Help! Has anyone actually driven from WDW to Miami?

[jujubiee4]

We are planning to drive from Orlando to Miami port for a combo park/cruise. Well I read how it is an easy yet long drive using the turnpike. I just did mapquest so does this sound right?

take SE 535 S make left and take Osceloa Pkwy and merge onto W Osceola Pkwy then merge on Florida's Turnpike s
Keep left towards I-95. Turnpike S becomes I-95. Merge onto SR-112/airport expy and stay straight to NW21st.

We are returning rental car just outside airport and shuttle will take us to the port.

Is there anything i should know about the drive? I know it will be about 20 in tolls and they will be charged to the car. Is there anywhere to stop midway for sit down meal? 2 hours is the most i can go before i have to get out and stretch legs for a bit Thanks for any advice!

 

[Disworldluv]

The Turnpike South has gas and food available located in the meridian strip, about every 30 miles. 95 South has plenty of exits, with food and gas located near the exits. Stopping won't be a problem.

 

[SteveMouse]

At some point in 2013, the airport expressway is going to open road tolling- sunpass, etc.




I don't know when.

 

[DOOM1001]

There are service plazas at mm 229,184,144,94 and 65,BUT pretty much all of them are being refurbished or totally rebuilt right now with some having limited services,some might be totally open with new restaurants,bathrooms,stores and everything while another one might only have a gas station with port o potties for bathrooms.I live in Miami and have done the drive hundreds of times,last time I took the turnpike was in October so some probably will be totally up and running by now,just be cautious and check the Florida turnpike website for info.As far as the drive,the turnpike will be the fastest way with the least amount of traffic but there will be close to $20 in tolls.The drive itself is pretty boring and I hate driving it at night.You can also take I-95 by taking the Beachline(about $3-$4 in tolls) east to I-95 which is free and which means about 3 times as much traffic and what seems to be many more aggressive drivers especially from West Palm beach south.You can also do a half/half by taking the turnpike to exit 152 which is Ft.Pierce and getting on 95 there which is a mile away from the turnpike,you'll save about half the tolls but will still have to deal with the worst of the traffic and if you plan to be in that traffic around rush hour then don't go this way and stay on the turnpike.In my last couple of trips I've been taking the more rural route of US 27 which runs through the middle of the state and around Lake Okechoobee,it takes quite a bit longer but it's not as boring or cost $20 as the turnpike and not as crazy as I-95,from Sebring south to 595 in Broward county the towns are very sleepy and boring and is the worst part of the trip but from Sebring north it goes through some nice towns with plenty of places to stop and once you get to I-4 you're 5 minutes from Disney.Anybody not familiar with the area should just take the turnpike,you can't get lost and the drive is less stressful.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have made the drive from WDW to Pompano Beach, just north of Miami. I took the turnpike to the Jupiter area...then got on 95. Never, ever again!!! There is not enough money in the world to get me on 95 going through Palm Beach!!! Bumper to bumper traffic, going about 85 mph!!! Dear mother of God!!! I drive some nasty roadways up here in Mass....never have I seen anything like 95 in that area!! When I got to Pompano Beach, my father asked me why I just didn't stay on the turnpike. I told him that my gps and mapquest both gave me the exact same route, so I took it. Seems the turnpike drops you about 1 mile west of the 95 exit in Pompano!!! Dopey me.
I would just stay on the turnpike. This is what we took from Pompano to the Keys last spring...seemed to be really easy to jump off in Miami!!

 

[IlovePiglet]

When I travel to South Florida via the Florida Turnpike I like to stop at the Fort Pierce/Port St Lucie service plaza. It's about the midway point during the trip and usually everyone is ready for a little bit of a break.
You might find it busier than some of the others though, it seems to be a popular spot for tour buses as well. But, because of this it seems, so far in my experience, that everything is open at this stop. It's mile marker 144 on the Turnpike.
http://wikimapia.org/241194/Florida-Turnpike-Port-St-Lucie-Ft-Pierce-Service-Plaza-Mile-Marker-144

Indiantown Rd is exit 116 and is an easy crossover from the Turnpike to I95.