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Florida's Turnpike

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Florida's Turnpike (also called the Florida Turnpike) is a toll road that runs 265 miles or 426 kilometers down the Florida peninsula through 11 counties, from Interstate 75 at Wildwood, to near Miami. It runs through Orlando, where it crosses Interstate 4; and West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, where it parallels Interstate 95, often literally next to it. The Homestead Extension (HEFT) runs from north of Miami down through the western suburbs, to near Homestead.

The first 110 miles (177km) from Golden Glades to Fort Pierce opened in 1957 as the Sunshine State Parkway, under the former Florida State Turnpike Authority. The second section from Fort Pierce to Wildwood, was finished in 1964. The 47-mile (76km) Homestead Extension was completed in 1974.

Tolls on the turnpike are set at 6¢ per mile (about 3¾¢ per kilometer) for two-axle vehicles, and are lifted when it is being used for a hurricane evacuation route. Payment is via coins and SunPass electronic toll collection near the urban and suburban areas of Miami and Orlando, and via ticket the rest of the way (south of Kissimmee and north of Lantana).

The system is operated at a significant profit for the state, which then uses the money for other road projects. Management is by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Exits on the highway are on the mile-log system, even when Florida's interstate highways were sequential. Rest areas (called service plazas on the turnpike) also have these "exit" numbers. Motorist-aid call boxes are located on both outside shoulders of the road every mile, and send only a singal indicating the need for gasoline, repair (tire or engine), or emergency services (police, ambulance, or firefighters).

Service plazas are open 24 hours per day, most having Burger King and TCBY fast food. Other services include Internet access, travel and tourism info and tickets, picnic areas, TV news, Florida Lottery, and of course restrooms and public phones. SunPass transponders are available at all locations.

Interchanges and service plazas

From north to south, numbers are mileposts, plazas are in italics, major interchanges in bold.

  • Wildwood (Interstate 75)
  • 299 Okahumpka
  • 263 Turkey Lake
  • Orlando (Interstate 4)
  • 229 Canoe Creek
  • 184 Fort Drum
  • 144 Fort Pierce
  • 94 West Palm Beach
  • Fort Lauderdale (Sawgrass Expressway)
  • 65 Pompano
  • Golden Glades (Homestead Extension)
  • 19 Snapper Creek

Other roads

The turnpike system also extends to several other toll roads in the state:


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