Guide to Florida Toll Roads, Road Rules, Airports & Other Tips
 

Heading to the Sunshine State? Here’s need-to-know information about Florida toll roads, accessibility, road travel, airports and more.
 

Getting Here

·     Major roads in Florida: Interstates: 4, 10, 95, 75, 275, 295

·     Amtrak and Auto Train: Visit Amtrak for an interactive map of Florida stops. The Auto Train will transport you and your car, or other recreational vehicle, nonstop from Lorton, Va. (the Washington, DC area) to Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando.
 

Major Airports in Florida

·     Daytona Beach International

·     Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

·     Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International

·     Jacksonville International

·     Key West International

·     Melbourne International

·     Miami International

·     Northwest Florida Beaches International

·     Orlando International

·     Orlando Sanford International

·     President Donald. J. Trump International

·     Pensacola Regional

·     Sarasota Bradenton International

·     Southwest International/ Fort Myers

·     St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

·     Tallahassee International Airport

·     Tampa International
 

Brightline Trains

·     Brightline, a privately owned, inter-city rail system, connects Miami and Orlando, with stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach. (Plans are underway to connect to Tampa as well.)

Road Rules

·     Driver’s licenses: You don’t need an international driving permit to drive in Florida; you just need a valid driver license, issued in your name, from your state or country of residence

·     Car rental: To rent a car you must have your driving license, passport and a credit card. The minimum age for car rental is 21, but some agencies will charge more for drivers under 25 years of age. Major companies will allow you to pick up a car in one location and drop it off in another for an extra charge. You can generally make reservations before you leave your country, either by phone or online.

·     Speed limits: Legal speed limits are posted on the right side of the road, and are as follows: Interstates: 70 mph; four-lane highways: 65 mph; other state highways: 60 mph; business/residential districts: 30 mph; school zones: 10-20 mph.

·     Right on red: You may turn right at a red light after coming to a complete stop, unless a sign indicating “no right on red” is posted at the intersection.

·     Headlights: Headlights must be on from dusk to dawn, as well as in fog or rain. Turn off windshield wipers when stopping at toll booths

·     Move over act: When law enforcement vehicles are in one of the “break-down” lanes, either assisting a motorist or pulling over a speeding vehicle, you must move to the far lane away from the police, or slow down to 20 miles per hour below the speed limit. If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.

·     Child car seats: Every driver in Florida must provide for the protection of any child five years of age or younger by using a crash-tested, federally approved car seat. For children up to three years old, the restraint must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children four to five years old, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a booster seat may be used. These are usually available from your car rental company.

·     Seat belts: You must wear a seat belt in an operating vehicle if you’re the driver of the vehicle, a front seat passenger of any age, or under 18 years old.

·     Cell phones and texting: It’s illegal to text while driving, regardless of age. There are no talking bans on talking on cell phones while driving.

·     Drinking and driving: Driving while drinking alcohol or while under its influence is illegal. Appoint a “designated driver” in your group who’ll drink only non-alcoholic beverages and drive home safely.

·     Getting real-time traffic information: For detailed traffic information, including traffic incidents and construction, traffic cameras, message boards, and estimated travel times for roadways across of Florida, visit FL511.com. For traffic information on the go, dial 511 on your phone.

·     Calling for help: Drivers may dial *FHP on Florida interstates and highways in an emergency to reach the Florida Highway Patrol (state police).
 

Florida's Turnpike and Other Tolling Options

·    About Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and Florida’s Toll Roads: Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, a business unit of the Florida Department of Transportation, is responsible for planning, developing, operating, maintaining, and financing Florida’s Turnpike System. Serving millions of customers each day, the Enterprise currently manages more than 530 miles of toll facilities that support the movement of people, goods, and commerce across Florida.

In addition to the Turnpike Mainline, which extends from Homestead to Wildwood, tolls are required on several other major corridors, including Interstate 75/Alligator Alley between Miami and Naples, and the Beachline Expressway/State Road (S.R.) 528 between Orlando and Cape Canaveral. Tolls are also collected on numerous bridges throughout the state. For more information, visit: Florida’s Toll Roads and Bridges.

·    Paying tolls in Florida: Florida’s Turnpike System is constructed, operated and maintained using toll revenue collected from customers. Toll amounts are generally based on the distance traveled and the number of axles on the vehicle.

Customers pay electronically using SunPass or another Florida accepted transponder, or through TOLL-BY-PLATE. Before traveling, customers can estimate the cost of their trip using the Toll Calculator.

·    What is SunPass: SunPass is Florida’s prepaid toll program and the preferred way to pay tolls. When a vehicle equipped with an active, properly mounted SunPass or another Florida accepted transponder passes through an electronic tolling point, the toll is automatically deducted from the customer’s prepaid account.

SunPass customers receive the lowest available toll rates on Florida’s toll roads and bridges. To open an account, customers must purchase, activate and properly install a transponder and maintain a minimum prepaid balance of $10. The SunPass Mini costs $4.99 plus tax, and the SunPass PRO costs $14.95 plus tax. There are no monthly service fees, and customers only pay for the tolls they use.

·    Where SunPass Works: SunPass makes traveling on Florida’s toll roads faster, easier and more affordable. SunPass works seamlessly across Florida’s toll roads, bridges, and managed lanes, offering the lowest toll rates through electronic toll collection.

The SunPass Mini sticker functions in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas. The SunPass PRO works on toll roads and most bridges in Florida and 23 other states, including everywhere E-ZPass is accepted.

·    Where to Purchase a SunPass: You can purchase a SunPass online or at one of thousands of retail locations throughout Florida including Publix, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. Click here for a complete list of participating retailers.

You can also purchase and activate a transponder in person at a SunPass Walk‑in Center or purchase one at a Florida’s Turnpike Service Plaza.  Transponders ordered online or by calling the SunPass Customer Service Center at 1‑888‑TOLL‑FLA (1‑888‑865‑5352) will be mailed within four to five business days.

·    How to Activate Your SunPass: A SunPass prepaid account requires purchasing, activating, and installing a SunPass PRO or SunPass Mini transponder. Activation requires adding at least $10 to your prepaid balance.

You can activate a transponder at SunPass.com, through the SunPass Mobile App or by visiting a SunPass Walk-in Center. For assistance, call the SunPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-TOLL-FLA (1-888-865-5352).

·    How to Use SunPass in a Rental Vehicle: Customers may use a SunPass PRO transponder in a rental vehicle and have the tolls charged to their SunPass account. It is strongly recommended that you log into your SunPass account and add the rental vehicle’s license plate number, along with the dates the vehicle will be used. Please remember to remove your transponder when you return the rental vehicle.

Drivers who would like to buy a portable SunPass transponder to use with a rental vehicle can purchase one online at SunPass.com, at a Florida’s Turnpike Service Plaza, at a SunPass Walk-in-Center or at a participating retail location.

·    TOLL-BY-PLATE: TOLL-BY-PLATE is a payment option for customers traveling Florida’s toll roads and bridges without a SunPass or other Florida-accepted transponder. The tolling system photographs the vehicle’s license plate, and a Toll Enforcement Invoice covering 30 days of toll transactions is mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. The invoice includes the applicable toll charges and a $2.50 fee.

TOLL-BY-PLATE is not accepted on Florida Thru Lanes or Express Lanes, where a SunPass or other Florida-accepted transponder is required.

·    Paying Tolls Without an Active Transponder: If you drive a tolled facility without an active transponder, a Toll Enforcement Invoice will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. The invoice will include the toll charges, payment options, and a $2.50 administrative fee.

Existing SunPass customers may receive an invoice if the vehicle’s license plate is not listed on their account or if the account has insufficient funds. To resolve this, log in to your SunPass account and add the vehicle under “Transponders and Vehicles,” using the earliest transaction date shown on the invoice, or add funds under “Add Funds” to cover the amount due.
 

Accessibility Regulations, Resources and Rentals

·     Disabled Parking Permits: If you are a visitor to Florida and from another country or state, Florida law, Section 316.1958, states we will honor any special license plate or parking permit issued to a disabled person by any other state or district subject to the laws of the United States, or by a foreign country that issues disabled parking permits that display the international symbol of accessibility.
If your permit doesn't have the international symbol of accessibility, you should obtain a temporary Florida permit at any Florida County Tax Collector's Office. To get a Florida permit, bring along a copy of the current parking permit issued by your own country and proof of ID, such as a valid passport or comparable identification, to verify your ownership of the out-of-country parking permit.  The temporary parking permit may be issued for up to six months and costs $15. 

·     Diabetic Assistance: The American Diabetes Association offers information on traveling with diabetes, as well as a list of hospitals that offer services to diabetic travelers.

·     Dialysis Centers: The Dialysis Finder lists center locations and maps by ZIP code.

·     Scooters/Wheelchair Rental: CARE Medical Equipment offers wheelchair and scooter rental, oxygen and other medical equipment. Scootarounds are also available in many Florida cities.

·     Beach Wheels: Look through our visitor information listings within each region for destinations that offer Florida beach wheelchairs and other services or information for the physically disabled. Unlike regular wheelchairs, these “beach wheels” have special tires that don’t get stuck in sand. Beach chairs are often provided at no charge and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.