Florida turnpike - can't use cash?

[glassslipper2004]

I just read on the Budget rent a car site that you can't pay with cash anymore on the Florida turnpike - has anyone experienced this? So how do you take a rental car from the airport to the port - don't you need to go on the turnpike, or am I mis-remembering?

 

[DVCconvert]

Beginning Saturday, Feb. 19, all Turnpike tolls are collected electronically between the U.S. 1 (Exit 1) and County Line Road (Exit 47) interchanges in Miami-Dade County, and cash tolls are not accepted. Motorists will use either SunPass or TOLL‑BY‑PLATE, and everyone will enjoy the benefit of paying their toll without having to stop.

http://www.floridasturnpike.com/tools_paytoll.cfm

 

[iuki]

I just read on the Budget rent a car site that you can't pay with cash anymore on the Florida turnpike - has anyone experienced this? So how do you take a rental car from the airport to the port - don't you need to go on the turnpike, or am I mis-remembering?

We use the turnpike all the time. The only exit that does not take cash is the Consulate Drive exit.

When we go to the Orlando airport, we have not had an issue. The no cash policy is not at all of the toll booths.

 

[OKW Lover]

I just read on the Budget rent a car site that you can't pay with cash anymore on the Florida turnpike - has anyone experienced this? So how do you take a rental car from the airport to the port - don't you need to go on the turnpike, or am I mis-remembering?

You don't take the Turnpike between the airport and Port Canaveral. The turnpike goes (roughly) north/south through FL and only the bottom-most section (around the Miami area) are cashless.

 

[mmouse37]

I just read on the Budget rent a car site that you can't pay with cash anymore on the Florida turnpike - has anyone experienced this? So how do you take a rental car from the airport to the port - don't you need to go on the turnpike, or am I mis-remembering?

You take the Beachline (formerly the Beeline) which runs East/West. It is very easy to get to the Port...from the Port Canaveral website:

http://www.portcanaveral.com/cruising/gettinghere.php

If You're Driving From the Airport...

From Orlando International Airport (MCO) This airport is approximately 45 minutes west of Port Canaveral. Take the North Exit from the Airport, staying to the right, to S.R. 528 (Beachline Expressway) East. Take S.R. 528 directly to Port Canaveral.

Could you possibly be thinking of the tolls that are on 417 from WDW to the Port (before you hit the Beachline)?

MJ

 

[huffjoann]

the one we experienced from Tampa to port canaveral then port canaveral to orlando used cash in June.

 

[maria-fan-22]

Ahh… Texas is beginning the same system. From what I know, you will get a small discount with the sun-pass, or it will take a pic of license plate and mail you a bill. However, Texas is not going to charge out of state drivers, is florida doing that too?

Well anyway, cashless should be easier, most rental cars will just forward the tolls to you.

 

[ssanders79]

will take a pic of license plate and mail you a bill

They would mail a fine above an beyond the toll.


https://www.sunpass.com/violationsNonCustomer

Everyone pays the toll. Here in Florida our bread and butter is tourism so Boone gets a break aside from the surpass customer toll discounts.

 

[Alexander]

The problem with the rental cars is you not only have to pay the toll fees, you have to pay X amount of dollars per day to the car rental agency. If you only use the turnpike on 2 days, but rent the car for 7, you still have to pay for the whole length of the rental.

It looks like the turnpike information posted above indicates that this is in Miami-Dade which is no where near MCO or WDW.

 

[pdwimmer]

The problem with the rental cars is you not only have to pay the toll fees, you have to pay X amount of dollars per day to the car rental agency. If you only use the turnpike on 2 days, but rent the car for 7, you still have to pay for the whole length of the rental.

It looks like the turnpike information posted above indicates that this is in Miami-Dade which is no where near MCO or WDW.

I am going to check this out with Avis. Because we do travel on a toll road between MCO and our hotel we are staying at two days prior to going on the cruise. What a pain in the .................... The toll is only like a two bucks, two stops. Seriously?

 

[OKW Lover]

I am going to check this out with Avis. Because we do travel on a toll road between MCO and our hotel we are staying at two days prior to going on the cruise. What a pain in the .................... The toll is only like a two bucks, two stops. Seriously?

Seriously. That's why we always just go through the cash lane on the trip from MCO to WDW. BTW, that charge isn't unique to Avis.

 

[Alexander]

I am going to check this out with Avis. Because we do travel on a toll road between MCO and our hotel we are staying at two days prior to going on the cruise. What a pain in the .................... The toll is only like a two bucks, two stops. Seriously?

Avis definately charges for everyday of your rental, we rent exclusively with them. Just use the cash lanes, it isn't that long, we do it several times a year.

 

[truck1]

You don't take the Turnpike between the airport and Port Canaveral. The turnpike goes (roughly) north/south through FL and only the bottom-most section (around the Miami area) are cashless.

If Im not mistaken, all of the toll roads in Fl, at least the 417,408, the 528, and the 429 are all considered under the umbrella name of the Turnpike. I was doing some research a while ago for a project, trying to figure toll costs, and even when you go to the main site, each indivual numbered road, has different names and different "owners" Its a real PITA to figure out a toll schedule, if you dont know who owns what portion of what road. The 417 for example, has 3 different owners/operators, for the 3 sections that it was built in.

You take the Beachline (formerly the Beeline) which runs East/West. It is very easy to get to the Port...from the Port Canaveral website:

http://www.portcanaveral.com/cruising/gettinghere.php

If You're Driving From the Airport...

From Orlando International Airport (MCO) This airport is approximately 45 minutes west of Port Canaveral. Take the North Exit from the Airport, staying to the right, to S.R. 528 (Beachline Expressway) East. Take S.R. 528 directly to Port Canaveral.

Could you possibly be thinking of the tolls that are on 417 from WDW to the Port (before you hit the Beachline)?

MJ

I drove to the port to see the shuttle launch last week,from Conualte(exit 4 or 5) and there are still cash lanes all the way from the airport to the port.There are several exits though on both the Turnpike itself, and the Beachline/Beeline/528 that are Sun/epass only. And they are marked as so. Theres usually another exit nearby for cash. The way its working now, and they are slowly moving some roads to Sun/Epass (The Polk Parkway for example)only is that the main portion of the road, is a drive thru lane for those that own a Sun/Epass. There is a diversion for those that dont (out of state travelers for example) to move over and pay the toll.

The 417 from I4 to the airport, is basically the same, with a drive thru express lane for Sun/Epass, and theres a regualr cash lane next to it.

 

[csmith1004]

OK, I'm from NC and we don't have any toll roads in my area (yet) so I need more guidance . We will be driving from WDW (All Star Movies) to Port Canaveral. Can someone tell me how much cash I need to have in the van? Also will we hit a toll road leaving Port Canaveral and heading north toward NC?

Thanks!!

 

[hrhdhd]

If Im not mistaken, all of the toll roads in Fl, at least the 417,408, the 528, and the 429 are all considered under the umbrella name of the Turnpike. I was doing some research a while ago for a project, trying to figure toll costs, and even when you go to the main site, each indivual numbered road, has different names and different "owners" Its a real PITA to figure out a toll schedule, if you dont know who owns what portion of what road. The 417 for example, has 3 different owners/operators, for the 3 sections that it was built in.

There is a difference between Florida's Turnpike (the stretch of highway that runs from Wildwood to I-95 in Miami-Dade County) and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, which runs that road and several others.

SRs 417 and 528 are partly run by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA), which is a different entity. OOCEA controls the 408.

Generally, SunPass and EPass will work on any toll road in FL. Some interchanges have exits that are designed only for those with transponders; the sign will clearly state this. (Originally the signs said something like, "SunPass/EPass only" but now read "No Cash Accepted.")

When tolls are not placed at entrance and exit ramps, many roads have open-road tolling, which means those cars with transponders can go through the toll collection at highway speed, while those wanting to pay cash will have to move to toll lanes on the right-hand side, pay the toll, and merge back into traffic.

If you're paying BeachLine tolls from MCO to the port, the delay to pay cash is minimal.

 

[truck1]

D

OK, I'm from NC and we don't have any toll roads in my area (yet) so I need more guidance . We will be driving from WDW (All Star Movies) to Port Canaveral. Can someone tell me how much cash I need to have in the van? Also will we hit a toll road leaving Port Canaveral and heading north toward NC?

Thanks!!

Depending on which way you go from the All Stars, itll be around 10 dollars. If you take the Beachline only its about 3 or 4. If you take the 417 to the Beachline its about another 3or 4 possibly more. I dont remember the exact amount off hand.

 

[sullins5]

Oh my Goodness!!! I'm SO CONFUSED!!! We don't ever have any toll booths in our tri-state area! We're renting from Budget the day before the cruise, driving to a DTD hotel and then driving straight to the port the next morning. If I 'plug' into my phones map, which way is going to be the best way? I'd heard about the machines in the Budget rentals, but don't know anything about that! Any help as to which way from a DTD hotel we should take or put in to map out? lol..tell me now, and I'll go ahead and save it on my phone so I'll be ready!
...just when I thought I had everything planned out..

 

[truck1]

There is a difference between Florida's Turnpike (the stretch of highway that runs from Wildwood to I-95 in Miami-Dade County) and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, which runs that road and several others.

SRs 417 and 528 are partly run by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA), which is a different entity. OOCEA controls the 408.

.

Thats what I was pointing out. The fact that the name Turnpike, is associated with most of the roads,even if its not controlling and can lead to confusion, and there is lots of hands in roads.With 4 toll roads there more then that in entities inolved. There was similar thread not long ago, asking about pricing, and when I tried to use the toll calculator on the website that lists all of the toll roads, it will only give you 1 section of the road. If you use the Beachline for example, it will only give you 1 or 2 of the 3 tolls. Same thing if you tried to use the 417 to the 528. It only gives you a fraction of the tolls you need to pay. Based on the individual section. The section of the 417 between I4 to around John Young Parkway, is called the Southern Connector if Im not mistaken, then theres another name for the next few miles. The toll calc, will only give you tolls for 1 of the 2 sections, not both.

 

[truck1]

Oh my Goodness!!! I'm SO CONFUSED!!! We don't ever have any toll booths in our tri-state area! We're renting from Budget the day before the cruise, driving to a DTD hotel and then driving straight to the port the next morning. If I 'plug' into my phones map, which way is going to be the best way? I'd heard about the machines in the Budget rentals, but don't know anything about that! Any help as to which way from a DTD hotel we should take or put in to map out? lol..tell me now, and I'll go ahead and save it on my phone so I'll be ready!
...just when I thought I had everything planned out..

Easiest way,(and you wont need a gps) from either Saratoga, OKW, Port Orleans, or any of the outside hotels on Disney property is, make your way to Hotel Plaza Blvd, and head off property towards 535. Turn right onto 535, and get in the right lane. Take the I4 east exit, to exit 72 which is the BEachline/528. You can only go east as the 528 begins/ends at I4. Get in the right lane and stay there.(About 75% of the way to the port, the road splits.Left side goes to the KSC, the right side continues to the port. Its easy to get stuck heading towards the KSC, but not so easy to get back towards the port if you make the mistake)The 528 will run right into Port Canaveral. Follw the signs to the terminal from there. Itll be the North Cruise Terminals exit.

 

[Alexander]

Easiest way,(and you wont need a gps) from either Saratoga, OKW, Port Orleans, or any of the outside hotels on Disney property is, make your way to Hotel Plaza Blvd, and head off property towards 535. Turn right onto 535, and get in the right lane. Take the I4 east exit, to exit 72 which is the BEachline/528. You can only go east as the 528 begins/ends at I4. Get in the right lane and stay there.(About 75% of the way to the port, the road splits.Left side goes to the KSC, the right side continues to the port. Its easy to get stuck heading towards the KSC, but not so easy to get back towards the port if you make the mistake)The 528 will run right into Port Canaveral. Follw the signs to the terminal from there. Itll be the North Cruise Terminals exit.

Actually we find the easier way is to get on 536 which will run you right staight into 417 untl you get to 528 which will take you straight out to the port There is much less traffic and it is much faster.

The easiest way to get on 536 from WDW property is to turn right onto 536 just past Bonnet Creek Resort. If you are coming from the other direction (Downtown) you'll need to either come across the Overpass Road or make a u-turn so you can take the right hand exit off of Buena Vista Drive.

Once on 536 keep straight onto 417 aka the Greenway then onto 528.

Here are the directions from DCL website:

Take State Road 536 East which leads directly to the 417 (Greenway). State Road 417 is a toll road.
Follow the 417 to State Road 528 (Beachline Expressway). State Road 528 is a toll road.
Go east on State Road 528.
At the fork in the road, veer right to stay on State Road 528.
Continue on State Road 528 and make your way over the Indian River and Banana River.
Turn onto State Road 401, which will loop and head north over the channel locks.
Stay in the right-hand lane and follow the signs to Cruise Terminal A.

Once you are on 528 there will be signs for Port Canaveral. You won't be able to miss the ship at the port when you come over the bridges.

There are cash lanes on these toll roads, just make sure you get over to the right to stop and pay them. They are running about $1.25 now I think, and there are probably 3 or 4 of them. I don't pay too close attention to be honest. Just keep some ones and some quarters with you.