving rt 1 south of Titusville and after a few miles we had stop and go every block...jumped on turnpike with the crazies...

Edited January 28, 2015 by CaptainJoe

[djh3]

I have rode that 997 from US 27 to Us 1 @ Homestead a lot. first part pretty open swamp until you get to the Indian casino @ us41. Then traffic picks up an gets a bit more congested. All of it 2 lane. Good mexican place there in Homestead something Toros I think.

[XV1100SE]

Road Trippers has info on Florida - https://roadtrippers.com/blog/a1a?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20141228

[BottomFeeder]

From Titusville, you best bet is 95 south to Jupiter exit 87B/SR 706W.

 

When you get to the end of the turnpike, again, pay attention to the signs as the exit lane for US1 South is the right lane. You can stay straight and go on into the Keys. This is a 2-lane road with passing lanes every coupla miles. I hate going this way. I always seem to get stuck behind slow movers that want to speed up when they get to the passing lanes. Also, there's a lot more traffic, and if there's an accident, you're screwed.

 

If you're feeling a little adventurous, You can go about a mile? maybe after getting off the 'pike and you can take the Card Sound Rd. - HWY 905A(left turn). There's a big green hwy sign for it. Right before you get there there's a place called the Last Chance Saloon on the right(I'm just throwing this in as a landmark reference). About 5 miles down Card Sound Rd., on the right is a nice little place called Alabama Jack's. You may have seen some of the Hoda Hoopla on the Today? Show when she was talking about bikers as leather wearing losers. Anyway, this our sort of 'welcome-to-the Keys' stop, in case you feel the need to rehydrate or just have an adult beverage and maybe get something to eat. They have pretty good sandwiches there. There's a toll booth ($1 cash) to continue on. You'll go maybe another 5 miles and get to a stop sign where you either have to go right or left - go right. This my preferred route into the Keys. Hope this helps.

 

Oh, on more thing. If you're looking for a scenic ride while your staying in Titusville, you can go down to Cocoa (US1 S to 520E) and take Brevard Ave. south. Take a left on Church St.(should be second left according to Google Maps). Its a little tricky as you go through a renovated artsy Downtown district for a little bit, and again, you'll have to watch the signs so you don't miss your turn. The objective here is to get all the way east to the Indian River and take Rockledge Dr. south. This a very scenic ride along the Indian River on the left with trees hanging over the road and nice houses on the right. I like to take this ride periodically. Rockledge Dr. will eventually dump you back out onto US1 and you can go south to something that will take you I95, or back to where your staying in Titusville. Enjoy. Any questions, PM me.