Can someone explain the Florida Turnpike system to me? I am traveling from North Alabama to Marathon Florida in early February and the quickest way is supposed to include the Florida Turnpike starting around Orlando. This is predicated to save approximately 2 hours one way. I find the online information rather confusing. It seems the turnpike is not one contiguous system but several regions that you stop at and pay to travel through. It gathered that one could ignore all stops and the regional turnpike authority will send you a bill? Or would that be multiple authorities? I am probably finding this more difficult than it needs to be.

Here's a good resource on paying the tolls.

http://www.floridasturnpike.com/travelerInfo.html

Where there is a manned station, you can pay, where there isn't, you pay by a photo taken of your license plate.

The FLA turnpike is a bit expensive, but it is in good shape, and a fast way to get where you are going.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
Here's a good resource on paying the tolls.

http://www.floridasturnpike.com/travelerInfo.html

Where there is a manned station, you can pay, where there isn't, you pay by a photo taken of your license plate.

The FLA turnpike is a bit expensive, but it is in good shape, and a fast way to get where you are going.

ArtieS, that's what I've been looking at and wasn't sure having to stop 8 times just between Orlando and Miami made sense. I don't mind paying the fee but its hard to imagine the traffic flow would be good.

Edit: Thanks ArtieS. After reviewing the route again I see that Most the tolls are toll-by-plate so there wouldn't be any stops. I understand better now.

Traffic flow will be fine, at least until you get within spitting distance of Miami, where all traffic sucks. Remember, that from where you pick up the turnpike off I-75, about 1 hr. from Orlando, you still have nearly 300 miles to go to get to Miami. You won't even notice the stops. In addition, I think that signing up for e-pass is free, so you could do so on line, and just use the express lanes.

Your other choices are I-10 to Jax and then I-95 all the way down (good luck with traffic and road construction going that way), or I-75 all the way to Ft. Lauderdale. That's a pretty long haul, although traffic will be fine unless you hit the Tampa area at the wrong time of day.

The turnpike cuts the corner, and if you decide to miss the rest of the tolls, you can pick up I-95 easily anywhere from Fort Pierce on down, where the tpk and 95 are seldom more than 5 miles apart.

ETA: I've done all of these roads from Tallahassee south, but it's been about three years since I've been in the Miami area.

My advice would be to stop at a rest area and buy a sunpass and load it up. It will more than make up for it's cost in increased convenience. We have one of the portable ones that we can move between vehicles.

As Artie said, it's the best way to get from North Alabama to Miami, 75 is a heavily traveled road
and full of all the crazies from the north getting out of the cold...

Currently, TOLL-BY-PLATE is only available on the southern 47 miles of the Turnpike in Miami-Dade so it won't do you any good for the other 250 miles of the road...

Get a SunPass, you can get it online, have it mailed to you and just add the cash you need to run the Turnpike up and down. No stopping for tolls and you go through the high speed lanes, it's worth the investment, since you could run up on a crowd at the cash pay lanes.

https://www.sunpass.com/en/sig...ponderclassify.shtml


Total Cost I-75 to I-95 is $17:45 so drop $40 on the SunPass and you will be good to go both directions..


Plenty of fuel stops, and it's well maintained much better than the interstates.

Regardless of what route you take, know that FL drivers are the worst. Nobody stays right except to pass.

Toll-by-plate works, but it's not the least costly way to do it.

You can get an E-Pass or a Sun-Pass.

Either of these transponders can be pre-loaded with funds at the respective websites.

With either of these, you do not have to divert to the toll booths -- you can stay in the main lanes and go right through.

I think that the Sun-Pass transponder is five bucks. I use the E-Pass. The transponder itself is free. Toll money can be pre-loaded at the website or via a smart phone app, using a credit or debit card, or drafting from a bank account.

The transponder is a thin credit card size thingy, adhesive backed, to stick on your windshield. Once you apply it to the glass, it activates. If you remove it from the glass, it de-activates permanently. A cute trick if you don't want to stick it to your windshield is to get a small piece of glass and stick the transponder to that. Hold it up to your windshield as you pass through each toll station.

I use it daily, going to work -- there is a toll road entrance maybe five minutes from my house, and it dumps me less than a mile from Our Little Airport. It also saves me a bunch of time when I go to visit ArtieS.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:

Regardless of what route you take, know that FL drivers are the worst. Nobody stays right except to pass.

Most drivers here in Florida do not use turn signals. Those who do use them, leave them on permanently.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
Regardless of what route you take, know that FL drivers are the worst. Nobody stays right except to pass.

Most of the drivers in FL are from other states, we get all the bad drivers from everywhere, they train up there.

Left lane bandits are a problem but on the interstate you'll note they have north of the mason dixon line plates.

If you dont purchase and buy a Sunpass, Epass, EZpass, or whatever system works before your trip, you are out of your damn mind. Seriously. The negligible cost for the sticker or transponder, if not free, more than makes up for the headaches of stopping at every toll booth. That could add an hour to your trip just stopping at 8 toll booths.

I have had an E pass, Sunpass, and EZPass system, for 20 plus years and cant even fathom how or why people would pay cash for tolls.

Recent legislation has made it that ALL toll transponders from ALL states will communicate with each other. So if you have a Peach pass from GA, you can use it in Florida, New York, or New Jersey, etc. They are in the process of implementing that...

Let me know if you entertain the idea of taking I-75 and I'll give you directions to skip I-75 south of Punta Gorda and take US-27 through South Florida. It'll put you on US-1 south of of Homestead. It's the route we take to get to the Keys and there's very little traffic until you get to Homestead.

The turnpike is the way to go through Orlando.

also.... the toll road is mostly avoided by truckers as it is costly.
Few trucks makes for a easier drive. And yes, bad drivers from all over the country retire here, buy a nice car and proceed to annoy those around them.
Generally smooth driving below Miami & hope everyone in the car likes bridges -- even the 7 mile long one.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Let me know if you entertain the idea of taking I-75 and I'll give you directions to skip I-75 south of Punta Gorda and take US-27 through South Florida. It'll put you on US-1 south of of Homestead. It's the route we take to get to the Keys and there's very little traffic until you get to Homestead.

The turnpike is the way to go through Orlando.

This makes for an interesting trip, but will cost you some time. Rte. 27 goes through old, agricultural, and big sugar Florida. If I were doing this, I would take Rte. 60 off I-75 out of Brandon, pick up 27, and work my way down.

Rte. 70 just south of Bradenton is another way to do this.

Does Florida now accept EZ-Pass on all their tolls?

I know about 5 years ago when I drove down there my EZ-Pass was useless. PIA, since it works up and down the East Coast, expect FL.

Looks like it's now expected in Central FL.

Anyone know if it's good throughout the rest of the state.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
Regardless of what route you take, know that FL drivers are the worst. Nobody stays right except to pass.

Especially in Central / Southern FL, because all the old retired fossils from NY, PA, and other northern states move and infect that portion of the state.

Also, FL State Hwy Patrol rolls HEAVY on the turnpike. And if they pull you over, you are getting a ticket, just accept it.

quote:

Also, FL State Hwy Patrol rolls HEAVY on the turnpike. And if they pull you over, you are getting a ticket, just accept it.

Well, really, they've got nothing else to do. And besides, it let's them run those Chargers hard, and then do the Hat Strut up to your B-pillar.

quote:

Originally posted by radinski:
Can someone explain the Florida Turnpike system to me? I am traveling from North Alabama to Marathon Florida in early February and the quickest way is supposed to include the Florida Turnpike starting around Orlando. ...

I will assume you will be pickup I10 once in Florida. I-10 will take you to I-75 and you will stay on I-75 until you get to Wildwood, FL (about 40 min north of Orlando). At Wildwood, I-75 splits, right lanes to to Tampa, left lanes put you right on Florida Turnpike (91). Turnpike is continuous and will then run right to Miami (Golden Glades) with a few toll plazas along with way. As others said, just get a sunpass card, that way you dont have to stop to pay.

That said, it will get a tad wonky when you get into Broward County. Best way to get to Marathon will be once in Broward you will look for the Turnpike extension exit for Homestead/Florida Keys. If I remember it is just past Hollywood exit.

If there is a nightmare traffic issue (not uncommon) there is an alternative route, you can exit the Turnpike at I-595 exit and take that west to I-75 South to Miami, from there you would follow I-75 until you get to the Turnpike extension again and take that to Homestead/FL Keys.

Now, for the big warning, either way you will find yourself driving through South Miami/Kendall region of Florida, be prepared, it is a different world and it SUCKS. Picture the worst of USA drivers mixed with every third world Caribbean and South American driver, all seemingly following different rules. Try to avoid doing it during rush hour (morning or evening).

Once you are safe in Homestead you will have two options for getting into the Florida Keys proper, US-1 or Card Sound Road. Card Sound adds a few minutes to the drive but takes you through all kinds of "back county" but it is a 2 lane narrow road. High point is you get to stop if you like at Alabama Jacks, an iconic little watering hole/restaurant, food is just OK but it is a cool spot to stop and feed mosquitoes.

If it is your first time to Marathon make sure to eat at least once at the 7 Mile Grill and Herbies Restaurant. Both are good, small and pretty local.

Drive safe and enjoy, if you have any other questions about the keys I would be happy to try and answer them, been diving/snorkeling/fishing those areas since I was about 10 years old.

No, it is a toll road and all connected from Orlando area (yeehaw junction) to Florida City/Homestead. It uses toll by plate or sunpass and charges the tolls electronically as you drive through them at normal speed or at slowest 30 mph, so there is no hold up. If you're in a rental car they will bill the tolls to your credit card a few weeks later and a minor convenience fee. There is no way to pay cash to use most all of the toll roads in Florida, it's almost all Sunpass now. It's a nice highway.

The speed limit on the turnpike is 70 mph until you get to South Florida and they only write you if you're going over 80 mph, so how fast do you need to go? I set the cruise control at 79 mph and steer.

I second 7mile grill in Marathon,FL
Lazy dayz in Islamorada is phenomenal as well as the Lazy Lobster in Key Largo, as far as fresh seafood restaurants go.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:

quote:

Also, FL State Hwy Patrol rolls HEAVY on the turnpike. And if they pull you over, you are getting a ticket, just accept it.

Well, really, they've got nothing else to do. And besides, it let's them run those Chargers hard, and then do the Hat Strut up to your B-pillar.

Oh I understand, it’s also a lot of easy out of state $$$, people who realistically have zero chance of coming back to fight the ticket.

Good news is they run their radar non-stop and with Waze IDing their locations, they are pretty easy to sneak by if you are so inclined.