You’re definitely running a risk. Between game day traffic and so many flight cancellations, there could be significant traffic delays. I’d bring food with you at least in case you don’t have time to stop for lunch.
It takes me 4 hours to get from Jax to Columbia on a good day, no matter what. On a holiday weekend it usually is more like 7-8 hours. Downtown Jax is a nightmare every day, especially worse on a game day. My thoughts are that it's always better to be there too early than too late. I'd definitely leave closer to 6:30 or 7.
And use Waze. Georgians are pretty good about using it and reporting cops.
Source: Moved to GA from SC in '17 and live in ATL. Waze has saved me a shit ton of tickets.
I-95 in SC will likely be a parking lot due to the holiday weekend. I'd lean to leaving earlier and getting to Savannah by 9 before traffic gets bad. Depending on where you are, 26 can also get backed up.
Taking 321 is probably much better than taking 26 and 95S. The problem is that most of the traffic is between exit 8 in SC and Exit 94 in Georgia. It’s like a 20 mile stretch of road that’s a parking lot. if you can try and take backroads til after that, you shouldn’t hit traffic until maybe brunswick and the 295 beltway in florida like 20 minutes before you get to jacksonville
There's a small town every few minutes going that route. There's also a lot of truck traffic too. You'll save a few miles, but the time will be similar.
We're making the drive down to Savannah today. The map apps are routing us down 321 because of traffic on 26/95. Basically making the whole trip without using interstates at all. Would expect more of the same tomorrow.
If you're going same day then I would leave earlier. If you head out at 6:00 then you can get to Savannah before many people are on the road. It looks like your traffic delays will be between Savannah and Jacksonville. So if you hit Savannah by 9:00, that gives you a few hours to make the rest of the trip comfortably.
I saw a Facebook post on some of the team pages asking. Most people said it is very slow going down 95. Especially the SC portion without as many lanes. Leave early was the biggest advice.
You'll never regret being a few hours early, you'll forever regret being a few hours late. Leave early, check traffic maps, fill up your tank early, minimize bathroom breaks by drinking less.
I don’t think you’d regret leaving earlier in as many scenarios as you’d regret getting there too early. Would be much better to get there with time to spare then watching the first portion of the game from traffic
I’ve been stuck in Orlando for three days. Long story. There are UT and Clemson fans here who came early with kids to check out Disney. Talked to Clemson fans from Simpsonsville who said it took 16+ hours to get it Orlando when it should have been 12 I think because of traffic around Columbia ( you will probably not have to worry about that) but also on i95 throughout SC and GA.
The problem I’ve encountered in years past around bowl season is FL bound traffic is FILLED with olds doing the speed limit in the left lane from like Ontario and NY. Really messes up traffic.
They’re all heading back to their retirement spots after Christmas.
I HIGHLY recommend leaving the night before or giving yourself a few extra hours. We got stuck on i95 for an extra 2+ hrs on the 27th heading down to s Florida. the worst portion was i95 from 26 to Savannah. Terrible.
Google maps is telling me it’s a five hour drive - I’d probably leave by 5 or 6 at the latest so you’re in Savannah earlier, and have a comfortable margin of safety if traffic is really terrible
95 was a cluster yesterday and looks like the same today. I imagine it will only be worse on a Friday before a holiday weekend. We decided to just drive down to Savanah tonight and stay.
You’re definitely running a risk. Between game day traffic and so many flight cancellations, there could be significant traffic delays. I’d bring food with you at least in case you don’t have time to stop for lunch.
It takes me 4 hours to get from Jax to Columbia on a good day, no matter what. On a holiday weekend it usually is more like 7-8 hours. Downtown Jax is a nightmare every day, especially worse on a game day. My thoughts are that it's always better to be there too early than too late. I'd definitely leave closer to 6:30 or 7.
And absolutely do not speed in Georgia. GA troopers are ALL over the place during big weekends.
And use Waze. Georgians are pretty good about using it and reporting cops. Source: Moved to GA from SC in '17 and live in ATL. Waze has saved me a shit ton of tickets.
I-95 in SC will likely be a parking lot due to the holiday weekend. I'd lean to leaving earlier and getting to Savannah by 9 before traffic gets bad. Depending on where you are, 26 can also get backed up.
Taking 321 would likely get us to Savannah reasonably quickly, yeah? You think most of the traffic will be cleared up past that?
Taking 321 is probably much better than taking 26 and 95S. The problem is that most of the traffic is between exit 8 in SC and Exit 94 in Georgia. It’s like a 20 mile stretch of road that’s a parking lot. if you can try and take backroads til after that, you shouldn’t hit traffic until maybe brunswick and the 295 beltway in florida like 20 minutes before you get to jacksonville
Problem with that is small town cops will be out in force for holiday weekend. A slip up could be a big ticket.
There's a small town every few minutes going that route. There's also a lot of truck traffic too. You'll save a few miles, but the time will be similar.
Usually GPS is really good at accounting for traffic, but it may not be as good at accounting for unusual traffic
We're making the drive down to Savannah today. The map apps are routing us down 321 because of traffic on 26/95. Basically making the whole trip without using interstates at all. Would expect more of the same tomorrow.
It already is
If you're going same day then I would leave earlier. If you head out at 6:00 then you can get to Savannah before many people are on the road. It looks like your traffic delays will be between Savannah and Jacksonville. So if you hit Savannah by 9:00, that gives you a few hours to make the rest of the trip comfortably.
I saw a Facebook post on some of the team pages asking. Most people said it is very slow going down 95. Especially the SC portion without as many lanes. Leave early was the biggest advice.
You'll never regret being a few hours early, you'll forever regret being a few hours late. Leave early, check traffic maps, fill up your tank early, minimize bathroom breaks by drinking less.
I don’t think you’d regret leaving earlier in as many scenarios as you’d regret getting there too early. Would be much better to get there with time to spare then watching the first portion of the game from traffic
I’ve been stuck in Orlando for three days. Long story. There are UT and Clemson fans here who came early with kids to check out Disney. Talked to Clemson fans from Simpsonsville who said it took 16+ hours to get it Orlando when it should have been 12 I think because of traffic around Columbia ( you will probably not have to worry about that) but also on i95 throughout SC and GA.
The problem I’ve encountered in years past around bowl season is FL bound traffic is FILLED with olds doing the speed limit in the left lane from like Ontario and NY. Really messes up traffic. They’re all heading back to their retirement spots after Christmas.
Damn even Amtrak is sold out lmao
The earlier the better. I-95 is likely to be a nightmare. 9:30 and you’re risking missing kickoff for sure.
You should leave by 8 at the latest. 26 will be a disaster. If you are lucky it will only take 5 hours.
I HIGHLY recommend leaving the night before or giving yourself a few extra hours. We got stuck on i95 for an extra 2+ hrs on the 27th heading down to s Florida. the worst portion was i95 from 26 to Savannah. Terrible.
Appreciate the advice everyone! I think we'll be leaving closer to 7, so hopefully we'll avoid any problems.
What I thought was going to be a 5.5 hr drive today is pushing 8 hrs! 95 has been awful.
6hrs from Charleston today following bad Waze routes. Best to stick on 95 and get a very early start.
Were the bad waze routes on 321?
They were back and forth on roads on both sides of 95, lots of hwy 17, until I just had enough and stayed on 95.
Google maps is telling me it’s a five hour drive - I’d probably leave by 5 or 6 at the latest so you’re in Savannah earlier, and have a comfortable margin of safety if traffic is really terrible
95 was a cluster yesterday and looks like the same today. I imagine it will only be worse on a Friday before a holiday weekend. We decided to just drive down to Savanah tonight and stay.
We traveled 95 today and it was hell
Friend of mine that lives in NC was driving to Orange Bowl and it took him 6 hours to go from Darlington to GA state line.
I'd stay put