<font color="blue"> "I live pretty much dead center of the state ( State College, Pa.)" </font>
Aha. I guessed that from your reference to I-81.
We own a mountain cabin in NW North Carolina about 45 miles off I-77, so we've made the southern end of that trek (I-77 to I-26 to I-95) over 100 times. We've had several occasions to revisit the Harrisburg area starting from our cabin, so we've made the northern end (I-81) a half-dozen times. A couple of times, when we had plenty of time and no need to hurry, we've also come back South on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway -- absolutely lovely if you don't mind an average of 30 MPH.
Interestingly, I just asked Delorme Street Atlas to plot the quickest route from State College to Ocala, and it picked the I-81/I-77/I-26/I-95 route! Guess I wasn't too far off! Details are I-99 to I-70 to the Maryland line, 522 and 37 to I-81 at Winchester, I-81 to I-77 to I-26 to I-95, then I-10 out of Jacksonville to 301, and 301 to Ocala. I honestly didn't know the map software would pick the identical route that I suggested! The map software shows 1015 miles and a time of 18:05 hours. The halfway point is probably around Charlotte, NC.
I inserted a "via" on I-95 just south of Washington, DC, and forced the Street Atlas software to go that way. It shows 14 minutes longer (18:19), with mileage at 989 -- 26 miles shorter. I think I'd avoid Washington, also, unless I had a good reason to go that way.
{Edit} If you absolutely hate I-95, once you reach Columbia, SC, you can go south on 321, then pick up 301 in a little town of Ulmer, SC and take it all the way to Ocala. We've taken 321 from Columbia to Savannah dozens of times, and the time is about the same -- you avoid the extra distance of the interstates, but lose it in the small towns. We've done the 321/301 to Jacksonville a couple of times, slower, but lots of fun. The map software shows it as saving 3 miles and adding about 2 hours.
