Author Topic: Orlando to Miami route  (Read 16083 times)

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Offline RicemanDan

Orlando to Miami route
« on: October 11, 2010, 12:16:53 pm »
Hi

I've heard of 3 routes for Orlando - Miami: East coast, west coast and down the centre. Does anybody have any experience or advice on any of the 3?


Offline tonythomson

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2010, 01:06:18 pm »
Check out ACA "connector" plus go out on you can head west on the Orange Rail to Trail and pick up the 50 which takes you to another rails to trails heading south (can't remember the name) don't go as far as the Withalachoochee Trail - I'll look it up later.  Or the orange Trail meets up with the ACA Connector.

But there are many Floridian cyclists here who can give you other ideas.  Of course there is always the ACA Atlantic coast route.
Just starting to record my trips  www.tonystravels.com

Offline Tourista829

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2010, 06:33:51 pm »
How long do you have for your trip? Here is an idea. Cutting over to the coast and taking, I believe, Section 7, of the East Coast route. down to Miami. Another option is take route 27 all the way to Miami. (not the most picturesque) If you got time, I like the the AC connector to Fort Myers Beach. I ltook the ferry to Key West and then riding back to Miami. Then back to Orlando, or take the train home, from Miami, if time is short. Florda is bigger than you think.

Offline RicemanDan

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2010, 11:09:03 pm »
Thanks guys

I have plenty of time. I fly home from Miami on the 26th, so need to find things to do in the meantime. I will go leisurely to Miami and take the best route I can. Best = quiet, scenic etc. 

Offline tonythomson

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2010, 07:21:12 am »
http://www.traillink.com/trailsearch.aspx?tn=&st=FL&ct=&sp=N

The trail I was thinking of was General James Van Fleet - early morning and sure to see plenty of wild life - but there are many good trails in Florida that you could string together if not in a hurry.  I know I'm a big fan of R to T. Try the link above.
Just starting to record my trips  www.tonystravels.com

Offline RicemanDan

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2010, 08:33:45 pm »
Nice site. Shame they are all the same however: wanting you to subscribe.

I like the look of the 15/441, going round the east side of lake Okeechobee, as I'm staying in Winter Park and it would cut out most of busy Orlando. It looks like it could be a quiet route?

I use the ACA maps, but only when they are given to me. They certainly do not warrant $11/15 for my use. I would have missed all of the scenic gulf coast 98 if I'd stuck to their going through urbanised route 90.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2010, 05:27:43 am »
If it were myself, I would make a bee line to the east coast and follow the islands to Miami. Then, there is the west coast to Tamiami Trail and east to Miami across the everglades. You wouldn't want to miss the everglades. There are inland roads such as 441 which I have used which were OK for cycling. Highway 27 as far south as, say, the Yeehaw Junction parallel was the worst possible road for cycling when I used it last.

Offline RicemanDan

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2010, 12:56:10 pm »
All interesting comments. I'm sat having lunch, with a couple who live in Winter park and ride Florida tip to tip annually. Ken said the 27 is a new road with shoulders and quite likes it. The key is that he is not bothered by heavy traffic. It's important to highlight the needs and quirks of individual riders when taking comments on board. I myself used to commute 15 miles each way to work back home in Plymouth, England on a constant stream of flowing traffic with a shoulder for less than 15% of the time. It went across moorland always on a single track road where drivers would hit 60mph, but that was what I was used to and did it for years without ever thinking it was bad.

Now I have shoulders regularly in the US, I'm not sure what it will be like to go back to, but it will be interesting.

I'll definitely try out the everglades, but at the moment, I'm no clearer in what way I want to get down there. A1A, 441, 27.... 

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2010, 05:23:31 am »
When it comes to Florida the population and the traffic increase significantly during the winter. I took off on a cross-country tour. From Vero Beach I took highway sixty? to Yeehaw Junction. From there I got on highway 27 going north. 27 had shoulders, yes, completely covered with coarse and fine gravel. Mufflers, sticks, car parts, and many kinds of debris covered most all the shoulder surfaces making them useless for a loaded touring bike with high pressure tires. The useless shoulders force the cyclist to use the main motorized part of the road.The traffic at many times looked like a train going by. It was that dense. It was extremely loud and fast. Hours of bicycle riding in those conditions, especially if it is day after day, can be nerve wracking, not to mention the fact that it might increase your chances of getting hit.

Highway 27 has been there for decades. If they have renewed it or cleaned off the shoulders in areas, that's good. I have not seen it recommended on any bicycle  maps. It might be ok in some areas in summer when traffic is not so thick, but where I was  at that time of year I got off it at the first opportunity. I not only do not recommend it where I used it, but I strongly advise any cyclist to avoid it.

441 to Okeechobee and around the lake might be a good way to go. From Moore Haven take local roads to Fort Myers and south to Naples. Or, from Moore Haven you can take local roads to near Everglades City and go east on Tamiami Trail across  the everglades to Miami. You might want to avoid going directly into Miami by going east of the large gambling casino. It had a reputation for being a high crime area when I went through there.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2010, 05:31:48 am by Westinghouse »

Offline tonythomson

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2010, 11:30:18 am »
I'll go along with Westinghouse to give 27 a big miss.  Well that narrows it down a bit but there are roads running parallel-ish to it you can take.  If you end up on the 33 from off the 50 (still prefer to use Van Fleet Trail) there is an airstrip just south of Groveland and they will let you camp there - used for micro light flights. 
Just starting to record my trips  www.tonystravels.com

Offline RicemanDan

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2010, 12:12:55 pm »
Thanks again guys

Good comments and I'm now much clearer about a route. I'll take the 441 to Okeechobee and from there go on the dyke, I was told about, around the east side of the lake. I'll come right around toward Moore Haven and take the small/local roads south toward Everglade city and then the Tamiami trail to Miami.

Sorted!  :)


Lucky13

  • Guest
Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2010, 04:25:39 pm »
...some more info on Lake Okeechobee.

The dike is paved on the east side from the Kissimmee River down to Port Mayaca. At that point, you'd have to grab the nearby Hwy. 441 which parallels the dike. Construction is taking place further south on the levee. The roads around the lake aren't too bad, though. Most all have paved shoulders or a bike lane. There are a few rough patches but nothing that should stop a bicycle tourist.

Another option is to ride Hwy. 78 along the west side of the lake all the way down to Moore Haven. That shouldn't be too bad of a ride - some parts can be downright lonely with nothing but pastures and cabbage palms for company. At Moore Haven, the dike is paved running south to the bottom of the lake.

If heading south towards Everglades City, Hwy. 29 is rideable. I've ridden the section from I-75 south to Everglades City and Chokoloskee. It has a wide paved shoulder and good sight lines. There's not much out there but swamp - bring plenty of water.

Offline RicemanDan

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2010, 05:32:50 pm »
Thanks Lucky

I was just google street mapping the everglades and think I'll give it a miss! :) Could be a bit "samey/swampy" for too long and as you say, you'd need plenty of water/supplies. I had quite a bit of that feeling on the 98 after Port St Joe (to Apalachicola). 

Think I'll just head to Miami from okeechobee after all! Mind changes, arghhh!


Offline Westinghouse

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2010, 06:23:18 am »
Keeping watered across the glades is no problem. There are several places for food and water. A little planning ahead will get you there easily. There are many alligators, but also several good and safe paces to camp. I have cycled across the glades twice and taken the routes I suggested to you with no problem except for going across from Moore Haven to Fort Myers where the shoulder disappeared intermittently and traffic in long lines strangely coincidentally came abreast of me at those shoulderless stretches every time and at no other streches), gave me no consideration, and forced me off the road. It was dive or die. It was criminally inconsiderate. It was winter.

Offline bobtobias

Re: Orlando to Miami route
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2010, 12:44:11 pm »
This past spring I rode north from Fort Pierce to Kissimmee and took Hwy 60 west to 441.  Then north on 441 to Canoe Creek Road.  It was a good route with little traffic.
Old Canoe Creek Road has no shoulders but little traffic.  441 has good shoulders and goes all the way to Lake O.  I believe there is some work being done on the dike and would suggest checking it out.  A1A is a nice ride south to Miami.  Good luck and have a safe trip.