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Driving in Florida
Driving Tips
Of course, remember to drive on the right side of the road.
Legal speed limits are posted on the right side of the road.
You may turn right at a red light after coming to a complete stop, unless a sign indicating “no right on red” is posted at the intersection.
Headlights must be on from dusk to dawn, as well as in fog or rain. Turn off windscreen wipers when stopping at tollbooths.
When law enforcement vehicles are in one of the “break-down” lanes, either assisting a motorist or pulling over a speeding vehicle, you must move to the far lane, away from the police.
Law requires wearing your seat belt. In addition, children under age 4 or less than 40 pounds (15 kg) must be in a child car seat, usually available from your car hire company.
Driving while drinking alcohol or while under the influence of alcohol is illegal. Appoint a “designated driver” in your group who will drink only non-alcoholic beverages and drive home safely.
Drivers may dial *FHP on Florida interstates and highways in an emergency to reach the Florida Highway Patrol (state police).
Some interstate highways have tolls - The Florida Turnpike (Ocala to Homestead), Alligator Alley (1-75 between Miami and Naples), and the Bee Line Expressway (Orlando to Cape Canaveral) are examples. Many coastal islands have bridges at which a fare is also charged.
Driving Times Between Florida Cities
Note: Driving times are in hours and are approximate. Actual driving time will vary depending on weather, traffic and road construction.
Bradenton
Clearwater
Cocoa Beach
Daytona Beach
Ft. Lauderdale
Ft. Myers
Ft. Pierce
Gainesville
Jacksonville
Key West
Kissimmee
Miami
Bradenton
*
1
3.5
3.5
4
2
3
3.5
5
7
2
4.5
Clearwater
1
*
3.5
3.5
5.5
2.5
3
2.5
4
9
2
5.5
Cocoa Beach
3.5
3.5
*
1.5
4
4
1.5
4
3.5
8
0.5
4
Daytona Bch
3.5
3.5
1.5
*
5
4.5
3
2
2
9
1
5.5
Ft. Lauderdale
4
5.5
4
5
*
3
2
6.5
7
4
4
0.5
Ft. Myers
2
2.5
4
4.5
3
*
2.5
5
6
6
3
3
Ft. Pierce
3
3.5
1.5
3
2
2.5
*
4.5
4.5
5.5
2
2.5
Gainesville
3
2.5
4
2
6.5
5
4.5
*
1.5
10
3.5
7
Jacksonville
5
4
3.5
2
7
6
4.5
1.5
*
11.5
3.5
7.5
Key West
7
9
8
9
4
6
5.5
10
11.5
*
8.5
3.5
Kissimmee
2
2
1
1.5
4
3
2.5
2.5
3
7
*
4.5
Miami
4.5
5.5
4
5.5
0.5
3
2.5
7
7.5
3.5
4.5
*
Naples
2.5
2.5
3.5
5
2
1
3
5.5
6.5
5.5
4
2.5
Ocala
3
2
2.5
2
5.5
3
4
1
2.5
9
2
6
Orlando
2.5
2.5
1.5
1
4.5
3
2.5
2.5
3
9
0.5
5
Panama City
7.5
7
8
7
12
9
9
5
5.5
16.5
7.5
11.5
Pensacola
9
8.5
10
9
13
11
11
7
7.5
19
9.5
14
Sarasota
0.5
1
4
4
4.5
1.5
3
4
5
8
1.5
4.5
St. Augustine
4.5
4
2.5
1
6
5
4
1.5
1
10.5
3
6.5
St. Pete
0.5
0.5
3.5
3.5
5
2.5
3.5
3
4.5
8.5
2.5
5
Stuart
3.5
4
2
3
2
3
0.5
5
5
5
2.5
2
Tallahassee
5.5
5
6.5
5
9.5
7.5
7
3
3.5
14.5
6
10
Tampa
1
0.5
3
3
5.5
2.5
3
2.5
4.5
9
1.5
9.5
W Palm Bch
3.5
4.5
3
4
1
3
1
5.5
5.5
5
3
1.5
Naples
Ocala
Orlando
Panama City
Pensacola
Sarasota
St. Augustine
St. Pete
Stuart
Tallahassee
Tampa
W Palm Beach
Bradenton
2.5
3
2.5
7.5
9
0.5
4.5
0.5
3.5
5.5
1
3.5
Clearwater
3.5
2
2.5
7
8.5
1
4
0.5
4
5
0.5
4.5
Cocoa Beach
5
2.5
1.5
8
10
4
2.5
3.5
2
6.5
3
3
Daytona Bch
5
2
1
7
9
4
1
3.5
3
5
3
4
Ft. Lauderdale
2
5.5
4.5
12
13
4.5
6
5
2
9.5
5.5
1
Ft. Myers
1
4
3
9
11
1.5
5
2.5
3
7.5
2.5
3
Ft. Pierce
3
4
2.5
9
11
3
4
8
0.5
7
3
1
Gainesville
5.5
1
2.5
5
7
4
1.5
3
5
3
2.5
5.5
Jacksonville
6.5
2
3
5.5
7.5
5
1
4.5
5
3.5
4.5
5.5
Key West
5.5
9
9
16.5
18.5
8
10.5
8.5
5
14.5
9
5
Kissimmee
3.5
0
0.5
7
9
2.5
2.5
2
2.5
5
1.5
3
Miami
2.5
6
5
11.5
14
4.5
6.5
5
2
10
5.5
1.5
Naples
*
5
4
9
11.5
2
6
3
3.5
8
4
3
Ocala
5
*
1.5
5
7
3
2
2
4
3.5
2
5
Orlando
4
1.5
*
7
9
3
2
2.5
3
5.5
2
3.5
Panama City
10
5
7
*
2
8
6
7
9
2
7
10
Pensacola
11.5
7
9
2
*
10
8
9
11
4
9
12
Sarasota
2
3
3
8
10
*
5
1
3.5
6
1
3.5
St. Augustine
6
2
2
6
8
5
*
4
4
4
4
5
St. Petersburg
3
2
2.5
7
9
1
4
*
4
5
0.5
4
Stuart
3.5
4
3
9
11
3.5
4
4
*
7.5
3.5
1
Tallahassee
8
3.5
5.5
2
4
6
4
5
7.5
*
5
8
Tampa
3.5
2
2
7
9
1
4
0.5
3.5
5
*
4
W Palm Beach
3
5
3.5
10
12
3.5
5
4
1
8
4
*
Car hire
To hire a car you must have your driving licence, passport and a credit card. The minimum age for car hire is 21, but some agencies will charge more for drivers under 25 years of age. Major companies will allow you to pick up a car in one location and drop it off in another (for an extra charge). You can generally make reservations before you leave your country, either by phone or online. Here are links to some commonly used international car hire agencies:
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