How to Travel Florida’s Interstate 4

If you live or travel in central Florida you'll probably have traveled the west-east route of I-4. But if you are traveling it and don't live there, this guide will help you navigate around its 132.298 miles (212.913 km) of roadway between Tampa's I-275 and Daytona Beach's I-95. showing you what to expect and/or wanting to learn the route.

1

Travel in Hillsborough County.

  1. In Hillsborough County, I-4 begins as a segment of I-275 N-S and is mostly just straight northeast-southwest travel but is signed as east-west until it exits the Tampa area near East Lake-Orient Park, FL, and travels on a more east-west route until it reaches Plant City's exit 25.
    • Locate the westernmost terminus of the I-4 signed route. From I-275 southbound, take exit 45A. However, from I-275 northbound, take exit 45B (unmentioned in the Wikipedia article).
      • In the heart of Malfunction Junction [1] , you will find the beginning of I-4's western termination spot. You will want to read signs carefully to ensure you don't miss the correct turn-off to ensure you get on the right highway.
      • Exit 45A is a route to downtown Tampa, then once signed I-4 begins, you'll encounter exit 1. But for those heading on I-4 westbound heading to I-275 N, you'll need to take exit 0 to I-275, and this will be signed as such.
    • Travel through Tampa's exits. In Tampa, exits exist. Exit 1 is for "Cruise Ships"/21st and 22nd Street, exit 2 is for Seimon Expressway (SR-618) towards Brandon and the Port of Tampa and 40th Street and exit 3 is for US-41 (Columbus Drive).
    • Travel through exits for East Lake-Orient Park. Exit 5 is for Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, exit 6 for Orient Rd, exit 7 for US-92 towards US-301 to Riverview and Busch Gardens, and exit 9 to I-75 towards Ocala and Naples.
      • The Florida State Fairgrounds takes place at exit 7, and you may see signs of it from the highway. But then look out for the uncommonness in the turbine interchange at exit 9 with Interstate 75. [2]
    • Travel through Mango's exit. Exit 10 is for Mango Rd (CR-579).
    • Travel through Dover's exits. Exit 14 is for Mcintosh Rd then exit 17 to Branch Forbes Rd.
      • At exit 17, Dinosaur World is an outdoor museum featuring models of dinosaurs that you can walk around and view. Its outside display is very visible from the highway.
    • Travel through Plant City's exits. Exit 19 is for Thonotassa Rd (SR-566), exit 21 is for SR-39, exit 22 is for Park Rd, and exit 25 is on the county line for County Line Rd.
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2

Travel in Polk County.

  1. It bobs and weaves around three big towns - traveling north of Lakeland, south of Polk City, and then north of Davenport.
    • Travel through Lakeland. You'll encounter Exit 27 (Polk Parkway towards Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Bartow), 28 (for US-92 towards Lakeland), exit 31 (as SR-539 towards Kathleen and Lakeland), exit 32 (for US-98 towards Lakeland and Dade City), 33 (for SR-33 and CR 82), 38 (for SR-33), and 41 (for SR-570 towards Auburndale and Lakeland).
      • Exit 41 hosts the Florida Polytechnic University location and you should be on the lookout. However, you might not see it from the highway.
      • Travel through what Floridians know as the Green Swamp. Between exits 38, 41, 44, 48, and 55, you may find that this area is somewhat foggy enough for Floridians to nickname it the "Green Swamp." It's mostly forest, but a swamp exists under those trees, and through that, fog may create accidents in the area. Many variable message signs are installed to warn drivers of the dangers in this area.
    • Travel through Auburndale's exit. Auburndale's exit 44 is for SR-559 towards Polk City and Auburndale.
      • Exit 44 serves Fantasy of Flight - an airplane museum. It's at the corner of SR-559 and SR-557A (the exit is signed SR-559).
    • Travel through unnamed cities for exit 48 (SR-557 towards Lake Alfred and Winter Haven).
    • Track through the routes for Haines City and Clermont at exit 55. This area is signed for US-27. Here, one exit has been set up for both Legoland Florida and Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center .
    • Travel through the county line exit in the western section of Four Corners. Exit 58 is for Poinciana and is signed as CR-532.
      • Exit 58 (CR-532/Champions Gate Blvd) gets motorists to either Champions Gate's commercial districts or Poinciana or Kissimmee.
3

Travel in Osceola County.

  1. At only 5 miles (8.0 km) in Osceola County, I-4 travels for the shortest distance and encounters four exits.
    • Travel through the easternmost exit for Four Corners. In Four Corners, you'll see exit 60 for the Western Expressway (SR-429).
      • Exit 60 is the Western Expressway heading towards Apopka. However, coming from Western Expressway, its exit onto I-4 leads you only onto I-4 eastbound.
    • Travel through Celebration's exits. Nearest Celebration, you'll have highway exits for the Central Florida GreeneWay (as exit 62), US-192/W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway towards Kissimmee, and Disney's Magic Kingdom and exit 65 for the Osceola Parkway towards Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios.
      • Exit 62 is for World Drive (heading north), but if you exit heading south towards Celebration Blvd, you'll venture into Celebration. Past the exit are express lanes set up for the Central Florida GreeneWay (FL-417), which exit onto World Drive - concurrent with the exit from I-4. Do not get off onto FL-417 or into the express lanes as they are meant for travelers to either Orlando International Airport (MCO) or Sanford (site of Amtrak's AutoTrain to Lorton, VA).
        • This same exit is a limited-access highway running north, and an electric pylon can be seen on the southwest corner of the intersection. However, at no time do you see any part of any of the parks from this highway. [3]
      • Near Exit 64, watch as the GreeneWay splits and veers to the edge of Celebration and into Kissimmee from the west. I-4 continues its northwest passage and takes you to the exit for West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway.
      • If you look to the other side of I-4, you should see ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex , as it hosts many sports events. This was the former spring training home of the Atlanta Braves but has since been vacated by the team for other locations in Florida.
      • Exit 65 is crucial for most Disney-bound travelers. Although Disney tries to keep their hotels and parks a partial secret - with high gates formed by trimmed hedges and other decorative pieces, from this exit you can easily get to Disney's Pop Century, Disney's Art of Animation Resorts, a back entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.
      • If you take this exit the opposite way, you'll go past the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, with its impressive ice displays around Christmastime and many more non-Disney affiliated attractions and resorts.
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4

Travel in Orange County.

  1. When it starts in Lake Buena Vista, it travels northeast-southwest. However, by the time it hits just south of Doctor Phillips, it's traveling on a more north path until it passes through Florida Center (southwest of Millenia) where it begins to travel northeast-southwest up until it reaches S John Young Pkwy where it becomes part of the I-4 Ultimate Express (a toll route) and curves in spots as it travels through Orlando. But by the time it reaches south of Fairview Shores- Eatonville, it continues its toll road and travels straight north until it exits the county.
    • Travel through Lake Buena Vista. Lake Buena Vista has a few exits. Exit 67 is SR-536 and SR-417 towards Epcot and Disney Springs. Exit 68 is SR-535 towards Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista and an unlabeled exit for the Daryl Carter Parkway.
      • Exit 67 (SR-536) is Epcot Center/World Center Drive. It serves as the entrance to Epcot, Disney Springs, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Riviera Resorts, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, Disney's Port Orleans and many more. If you exit out far enough, take Epcot Center Drive to World Dr (turn right), and you'll approach Disney's Magic Kingdom. Going the opposite direction, you'll reach other big brand hotels such as the Holiday Inn and Marriott, and a lot more with a connector off that!
      • Exit 68 will take you to other roads which take you to other roads which take you into other Disney properties through theme park main gate entrances. It's mostly for other hotels as the Hilton and Hyatt are off this route.
    • Travel through the Williamsburg. Exit 71 is for SeaWorld and Exit 72 is for the Beachline Expressway towards (Orlando) International Airport (MCO) and Cape Canaveral.
      • Exit 71 (Central Florida Parkway) is for Sea World and Discovery Cove.
      • Exit 72 is the tolled Beachline Expressway (Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway) which takes you to Orlando International Airport and Cape Canaveral.
    • Tackle Orlando's exits. ( Orlando has many exits, so this list is going to be somewhat consolidated in information. ) Exit 74A is for Sand Lake Rd, 74B, and 75A is for Universal on Universal Blvd and International Drive, then 75B for Kirkman Rd and International Drive, an unlabeled exit for Grand National Drive, exit 77 for Florida's Turnpike towards Miami and Ocala and another exit for Florida's Turnpike South, exit 78 Conroy Rd, exit 79 John Young Parkway. Exit 80 covers US-17, 92, 441; 80B covers US-17 N, US-92E, and US-441 N; 71 covers US-17 N, US-92 E and US-441 N and Kalsey Ave, then an unlabeled exit for SR-408 E, and exit 82 for the East-West Expressway, 82B covers Gore Street and Anderson St, 83 covers South Street and Anderson St, then there are some unlabeled exits for Anderson St, South Street, and SR-408 W, and exit 82A for SR-408 (East-West Expressway).
      • Pass by The Wheel at ICON Park - a slow-moving, sightseeing Ferris wheel allowing guests to look out from standing or sitting positions 400 feet (120 m) in the air. [4] But with its bright and colorful lighting, this Ferris wheel is more gorgeous at night!
      • Exit 74A (Sand Lake Rd) is driveable to WonderWorks, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and other attractions on International Drive.
        • At this same exit, you can also find the World's Largest Entertainment McDonalds, and which can be seen from the interstate. Besides McDonald's staple foods, it also contains McDonalds foods seen nowhere else - including pizza, pasta, Philly cheesesteaks, waffles, customizable burgers, real plates, and lots of layer cakes with an ice cream bar. It is technically located at 6875 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL, but you'll see it from the exit.
      • Look out for exit 74B. It has Universal Orlando, the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and the Loews Portofino Bay Resort.
      • Exit 75 is notorious as a second exit for Universal Orlando, but only use it if locals say you should try to get out there because it passes so quickly and it is a multi-lane highway heading north-south.
      • Watch out for traffic from exit 77. At exit 77, you'll find Florida's Turnpike - a north-south toll route. With ties to Orlando International Premium Outlets, if you take the toll road south one exit (that comes up quickly), you can avoid a long wait.
      • Look out for more shopping at the indoor large shopping malls "Mall at Millenia" or "Millenia Plaza" (an outdoor grocery shop) at exit 78.
        • Going the opposite direction at exit 78, you'll find the Holy Land Experience for a religious theme park.
      • Watch out for hospital traffic at exit 81B-C - Kaley Ave. One way heads towards Orlando Regional Medical Center, Palmer Hospital for Children, Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, and the Orlando Health Amtrak Station, and the other way heads towards Clear Lake and the few businesses down that road.
      • Don't lose your place for the East-West Expressway at exit 82A. This is a toll route.
      • The Gore St exit (exit 82B) is only for those coming onto I-4 and doesn't exit onto Gore St. Instead, 82B heads out at Anderson and South Streets towards the Amway and History Centers.
      • Do not look for an exit at 83 towards South Street heading eastbound. Look for one heading west, as you prepare to exit at exit 82B and take that to South Street instead.
    • Travel through Orlando's northern suburb. The other part of Orlando includes exit 83A for Robinson St/SR-526, exit 84A for Colonial Drive and Amelia Street, 84B- towards Colonial Drive W and Ivanhoe Blvd, 85 for Princeton St, and exit 86 for Par Street.
      • US17 and SR50 run both east and west at exits 84B and 84A. This street is signed as exit 83A heading westbound.
      • Be careful of exit 85 towards Princeton St. This exit serves AdventHealth Orlando.
      • Watch out as you pass out of Orlando - for Par St. It has an exit heading eastbound, but you can only try to enter I-4 heading westbound.
    • Travel through Winter Park. Winter Park has two exits; exit 87 for Fairbanks Avenue and exit 88 at Lee Rd.
      • Don't worry too much about exit 87. Besides AdventHealth Center Care Kids and the Speedway gas station, some restaurants and car service centers are located down Fairbanks Ave.
      • Utilize exit 88 (Lee Rd) as a hotel-geared road/highway only. It has an adult urgent care center on the opposite side of I-4 a few blocks down, but a few hotels exist on the opposite side of the street with some restaurants following them.
    • Travel through Maitland. Maitland isn't a large pair of exits and covers exit 90A-B for Maitland Blvd, and 90C for Lake Destiny Rd.
      • Don't fret about exit 90. It might be an annoying roadway (due to its multi-laned structure), but it has some value. It has access to the IRS building (which can be seen from the offramp, and iHeartMedia.
5

Travel in Seminole County.

  1. Inside Seminole County, you'll travel almost completely straight until you reach a point north of Sanlando Springs when it turns to travel northeast and travels like that until you reach Lake Monroe and the exit in Volusia County.
    • Travel through Altamonte Springs. Exit 92 is for SR-436 towards Altamonte Springs and Apopka, as well as an unsigned route for Central Parkway.
      • At exit 92, SR-436 serves as a gateway to AdventHealth Altamonte - a hospital, and this also serves as a town center to Altamonte's commercial area containing hotels and restaurants and a Christmas Tree Shops boutique store serving items at discounted rates all year long!
    • Exit off the end of the I-4 Express lanes just north of Altamonte Springs. This is if you are traveling in them (eastbound). Exit into these lanes if you are traveling westbound.
    • Travel through Wekiwa Springs. Here, you'll have exit 94 for SR-434 towards Longwood and Winter Springs.
      • At exit 94, you'll have access to a Mobil gas station at the highway's edge and other commercial buildings down SR-434.
    • Travel past the only rest area for eastbound travelers at the Longwood Rest Area. The other one is for westbound travelers and is found near Polk City.
    • Travel through Lake Mary's exits. Lake Mary has two exits - 98 towards the lake, Heathrow and Orlando's Sanford Airport (SFB), and 101A for CR-46A towards Sanford and the Town of Heathrow.
      • Stop into the Walmart at exit 101A only if you need to buy something. Otherwise, don't worry about this exit very much. No purchasable souvenirs exist except Central Florida souvenirs.
    • Travel through Sanford. Sanford hosts two exits. 101B for the Seminole Expressway and International Airports, and exit 101C for SR-46 to Mount Dora and the Sanford Historic District.
    • Travel through Lake Monroe (city)'s exits. Lake Monroe only has exit 104 for US-17 and US-92.
      • Only use exit 104 as a Central Florida Regional Hospital medical-only exit.
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6

Travel across the St John's River Veterans Memorial Bridge

  1. It is untolled, making this bridge easy to cross. On this bridge's segment, I-4 travels looser northeast-southwest for .8089 kilometres (0.5026 mi).
    • Sailboats sometimes make their way into Lake Monroe, but that doesn't happen often.
7

Travel in Volusia County.

  1. As I-4 travels through Volusia County, it travels northeast but eases south of Deltona to where I-4 travels less northeast until the Volusia County Fair exit north of Lake Helen, where it turns back as tight as it originally was and travels like that until it reaches the exit before I-95 where it turns on a direct east-west route where it travels through one exit and comes very close to US-92 east of the Tiger Bay Forest exit (exit 129).
    • Travel through Deltona's exit. Deltona has exit 108 for Debary Ave.
      • At exit 108, you'll find the Welcome Center, an IHOP, Burger King, and Hardees.
    • Travel through Orange City's exits. Exit 111A and 111B cover both Deltona and Orange City with 111B including the AdventHealth Fish Memorial Hospital and a few restaurants.
      • Popular within a few blocks of the interstate, you'll find a Wendy's Restaurant and a Walgreens.
    • Travel through northern Deltona. Exit 114 is for SR 472 towards Deltona and DeLand. It covers Halifax Health and an Amazon Distribution Plant (MCO2).
    • Travel through Lake Helen. Lake Helen has exit 116 at Orange Camp Rd/W Main Street. At this exit, you'll see the Central Florida Preparatory Academy and some of the city buildings for Lake Helen.
    • Travel through DeLand. DeLand has one exit (exit 118) for SR 44 towards New Smyrna Beach and the DeLand Historic District.
      • At the SR-44 exit (118), I-4 widens to become a 6-lane highway (3 lanes going each way). [5]
      • While eastbound, this exit is signed as 118A, westbound sees this as 118B. This exit also heads towards another Historic District - while this exit has connections to Smyrna Beach on the Atlantic Ocean beachside towns.
    • Travel through unlabeled cities west of Daytona Beach.
      • There's an exit 129 for US-92 and Daytona International Airport; there's an exit 132A for SR-400 and South Daytona, and exit 132B for I-95 and US-92 where I-4 merges onto I-95, as well as some traffic heading into Downtown Daytona on I-4's secondary-named road (SR-400).
      • Exit 132 is signed as 132A heading east (north) and 132B heading west (south).
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8

Learn About the Connector Route

  1. But there's also a 4.216 miles (6.785 km) connector route - Beville Rd (State Rd 400) - that connects I-4 to US-1 further to the east. It's slower but has no exit signage and numerous traffic lights. At its easternmost end, it has a one-way street extending out to US-1 going in the opposite direction.
    • Get yourself away from I-95 to get yourself onto the right road. Near the overpass with Tomoka Farms Rd, you'll need to bear right just before the overpass with Tomoka Farms Rd but follow signs onto SR-400. If it doesn't, you might end up getting onto I-95 going south and you'll want to get out and right back onto I-95 going north following signs for SR-400.
    • The first traffic light is at South Williamson Blvd - 3 blocks past I-95. S Williamson Blvd is associated with a route towards Daytona International Speedway and Daytona International Airport.
    • The second traffic light is at Pelican Bay Drive's east roadway. This intersection is to the east of S Williamson Blvd and is associated with townhouse properties.
    • The third traffic light is at S Clyde Morris Blvd. This intersection is five intersections away from Pelican Bay Drive's intersection. There is a 7-11, Circle K, Dollar Tree, Taco Bell, and Walgreens nearby, with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University also nearby.
    • There's a fourth traffic light at an intersection of a road also named Beville Rd. This Beville Rd is five intersections down SR-400 past S Clyde Morris Blvd. (You could see how confusing this could be, so people just talk about the names and leave things at that.)
    • There's a fifth traffic light at Nova Rd. Nova Rd is two intersections east of Beville Rd on SR-400 and according to Wikipedia is associated with a museum, and Bethune Cookman University. [6]
    • There's a sixth traffic light at Magnolia Ave. Magnolia Ave is two intersections away from Nova Rd, past some commercial buildings in Downtown.
    • There's a seventh traffic light at Golfview Blvd. Golfview Blvd is four intersections away from Magnolia Ave.
    • There's an eighth traffic light at S Ridgewood Ave where this road will terminate at US-1. S Ridgewood Ave is three intersections away from Golfview Blvd and is associated with Daytona Beach, S Daytona, and the Convention Center.
    • The opposing street - a third Beville Rd - is a one-way street heading west! This street comes back from the shoreline view of the Halifax River and Daytona Beach Shores on the opposite side overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

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      Tips

      • Wikipedia and Google Maps both say it is concurrent with Florida Road 400 [7] , yet it's only signed on Google Maps at certain zoom levels (when that concurrent connection appears on I-4). However, Wikipedia also says that this route travels on relatively the same path as the Sanford-Tampa Railroad Line first used in 1884. [8]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4
      2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4
      3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4
      4. ↑ https://www.iconparkorlando.com/attractions/the-wheel/
      5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4
      6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4
      7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4
      8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_4

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