Florida Toll Roads, Bridges, Express Lanes, Expressways and SunPass
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Florida is among one of the most travelled US states[1]. The major landmarks of the Sunshine State include the Walt Disney World, Universal Studios in Orlando, Kennedy Space Center, Everglades National Park and South Beach in Miami. Several airports and interstates 4, 10, 95, 75, 275, and 295 make it well-connected with other parts of the US. However, driving within Florida should come with a heads up that with over 719 miles of toll roads, it boasts the longest stretch of toll facilities in the nation[2].
Florida toll facilities can be categorized as:
- Florida Turnpike
- Florida toll roads
- Florida toll bridges
- Florida express lanes
Most of the toll facilities here are turning cashless but some including those on Florida Turnpike still accept cash. The preferred method to pay toll in Florida is SunPass tag as it offers the highest discounts. Many travellers look for ways to avoid tolls in Florida which is not just tricky but also comes with the hassle of taking routes that are too long and too busy.
You can use Florida Toll Calculator to calculate tolls and fuel costs to travel across the entire state and other parts of the nation. It also suggests the cheapest, fastest and other optimal routes to get to your destination.
Read on to learn more about the toll facilities, toll plaza locations, their toll rates, accepted toll payment options, how to pay missed tolls, SunPass, tolls for rental cars in Florida and more.
Florida Turnpike
The Florida Turnpike, also called the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, is a 483 miles network of toll roads in Florida. It connects the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach (parallels to I-95) and Orlando. It has two sections: The mainline (SR 91) and Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike (or HEFT; designated as SR 821).
The turnpike is operated by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE)[3].
How much does it cost to drive on the Florida Turnpike
Toll rates for Florida Turnpike[4] vary for different regions it serves. Along a typical fast route, SunPass tolls are about 6.7 cents per mile (4.2 ¢/km) for cars and other two-axle vehicles. While a trip on the entire turnpike (excluding the HEFT) would cost close to $17 with SunPass and $23 with cash/Toll-by-Plate.
How do you pay for the Florida Turnpike
You can pay tolls on the Florida Turnpike by:
- SunPass and SunPass Pro
- E-Pass
- E-ZPass
- Toll By Plate
- Cash (one selected plazas)
Following are the five toll plazas of Florida Turnpike (Mainline section) that do Not accept cash payment:
- Griffin Road Plaza (Exit 53)
- Hollywood Pines Boulevard Plaza (Exit 49)
- Miramar Plaza (Exit 47)
- Okeechobee Plaza (Exit 32)
- Bird Road Plaza (Exit 22)
Florida toll roads
As mentioned earlier, when it comes to the toll roads, Florida leads the nation. It has the longest-running toll roads in the US. Below, the toll roads are grouped as per their coverage region in the state. You can click on the name of the region or stretches to view their toll maps and learn more.
In July 2023, the Florida Turnpike Authority announced that it would be increasing tolls on the Florida Turnpike by an average of 4.7%. This increase is due to inflation and the cost of maintaining and improving the toll roads.
- Central Florida toll roads near Orlando
- Central Florida Expressway Authority toll roads
- West Central toll roads near Tampa
- South Florida toll roads near Miami
- Miami-Dade Expressway Authority toll roads
- North Florida toll roads
Florida toll bridges
Florida is home to some of the popular toll bridges on the east coast such as the 3.6 mile Mid-Bay Bridge connecting U.S. Highway 98 in Destin to SR 20 in Niceville. While some of the bridges accept cash payment, you can travel though most of them with a valid toll tag.
Following are the toll bridges in Florida:
- Broad Causeway[5]
- Garcon Point Bridge (Toll 281)[6]
- Pensacola Beach Bridge (Bob Sikes)[7]
- Gasparilla Bridge (Boca Grande Swing Bridge)[8]
- Card Sound[9]
- Hammock Dunes Parkway Bridge[10]
- Venetian Way Causeway[11]
- Rickenbacker Causeway (Route 913)[12]
- Mid-Bay Bridge Toll connector[13]
- Cape Coral Bridge (Route 867 A)[14]
- Midpoint Memorial Bridge[15]
- Sanibel Causeway[16]
Florida express lanes
Express lanes are tolled lanes on a regular interstate or toll road. To keep traffic in check and give drivers the option to prioritise travel time ovee time cost, they apply a dynamic tolling mechanism. In Floirda, there are following express lanes:
- 95 Express lanes In Broward[17]
- I-595 Express lanes[18]: I-75/Sawgrass Expressway to Turnpike Mainline
- I-295 Express lanes[19] in Northeast Florida are under construction
- Seminole Expressway / SR 417 express lanes[20] are under construction
- Other future express lanes where tolls are not known before you make the trip.
Do note that to use an express lane, you must have a SunPass or other valid toll tag; Cash or TOLL-BY-PLATE is not accepted.
Disney World Florida Toll
main article: Disney World Florida tolls
The Disney World in Florida sees millions of footfalls every year from US and overseas. You may come across multiple toll roads, bridges and other toll facilities from your place to this destination. When you drive, the common mapping apps such as Google or Apple only show you travel time. You do not get to decide between trip time and trip cost. Disney World Toll Calcualtor shows both trip cost and time along with toll plaza location en route, their toll rates, payment methods and more.
Read more about Disney World Florida tolls and learn which route is more optimal to travel to Disney World from across the US.
How do you pay for toll in Florida
| Payment Method | Description |
|---|---|
| SunPass | A transponder that you mount on your windshield. When you drive through a toll gantry, your SunPass transponder is read and your tolls are automatically deducted from your account. SunPass offers the lowest toll rates in Florida. |
| Toll-by-Plate | A payment option for customers who do not have a SunPass transponder. When you drive through a toll gantry without a SunPass transponder, a photo of your license plate is taken. Your tolls will be mailed to you at the end of the month, plus a $2.50 administrative fee. |
| Cash | Can be used to pay tolls at some toll plazas in Florida. However, cash tolls are becoming increasingly rare. |
| Pay by Phone | A payment option that allows you to pay for tolls using your smartphone. To use Pay by Phone, you will need to create an account and download the Pay by Phone app. When you drive through a toll gantry, you will receive a text message with a link to pay for your tolls. |
| Pay Online | A payment option that allows you to pay for tolls using a credit or debit card. To pay online, you will need to create an account and visit the website of the Florida Department of Transportation. |
Check out the details of toll payment methods in Florida to see which payment method is accepted where.
How to pay missed toll in Florida
main article: How to Pay Missed Toll in Florida
If you missed paying a toll or do not have an active interoperable transponder in the vehicle when passing through an electronic toll gantry in Florida, then you would be charged through Toll-By-Plate. The vehicle owner receives a toll invoice over mail with details of the toll violation and fine.
On lanes with manned cash plazas, you must pay tolls before crossing the toll facility so there is no concern of missing a toll.
Learn about various ways to pay missed toll in Florida.
SunPass and other toll tags of Florida
main article: SunPass for Florida and Other States
SunPass is an electronic tag that you can install in your windshield to zoom through electronic toll gantries. It is a prepaid toll facility that works across all the Florida toll roads, turnpike, bridges etc. It can also be used in North Carolina and Gerogia. SunPass is interoperable with E-Pass, NC Quick Pass, Peach Pass, Uni, Leeway. It is not compatible with E-ZPass. However, SunPass Pro - a variant of SunPass - is compatible with E-ZPass and is also accepted in all the 17 stats where E-ZPass is valid.
Learn about SunPass tag transponder's working, registration, pricing and get answers to other FAQs regarding SunPass such as:
- How does a SunPass work?
- Where can I purchase a SunPass?
- Can I pay toll in Florida without a SunPass?
- Can I use SunPass in a rental vehicle?
How do rental cars pay tolls in Florida
Generally, all rental car companies in Florida (and elsewhere in the US) have their own toll payment plan as part of their subscription. They add the incurred toll charges in the bill along with handling charges. This is a convenient way to pay tolls for rental cars but is usually very expensive.
Alternatively, you can buy a SunPass tag (or use the one if you already have[21]) and use it in your rented vehicle. It is advised that while adding the rented car’s license plate in their SunPass account, they should add the start and end dates for the planned usage. Make sure to have no other active transponders in the vehicle beforehand and remove your transponder after your trip.
The same goes for other passes valid across Florida like NC Quick Pass, Peach Pass, and E-Pass.
Note: Do not rely on the TOLL-BY-PLATE payment option for rental cars as the toll invoices are sent to the registered owner of vehicle, not the driver.
Visitor Toll Pass
Visitor Toll Pass[22] is a free and temporary toll pass issued by the Central Florida Expressway Authority[23] to travellers and rental car users. These are available at Orlando International Airport and the vehicle must be returned there only. In general, it is much cheaper than rental car toll programs. The Visitor Toll Pass is now available at all participating SunPass locations. This includes participating Florida welcome centers, participating SunPass retail locations, and participating SunPass vending machines.The Visitor Toll Pass is now valid for use on all SunPass toll roads in Florida. This includes the Florida Turnpike, Suncoast Parkway, Beachline Expressway, Mid-Bay Bridge, Garcon Point Bridge, Seven Mile Bridge, Don Parkway, and LeeTran I-595 Express Lanes.
Is Highway 95 a toll road in Florida
Yes, Highway 95 or I95 is a toll road in Florida. It runs through the Miami Dade County between the Golden Glades interchange to downtown Miami for almost 7 miles.
Do note that i95 in Florida operate as an express lane.
Does EZ Pass work on 95 in Florida
Yes, E-ZPass works on 95 Express in Florida. In fact, it is accepted across the entire Florida toll facility and is even compatible with SunPass Pro.
Florida turnpike and other toll facilities agency contacts
The following agencies manage the Florida turnpike, toll roads, bridges and express lanes. For any questions about toll payment methods or your toll bill, please get in touch with the respective agency.
- Florida Turnpike Enterprise[24]
- Florida Department of Transportation[25]
- Central Florida Expressway Authority[26]
- Town of Bay Harbor Islands[27]
- Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority[28]
- Santa Rosa Island Authority[29]
- Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority[30]
- Monroe County[31]
- Dunes Community Development District[32]
- Miami-Dade County[33]
- Mid-Bay Bridge Authority[34]
- Lee County Department of Transportation[35]
- Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority[36]
- Osceola County[37]
- Miami-Dade Expressway Authority[38]
- Leon County[39]
- SunPass[40]
- SunPass wiki[41]
- LeeWay[42]
Calculate tolls for Florida and other states in the US
Calculate routes, tolls and fuel costs for your travel by car, truck, taxi, bus, caravans (with or without a trailer) in Florida and other states of the US using TollGuru Trip Calculator. It also shows the cheapest, fastest and other optimal routes to your destination along with toll plaza(s) location en route, payment methods and more.
Rideshare, OEM, TMS, fleet companies and other transport businesses can leverage toll intelligence by integrating with the TollGuru Toll API for pre-trip calculation and post-trip reconciliation.
FAQs
See also
References
- ↑ Most visited US states
- ↑ Florida leads nation in toll roads
- ↑ Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
- ↑ Toll rates for Florida Turnpike
- ↑ Broad Causeway
- ↑ Garcon Point Bridge (Toll 281)
- ↑ Pensacola Beach Bridge (Bob Sikes)
- ↑ Gasparilla Bridge (Boca Grande Swing Bridge)
- ↑ Card Sound
- ↑ Hammock Dunes Parkway Bridge
- ↑ Venetian Way Causeway
- ↑ Rickenbacker Causeway (Route 913)
- ↑ Mid-Bay Bridge Toll connector
- ↑ Cape Coral Bridge (Route 867 A)
- ↑ Midpoint Memorial Bridge
- ↑ Sanibel Causeway
- ↑ 95 Express lanes In Broward
- ↑ I-595 Express lanes
- ↑ I-295 Express lanes
- ↑ Seminole Expressway / SR 417 express lanes
- ↑ SunPass for rental cars
- ↑ Visitor Toll Pass
- ↑ Central Florida Expressway Authority
- ↑ Florida Turnpike Enterprise
- ↑ Florida Department of Transportation
- ↑ Central Florida Expressway Authority
- ↑ Town of Bay Harbor Islands
- ↑ Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority
- ↑ Santa Rosa Island Authority
- ↑ Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority
- ↑ Monroe County
- ↑ Dunes Community Development District
- ↑ Miami-Dade County
- ↑ Mid-Bay Bridge Authority
- ↑ Lee County Department of Transportation
- ↑ Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority
- ↑ Osceola County
- ↑ Miami-Dade Expressway Authority
- ↑ Leon County
- ↑ SunPass
- ↑ SunPass wiki
- ↑ LeeWay
