Driving - Sanford to Hampton Lakes

[davealsop]

Hi,

We're off on our hols on Sunday and I was just wondering whether anyone had any advice on getting from the airport to our villa.

I've driven in the US only once before (9yrs ago) but had my brother with me who was a very good navigator and we got around no problem. This year my missus will be navigating and I'm a little more apprehensive (considering one year she was directing me from York to Ripon and we ended up on the way to Middlesborough!).

I'm quite confident that once I get to the villa I'll be happy enough getting to the parks and back but its just that initial run from the airport to the villa that's a little concerning as:-

9hr flight + me tired + wife navigating + two tired & grumpy kids may = allsorts of fun and games...

I've looked on Google Earth and have a decent idea of where I need to be and in what direction I need to be heading but in reality I won't have that birds eye, top down view to help me so was wondering if anyone had any tips, advice on the easiest way to get there.

We're heading from Sanford and need to be at Hampton Lakes which is on Highway 27.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

[steph_goodrum]

I use an online map service for directions for my guests and they seem to be pretty good. Havent driven from Sanfor but have been led to believe its just further up the 417 that mco. You can start the directions from Sanford.

Directions from A to B:
1: Start out going SOUTH on S FRENCH AVE/US-17-92/US-17 S/US-92 S toward W 14TH ST. Continue to follow US-17-92/US-17 S/US-92 S. 2.2 mi Map

2: Take the SR-417 S ramp. 0.3 mi

3: Merge onto FL-417 TOLL S/CENTRAL FLORIDA GREENEWAY (Portions toll). 16.4 mi

4: Take the SR-408-TOLL W exit, EXIT 33B, on the LEFT toward ORLANDO. 1.6 mi

5: Merge onto FL-408 TOLL W/EAST-WEST EXPY (Portions toll). 6.3 mi

6: Merge onto I-4 W via EXIT 10A toward TAMPA. 25.0 mi

7: Take the CR-532 W exit, EXIT 58. 0.5 mi

8: Merge onto CHAMPIONS GATE BLVD. 0.8 mi

9: Turn RIGHT onto RONALD REAGAN PKWY/CR-54/LOUGHMAN RD. 2.1 mi

10: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-27 N. 2.5 mi

11: Turn RIGHT onto McFee Drive

Estimated Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Estimated Distance: 58.77 miles

[CERICROWLEY]

Dave

Owners on here, will always give you the driving directions to their home, did you ask the owner of the home for specific directions. I always give road names junctions, turning, and a visual map of the turn by turn directions. Check out an online map service as well. that is where I got my directions from that I give to my guests.

[davealsop]

Many thanks for the help!

Unfortunately I had already booked the villa through a well know UK Tour Operator before I came across this site so I'm not dealing direct with a villa owner.

Dave

[CERICROWLEY]

This is the way I direct guests I avoid the I4 as it can be busy at rush hour
Directions from A to B:
1: Start out going SOUTH on RED CLEVELAND BLVD toward AIRLINE AVE.

2: Take the GARAGE PARKING ramp.

3: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto AIRLINE AVE.

4: Turn RIGHT onto E AIRPORT BLVD.

5: Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the SR-417 S ramp.

6: Merge onto FL-417 TOLL S/ CENTRAL FLORIDA GREENEWAY (Portions toll).

7: Take the OSCEOLA PKWY exit, EXIT 3.

8: Turn RIGHT onto W OSCEOLA PKWY.

9: Turn LEFT onto INTERNATIONAL DR S.

10: Turn RIGHT onto W IRLO BRONSON MEMORIAL HWY/ US-192 W/ W VINE ST/ FL-530 W/ SPACE COAST PKWY W. Continue to follow W IRLO BRONSON MEMORIAL HWY/ US-192 W/ FL-530 W/ SPACE COAST PKWY W.

11: Merge onto US-27 S toward HAINES CITY.

12: Turn LEFT onto MCFEE DR (Gate access required). Pass through 1 roundabout.

dont forget that you will need change of about 10 dollars for the 417 toll road and it would be better to have coins as one of the toll roads as you come off the 417 is unmanned.

[gail and david roberts]

Dave
you will get your second wind once off the plane

we have done the Stanford Drive down lots of times
and its not as bad as it seems
you could always hire a sat nav from the car company
when you pick up your car.
Good luck and enjoy your stay [msnsmile2]

[donny]

why not get your wife to drive and you do the navagating!

[davealsop]

Thanks to everyone on here for their posts with directions and also the private messages I received. In the end I managed ok and did get that second wind when getting off the plane. I really enjoyed the driving (which was helped by the fact we had a pretty much brand new SUV on hire) and I don't think we got lost once!

And for the record, we actually didn't end up in Hampton Lakes - when I reported to the Tour operator desk to get my villa keys I was told that we had been upgraded due to some maintenance issues with the villa we were supposed to get. We ended up in the Reserve in Legacy Park which was very nice.

I just can't believe it's all over![msnsad] I'm back at work and the only memories are our 586 photos.... I hope it's not as long til we can afford to go back again.

Thanks again to those who helped.

Dave