Florida & Georgia - Best way through Miami

I'll be heading down to Islamorada the end of May again for our annual tarpon trip. I will be pulling my boat and coming down from central Florida on the Florida Turnpike. In the past my GPS routed us through on the Turnpike going through the Davie area and cutting over to the west through Miramar. I was wondering if you all would recommend getting off on the Sawgrass Expressway to the west and catching up with the Turnpike again at Exit 4? Seems like it would be less crowded.

I always go straight down the turnpike. Never really had any issues with traffic until I reach the keys.

The Samwgrass is under construction as of 3 weeks ago. I'd get on the Turnpike higher in Fla.

Thanks. I should add that luckily I will be driving through on a Saturday (but it will be Memorial Day weekend).

Turnpike all the way. Forget the sawgrass expressway.

Ya gotta have a dam Sunpass" as Dade county doesn't accept cash. Can't get to the keys without going thru hell.

From orlando.....

Hop on 27 and take that.....Much easier route....

Turnpike. easiest route and very well marked so you cant get lost. It ends at Florida city and if you cant find your way to the Keys from there you shouldn't be driving.

Best way; FAST!

Turnpike the entire way is the only way to do it.

From orlando.....

Hop on 27 and take that.....Much easier route....

:bashhh:

Best way; FAST!

Turnpike the entire way is the only way to do it.

X2! Stay on the Turnpike.

Yep, turnpike and get a SunPass......way easier than stopping for tolls.

Not trying to derail but have had some issues finding a big, wide open gas station on the turnpike in the Miami area.....any suggestions?

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll stay on the turnpike just like I always have. I got a SunPass a few years ago since I grew up in central Florida and go back regularly.

From orlando.....

Hop on 27 and take that.....Much easier route....


Ol' Bloody 27....




Take turnpike, get a sunpass. $5 or whatever for sticker one.. and you can use it in central Florida (Orlando?) area anyways

From orlando.....

Hop on 27 and take that.....Much easier route....


;?;?

Ya sun pass and turnpike all day. However we just came down a few days ago, down the turnpike and the cops suddenly rerouted us back north at 595 in Ft Lauderdale. I was really pissed, I thought there was construction gong on with no detour signs, we spent hours and many miles trying to get back on, I found out later that some nut case was running around the turnpike with a gun and shot two cops. Hope they are OK. It suddenly made my 27 hour non stop drive from Wisconsin seen insignificant after hearing that.

Mike that indeed is what happened (after the nut case ran the wrong way up onto the Turnpike while being chased, crashed, then started shooting... finally executing himself after shooting two officers...). It was a cluster of amazing proportions that lasted for hours... I live nearby and somehow missed the entire episode until the next day (and I tow that way almost daily commuting to one boat ramp or other as a guide).

;?;?

take the turnpike to the sawgrass and the sawgrass to 27. Will not see anything but trucks until FL. city...

not sure why people are hitting me with fish.....

People in west Broward take this all the time over the turnpike.....

Because 27 has traffic lights, intersections and towns!

One other minor point - if the Turnpike is shut down in Broward or North Dade.... here's the alternative that I run, if needed.

You have two choices, neither of them very good but both do-able. Out west just take the extension off of I-75 that will bring you to the Palmetto Expressway (S.R. 826 southbound) then go down to S.R. 836, then westbound on that until it meets the Turnpike and jump on it to go the rest of the way south to where the Turnpike ends at Florida City.

An alternative on the east side of things is to take I-95 south to 836 (it's roughly NW 12th ST at that point, then take it all the way west to where it ends at the Turnpike as above.

Neither is a very good option unless you're rolling long before sunup the way I do.... Nothing like towing 20,000 miles a year to learn the various routes since you never know when some crash or other incident is going to close down a portion of that vital Turnpike....

And yes, you can take US 27 but I consider it the last option for the reasons given above...

TPK all the way.......... You dont need alt routes ....

Turnpike until it ends at US1 then if needed easy cheaper gas in Fl city then hit the keys where "real" gas is sold at a few spots.

Whatever you do get a Sunpass!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be towing my boat from Texas to Ft Lauderdale in June. Google maps has me using the turnpike but I can find out how much that will cost for the entire length. It is only 40 miles further to go through Jacksonville and take I95 to Ft Lauderdale. Any advice on this? Thank you.

I will be towing my boat from Texas to Ft Lauderdale in June. Google maps has me using the turnpike but I can find out how much that will cost for the entire length. It is only 40 miles further to go through Jacksonville and take I95 to Ft Lauderdale. Any advice on this? Thank you.

Get a sunpass for TPK and you will be charged the same amount as a car..... I think ;)

95 is a nightmare.....

Turnpike all the way...and definitely get a Sunpass. The Florida Turnpike website has a toll calculator and tolls vary by the number of axles.

One thing to be aware of is several of the service plazas are being renovated. Fuel is available, but maneuvering might be a bit of a challenge.

I will check out the toll calculator. I believe you that I95 is a nightmare but I do have to ask how is it a nightmare? I already have to fight Houston and every other city along I-10 just to reach Florida. However, I do realize that Houston is not 350 miles long like I95 is from Jacksonville to Ft Lauderdale. Thank

I just did the toll calculator and it is only $30 each way. That is not bad for 253 miles on the turnpike. I drove from D.C. to New York City years ago while in the Marines and was upset about all of the tolls on the way there. I cut over to I-95 on the way back to avoid the tolls and quickly got back off of I-95 because it was full of pot holes and was beating the car to death. Is this the same as in Florida? Thank you to any one and every one that gives advice. I have been on a lot of road trips over the years, although this is the first to Florida with my boat. Thanks again.

I-10 through Pensacola and Tallahassee looks a lot like I-10 through LA and MS. Completely uneventful....lightly traveled....and boring.

Traffic will be heavier once you hit I-75 but 75 is six lanes from I-10 south. The Turnpike will be four lanes from I-75 to the outskirts of Orlando, where it widens. It's back to four lanes until you get to the West Palm area...after which it widens.

You can get a Sunpass at CVS, Publix, etc...pick one up when you enter the state....call and activate it...and take the Turnpike.

I will take the Turnpike then. Thank you for the advice.

take the turnpike to the sawgrass and the sawgrass to 27. Will not see anything but trucks until FL. city...

not sure why people are hitting me with fish.....

People in west Broward take this all the time over the turnpike.....

I use the 27 when I come off the alley and headed East...then run south to the turnpike. Just a few lights, and you catch the green on most of them...but coming from central Fla, he is best served to stay on the Turnpike...