Driving to Ft. Lauderdale

[GJM]

Has anyone driven from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale? Is it hard to do or pretty much straight driving. Would it be better to take the train. I would appreciate any input.

 

[pumpkinboy]

It's a pretty straight shot on the Florida Turnpike (or "Florida's Turnpike" as it is more properly known). Sure there are tolls and all, but those of us from the NorthEast are used to that, aren't we. It's a fairly pretty road actually and you can roar down it at 75 and still be within the speed limit. Plus the rest areas are worth stopping at, very clean and with services you might actually want to use (not at all like the Mass Pike).

We actually got us a SunPass, the FL equivalent to our EZ Pass up here. I did have to pay a $25 deposit and have to call in my license plate number from the rental car for them to keep on file, but since I am saving a little on tolls and I don't have to stop, it's worth it for us. We are DVC members and AP holders so we're down a couple of times a year. Plus next month we're at a conference in Miami Beach, then on to Vero and finally a couple of WDW days - so plenty of FL tolls ahead of us in the coming month.

 

[GJM]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know where I could pull up directions on the computer? About how long of a drive is it?

 

[inkkognito]

It took us three and a half hours (we didn't hit a lot of traffic and did stop for gas). I don't remember the exact directions, as someone else was navigating, but we took the FL Turnpike. We drove to Port Everglades (one way rental car from Thrifty). The drive was pretty much painless.
Barb

 

[jel0511]

From WDW to Fort Lauderdale, it's a VERY easy drive and probably takes about 3 hours or so, we drive it frequently since MIL lives just south in Aventura. You'll exit out of WDW using Osceola Parkway. Osceola Parkway intersects the Turnpike at exit 249 and you'll drive straight down. Now, we always get off the Turnpike when it's close to 95 (around Jupiter) and then roar down 95 since it's no tolls, and the Turnpike begins to pull away from the coast here and ends up pretty far inland from the coast. There can be traffic, but it usually doesn't start to get bad on 95 until you're just north of 575 (Alligator Alley) and by then you're just about at Fort Lauderdale anyway.

Pumpkin Boy - Why would you consider taking the Turnpike from Miami to Vero? That is completely out of the way, with 95 providing a more direct shot and no tolls at all.