how long does it take to drive miami to disney

[domster]

We have done it in around 5 hours. This was driving like miss daisy!!

DOM

[florida]

We flew into Miami got courtesy transport from airport to the 'Thunderbird Hotel' which is right on the beach, had a nice evening meal and then to bed. Woke up the next morning feeling really refreshed, crossed over the road and picked our car up from the dollar rental office, couldn't of been easier. If you like shopping it's worth stopping at Sawgrass Mills shopping mall at Fort Lauderdale on you way to Orlando. The journey after that was horrendous as we drove for over 4 hours through the worst storm I have ever known and all I can say is that I was glad that we were driving during the day and not at night, although it was almost pitch black.

[ellie]

We drive up from Miami to Orlando frequently, and will be doing it again on the 16th.

We always use the Florida Turnpike as it is far less busy than the I95, which is simly murderous, and has accidents on a daily basis, with huge traffic jams. My daughter has been working in the Boca Raton area and would advise avoiding it at all costs. It is well worth paying the tolls($13.70 when we were there at Christmas) Keep a few quarters and dollars ready though, as there are a couple of tolls on the way. If you are driving back from Orlando to Miami Airport then make use of the special HOV lanes which are for high occupancy vehicles,as this lane is much quicker and detours away from the main I95, on a high level stretch of road just outside Miami. It rejoins it just before the airport turn-off.

Miami is very busy, and remains so until north of Boca Raton, Exit 75 Glades Rd, so do allow for this. There are a lot of road works in the area of the airport, so when you have collected your car, follow the directions out of the depot and keep looking for the signs for the Florida Turnpike North. Use the Dolphin Expressway Toll Rd WEST which leads you onto the Florida Turnpike at exit 26. This may look longer, but it avoids the I95 and may well save you time.

Alternatively, you can head east and take the 836 EAST to the I-95
The I-95 joins a spur of the Florida Turnpike at Junction 17. Keep to the left and follow the signs to the Florida Turnpike North (Orlando) This section of the Turnpike will join the main western part of the turnpike at this spur, so just keep watching for the signs north to Orlando.

There are numerous Service Plazas on the Florida Turnpike but you would probably be better to wait until you have negotiated the road round Miami before you stop – there is a service area at Pompano Beach (Mile Post 65) or at West Palm Beach (Mile Post 94). Most, but not all, of the service plazas are accessed from the left hand side, which is a bit unusual as most exits are on the right hand side, so be prepared to come over to the left hand lane as you approach the service area if you need to. (These plazas are often built to straddle the turnpike, and therefore can be accessed from each side of the road, unlike in the UK where service areas are specific to the side of the motorway you are on, and cannot be accessed from each side). These Service areas are very clean with good toilet facilities and have variety of food outlets – unlike in the UK they do not overcharge you for the privilege of visiting them.

Our tip would be to ask for a map of the Turnpike when you reach the toll booth - if they don't have one you will find them in the service areas. They are very useful as they show exactly where each service area is, and what 'eateries' there are. The service areas are spaced out at approximately 40 mile intervals. It's a help if you have children to have several of these maps so they can chart your progress,and you can also decide when to stop.

Once on the Turnpike, just north of Pompano Beach and just before you get to Lake Worth/West Palm Service Station, you will reach a tollbooth at Exit 88, Lantana Toll Booth. This is where you will be given a computerised ticket which will log your tolls throughout your journey, so that you pay at the end of your journey – you will not have to stop at tollbooths on the way until you get to the end of the road. You will not pay until the Three Lakes Toll Plaza at Milepost 236.

The Turnpike is numbered in miles from its beginning, south of Miami.

The only part which may be a bit confusing is just north of Miami when the Florida Turnpike rejoins its spur at Exit 48. Just keep following the signs Florida Turnpike North (Orlando). You will need everyone to concentrate at this point, especially if you have just come off a transatlantic flight and may be feeling a bit weary – plus you have had to adjust to driving on the right.

We normally try to avoid the 192 but of course it depends where you are aiming for. We follow the Turnpike all the way to Exit 249 where y