Headed to Key West next month. Will be stopping in Tampa to visit my buddy's friends. I-10 over to Tallahassee. We will probably overnight somewhere near Tallahassee. Would you take I-75 or Hwy19/98 down to Tampa? Is 19/98 scenic, slow? Where to stop for the day? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

19/98 for sure. you don't hit traffic until State road 50. Cedar Key, Crystal River are both a nice stop.
Depending on where in Tampa you can cut east off 19 and ride down 41 or 301

 

Agree stay off I-75 all you can they drive crazy on that road. 19/98 is a nice ride.

Shaun

 

19/98!! Stop in Homossassa at a place called The Freezer, best steamed shrimp anywhere!!!! Follow 98 back to I-75 and go south past Bradenton/Sarasota area( 60 miles or so) and then jump off somewhere.....

 

Thanks for the suggestions. Change in plans. We are not staying in Tampa, but at a camp in Weeki Wachee west of Brooksville. This appears to an hour or so north of Tampa. I think we will hit 98 maybe at Panama City and head down. Try to get a room somewhere on the road.

I guess when we leave Weeki Wachee, right now on Sunday morning, we will hit I-75 somewhere and head south. Had planned to hit 41 south of Naples. I am looking at not trying to get to KW that day, but maybe try to get a room in Kay Largo or somewhere. Since we are starting north of Tampa, we are thinking it would be a LONG ride to get to KW.

Your thoughts? Any recommendations for reasonable rates in Key Largo or would you suggest another location?

 

KW is 8-9 hours from Tampa. I'd caution you about going down on a Friday and coming back on Sunday as the road going through the keys will be a parking lot.

 

Keep us posted on when you will be coming down. I'll meet you at Crystal River HD and take you to the Freezer.

 

Thanks for the awesome offer Pat. I think when we come through there we will be wanting to get on to Weeki Wachee. I think they have a lot planned there, BBQ and playing on the boat. We are also thinking about staying there Sunday and then leaving Monday after the traffic dies some that morning. We are not going to try to get to KW that day, but probably stay in Key Largo. We are going to finalize our plans Monday. Thanks Bill, but we are not going down on Friday or coming back on Sunday.

Maybe try to stay our first night in Carrabelle, FL.

 

Ive made Key West from Fort Meyers in a day going across Tamiami Trail and making numerous stops--depends on riding styles -my wife loves to take pics so we stop more than the norm---stop at Alabama Jacks while in Key Largo[Card Sound Road]

 

Key West from Ft. Myers is a GREAT day ride. As interstates go, Alligator Alley isn't a bad ride...might want to plan your gas.
Tamiami Trail is much more "rustic", more interesting for sure, not going to be as fast and btw is a LOT more dangerous for motorcycles. Seems whenever someone is taking their time, and a line of cars forms behind them there's always somebody who has to floor it at the first (even vaguely) acceptable opportunity to pass, jerk their car out into the oncoming lane and try to get by as many as possible all at once. After the accident, that driver will usually tell FHP something like.."OMG officer...I didn't see that bike coming towards me when I pulled out to pass". When I ride that road....I make it a habit to flash my headlight a few times hi-low-hi when I see one of those lines of cars coming towards me.