Driving from Orlando Airport to Gainesville

The drive from Orlando Airport to Gainesville is approximately 120 miles, and typically takes between 2 and 2.5 hours.

On exiting the airport, follow signs for the Beeline Expressway (State Road 528 West). Take the Beeline about 6 miles to the Florida Turnpike (North). If you miss the Turnpike exit, you should stay on the Beeline another 4 miles, then take I-4 (North) 4 miles to the Turnpike. (Both the Beeline and the Turnpike are toll roads.)

Follow the Turnpike for roughly 50 miles to its end, where it merges with I-75. Stay on I-75 (North) for 60 miles until you reach Gainesville.

Leave I-75 at Exit 76 (Newberry Rd, S.R. 26). Turn right and head east along S.R. 26, which at first is Newberry Rd, but after a couple of miles becomes University Ave. About 4 miles from I-75 you will come across the University of Florida campus on your right.

To reach the Holiday Inn-University Center, continue along University Ave to the far end of the campus (about half a mile). The Holiday Inn is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of University Ave and NW 13 St (U.S. 441), i.e., on your left-hand side immediately after you pass through the light.

For a slower (3 hours), but more interesting, journey to Gainesville, leave the Beeline Expressway in Orlando a mile before the Florida Turnpike, at the exit for U.S. 17, 92 & 441 ("Orange Blossom Trail"). Take U.S. 441 (North) through Orlando all the way to the Holiday Inn-University Center in Gainesville. An even more scenic route (also 3 hours) adds a detour through the Ocala National Forest: Follow U.S. 441 for about 35 miles to S.R. 19 (North). Take S.R. 19 past Eustis into the Ocala Forest, switching to S.R. 40 (West) so as to rejoin U.S. 441 in Ocala. If you have time, you might want to stop along the way at Alexander Springs or Juniper Springs.