The Real Hawkeye
member
Thinking of moving there for the better gun laws in Florida. Would like to check it out. Is Jacksonville the airport that serves Gainesville? Thanks.
Taking a trip to Gainesville, Florida. Which airport?
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tiberius
Member
Gainesville has a regional airport, but you will probably get a better rate if you fly into Jax or Orlando. Either one will be about a 2 hour drive from Gainesville so just pick the best rate. I grew up in Jax and went to undergrad in Gainesville BTW.
Mulliga
Member
Tiberius is right, though I believe the Orlando airport may be slightly closer (than again, maybe my friends just drive really fast 
).
There is a decent skeet and trap field right by the Gainesville airport - Gator Skeet and Trap, $5 per game of skeet.
Florida gun laws aren't bad. The CCW isn't nearly as bad as some states (just look at all the ruckus in OH), and there's nothing else that's particularly ornery.
).There is a decent skeet and trap field right by the Gainesville airport - Gator Skeet and Trap, $5 per game of skeet.
Florida gun laws aren't bad. The CCW isn't nearly as bad as some states (just look at all the ruckus in OH), and there's nothing else that's particularly ornery.
The Real Hawkeye
member
Looking at a map, it appears to me that Orlando is a lot farther from Gainesville than Jacksonville is. Is it faster driving from Orlando because of less traffic, or something?
tiberius
Member
Are you looking at the location of the airports? JAX international is at the extreme north of the city.
BowStreetRunner
Member
flying to the university of florida to visit my wife-to-be was a hobby of mine before i moved to GA and could drive down there
anyways,
dont do Orlando, its a mess
fly Jacksonville first choice, Tampa second (I know orlando looks a lot closer on the map than tampa, but its not in driving time).....it only takes 2 hours to get from tampa to g-ville, barring any big accidents or anything, and jacksonville aint bad either
BSR
anyways,
dont do Orlando, its a mess
fly Jacksonville first choice, Tampa second (I know orlando looks a lot closer on the map than tampa, but its not in driving time).....it only takes 2 hours to get from tampa to g-ville, barring any big accidents or anything, and jacksonville aint bad either
BSR
"Looking at a map, it appears to me that Orlando is a lot farther from Gainesville than Jacksonville is. Is it faster driving from Orlando because of less traffic, or something?"
Most of the roads between Gainesville and Jacksonville are extreme speed trap cities. AAA rated 301 (on of the roads you can take) one of the worst roads to drive on due to this. Orlando to Gainesville is mostly 70mph speed limit driving where you have to go through cities etc when you go to Jacksonville with speed limits around 30.
Most of the roads between Gainesville and Jacksonville are extreme speed trap cities. AAA rated 301 (on of the roads you can take) one of the worst roads to drive on due to this. Orlando to Gainesville is mostly 70mph speed limit driving where you have to go through cities etc when you go to Jacksonville with speed limits around 30.
The Real Hawkeye
member
Now I'm really confused.
clarkg1124
Member
Looking at a map fails to give you the complete picture.The route from Orlando to Gainesvile is in fact 70mph four-lane,but you pay for that convenience when you exit the Florida Turnpike to go to the airport.The Beeline Expressway is a toll-road,and IIRC there are three toll booths between the Turnpike and the airport.Traffic there is extremely congested,and the road through the airport is very confusing.The airport itself,as you might imagine,is chaos all the time.
As for US301 being a speed trap,only the towns of Lawtey,Starke,and Waldo are heavily enforced.Drive the speed limit and you will be okay.I was at J'ville International a few months ago,and my travel time was 1hr45min each way.
As an aside,TSA security is a lot better to deal with at JI.
Clark
As for US301 being a speed trap,only the towns of Lawtey,Starke,and Waldo are heavily enforced.Drive the speed limit and you will be okay.I was at J'ville International a few months ago,and my travel time was 1hr45min each way.
As an aside,TSA security is a lot better to deal with at JI.
Clark
Daedalus
Member
I don't have anything to add but I am in Gainesville so I feel obligated to post anyway.
BowStreetRunner
Member
whoever mentioned jacksonvilles airport security has a good point
that airport is much better than orlando's for your purposes in my opinion because it is not as much of a zoo as orlando's
(no offense to central floridians who love their airport)
BSR
that airport is much better than orlando's for your purposes in my opinion because it is not as much of a zoo as orlando's
(no offense to central floridians who love their airport)
BSR
0007
Member
Fly to Tampa and drive up I-75 all the way. Should take about 1 1/2 hour on a bad day. I live in St. Pete and and used to allow about 2hrs to Gville. Also driving from Tampa will let you see some of the country - even on I-75. When were you thinking of coming down?
Second the Lawtey/Waldo speed trap warning. Starke was never a problem, but those two are two of the few still actually redlined on AAA maps . Don't have that problem going from Tampa on 75.
Second the Lawtey/Waldo speed trap warning. Starke was never a problem, but those two are two of the few still actually redlined on AAA maps . Don't have that problem going from Tampa on 75.
The Real Hawkeye
member
0007, I just reserved the tickets. Coming into Jacksonville International this coming Sunday at around 4:00. You are too late with your Tampa suggestion. I was actually considering taking a drive to the Tampa St. Pete area too, just to take a look around. I've been there once before, on business, back in the 1980s. Didn't have any time to do any sight seeing, though.
DDGator
Member
Why would you pick Gainesville? Are you looking for something at U.F.?
Don't get me wrong -- I like Gainesville and love U.F. But it is just an oversized college town. I wouldn't live there again unless I was going there to work at the University.
Duane
[email protected]
www.KDHolsters.com
Don't get me wrong -- I like Gainesville and love U.F. But it is just an oversized college town. I wouldn't live there again unless I was going there to work at the University.
Duane
[email protected]
www.KDHolsters.com
0007
Member
If you come across I-10 and get off on 301, just remember to watch for the speed limit signs going into Lawtey. It goes from 55 to 35 in about a quarter mile and then to 25 when you hit the shell station. Same with Waldo. You can take the cutoff at Waldo and go over to Gville. It cuts several miles off the 301-41 route. The turn-off is just before the Waldo overpass. When you see the fence with all the cut-up driftwood you're about a block or so from it.
The Real Hawkeye
member
Someone told me it was rated very highly as a place to live. Most people who live there report that they are very happy living there.
Where do you recommend in Florida that I check out as a place to settle, and why?
DDGator
Member
It seems to me that G'ville was rated by Money magazine as one of the best places to live -- but that was about 10 years ago.
The rating was based in large part upon a lower cost of living, good medical care (Shands), decent crime rate, good access to education (U.F.) and a fair amount of cultural stuff (again, because of U.F.).
I don't know much about you or what you are looking for. Gainesville is a great city if you love the Gators and Gator sports (which I do) and you are younger or young at heart.
Central Florida, however is a lot different than the coastal areas. Its generally hotter in the summer and colder in the winters. Its a long way from a beach or any salt water boating or fishing.
I live in Clearwater and I love it. Big, but not too big. Lots of stuff to do. Great water access for boating and beaches. Very decent cost of living.
South Florida is yet another subject...
Depends what you want. What do you want?
The rating was based in large part upon a lower cost of living, good medical care (Shands), decent crime rate, good access to education (U.F.) and a fair amount of cultural stuff (again, because of U.F.).
I don't know much about you or what you are looking for. Gainesville is a great city if you love the Gators and Gator sports (which I do) and you are younger or young at heart.
Central Florida, however is a lot different than the coastal areas. Its generally hotter in the summer and colder in the winters. Its a long way from a beach or any salt water boating or fishing.
I live in Clearwater and I love it. Big, but not too big. Lots of stuff to do. Great water access for boating and beaches. Very decent cost of living.
South Florida is yet another subject...
Depends what you want. What do you want?
BowStreetRunner
Member
dont be discouraged about Gainesville......I used to dislike it and I now I like it alot, buts its not where the fiance and I want to settle down.....
remember if the college town isnt your thing there is lake city (north) and ocala (south) of gaineville...good luck
BSR
remember if the college town isnt your thing there is lake city (north) and ocala (south) of gaineville...good luck
BSR
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