The first exit along northbound Interstate 75 in Alachua County is Exit 374, Junction Alachua County Route 234 east to Micanopy and U.S. 441. The next exit is approximately ten miles north of here (Exit 382, the first Gainesville exit). Throughout Alachua County, Interstate 75 has six lanes of travel; the third lane in each direction was added in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This was done largely to accommodate increased traffic volume, especially during the winter when many "snowbirds" vacation in Florida from the colder climates of the Midwest and Northeast. Photo taken 01/16/04.
Northbound Interstate 75 reaches Exit 374, Junction Alachua County Route 234 at a diamond interchange. Use Alachua County Route 234 west to connect to Alachua County Route 10B en route to Marion County Route 320 and Alachua/Marion County Route 329 south to Flemington. Photo taken 01/16/04.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 382, Junction Florida 121/Williston Road southwest to Williston and Lebanon and northwest into Gainesville. Northeastbound Florida 121/Williston Road connects immediately to Florida 331/Williston Road, while Florida 121 turns north along SW 34th Street. Use Florida 331 to skirt the southeastern edge of Gainesville and to connect to Florida 20 and Florida 24. Use Florida 121 to enter downtown Gainesville. Florida 121 is part of a much longer route. Leaving Gainesville, Florida 121 continues northeast through Gainesville to Lake Butler and Macclenny before entering Georgia upon crossing the St. Mary's River. Georgia 121 continues north through Hoboken, Blackshear, Surrency, Reidsville, Metter, Millen, Waynesboro, and Augusta in Georgia, before connecting to South Carolina 121 via Saluda, Newberry, and Chester. The northern terminus of South Carolina 121 is Interstate 77/U.S. 21 in Rock Hill. The numbering of this route is suspiciously like a U.S. route derivative of U.S. 21, but it is not an official U.S. route. U.S. 121 is the planned designation for the Coalfields Expressway in Virginia and West Virginia. Photo taken 01/16/04.
Continuing north, the second Gainesville interchange is Exit 384, Junction Florida 24 east to downtown Gainesville and southwest to Archer, Bronson, Otter Creek, and Cedar Key (an island in the Gulf of Mexico that is home to Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge). A diagonal route, Florida 24 originates south of Florida 26 and ends north of Florida 20 at its junction with U.S. 301/Florida 200 in Waldo. Through Gainesville, Florida 24 follows Archer Road, SW 13th Street (cosigned with U.S. 441), University Avenue (Florida 20), and Northeast Waldo Road. Use Archer Road/Florida 24 northeastbound to reach the University of Florida at Gainesville. Photo taken 01/16/04.
The third Gainesville interchange is Exit 387, Junction Florida 26/Newberry Road to West University Avenue. This interchange is a partial diamond interchange, with no exit from Interstate 75 southbound. All other movements are permitted, including accessing both directions of Interstate 75 from Florida 26. Florida 26 extends from U.S. 19-27A-98 in Fanning Springs with U.S. 441 in Gainesville. It is notable that neither U.S. 27 nor U.S. 41 directly serve Gainesville; U.S. 441 is the only U.S. highway to serve it. This is an anomaly in a state that is flush with U.S. routes. Gainesville is like the Los Angeles of Florida in this regard. Photo taken 01/16/04.
The final Gainesville interchange is Exit 390, Junction Florida 222 east to Gainesville. Florida 222 is a 14.25-mile long state route that serves the northern areas of Gainesville, connecting with Interstate 75 at a recently reconstructed interchange. It extends as a state route from Interstate 75 at Exit 390 east to U.S. 441/Florida 20 via 39th Avenue. Photo taken 01/16/04.
Northbound Interstate 75 reaches Exit 390, Junction Florida 222/39th Avenue east to Gainesville (diamond interchange). Use 39th Avenue west to connect to Alachua County Route 241/143rd Street. Photo taken 01/16/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 75 is a folded diamond interchange, Exit 399, Junction U.S. 441 and Florida 20 south to Gainesville and north to High Springs (Junction U.S. 27 and U.S. 41). For traffic en route to Fort White, Branford, or Perry via U.S. 27, use U.S. 441/Florida 20 northwest. Note that Florida 20 is not signed; Florida 20 connects Niceville (Junction Florida 85 on the Panhandle just north of Fort Walton Beach) east to Palatka (Junction U.S. 17 and Florida 19). Between Tallahassee and Gainesville, Florida 20 is the secret designation for U.S. 27 (from Tallahassee east to High Springs via Perry) and U.S. 441 (from High Springs southeast to Gainesville). Photo taken 01/16/04.
The last Alachua County interchange is Exit 404, Junction Alachua County Route 236. Alachua County Route 236 extends east to Florida 121 near Santa Fe and west to U.S. 27, U.S. 41, and U.S. 441 in High Springs. Photo taken 01/16/04.
