Turnpike toll takers
 

My husband and I will be coming to TV in 2 weeks and will be taking the FL Turnpike. I heard that there are no longer toll people at the toll booths. Does this mean we need exact change? Or, does everyone need a Sunpass? Maybe I'm wrong, but thought that's what I heard.

As of 2 weeks ago there were still toll takers in most toll places. There are several exit and entry ramps where there is no human. Lots of folks using Sunpass but you can chunk in several different coins to meet the toll amounts. I believe it takes anything other than pennies.

turn pike toll takers
 

GET A SUN PASS!
Go on line to Fl. Sunpass & For $4.99 U can get a credit card size transduser that pastes onto your windshield & get the card recharged by taking $ off your cr. card when balance gets under $5.00. PLUS the $4.99 cost of the transducer gets added back to your balance for paying tolls.
Also with your SUN PASS U get REDUCED RATES on ALL Fl. tolls!!! IT'S A NO BRAINER!

you can also use it at the airport parking garage.

People were working the booths today when I came through.

I notice your from New York. If coming from the north you will not get on the Florida Turnspike.

I thought so, but I was afraid to say that. Not to worry, Happinow, you won't need to get on a toll road to get here.

Toll booths from Wildwood south to a little past the Orlando metropolitan area are manned. They become unmanned as you travel towards Miami. A camera takes a picture of your license plate and sends you a bill for the unmanned tolls a few weeks later. At least this is how it was a couple of months back when we went to Key West.

What I wonder is this...what if you are driving a rental car? Does the rental company pay the toll or do they pass the toll charges on to the renter once they receive the bill?

When you rent the car, they ask if you want the "sun pass". If you say yes, they charge you a certain amount each day of your rental -- no matter how much or how little you use the sun pass. I ordered a transponder from Sun Pass and use it on my rental car -- but I have to call Sun Pass with the license plate of the rental car.
If you don't sign-up for the Sun Pass when renting, they charge you a hefty anmount.

Better way to TV from airport??
 

We will be coming from Orlando Airport and we only know to come via the Turnpike. We once went through Apopka and it seemed the long way. Are we missing something? We've always come from I4 to 27 and 27 to Lady Lake. Do you have a better way? Once we live there I'll bet we'll figure something different out.

OH.. I thought you were driving from New York.

Oh gosh, Gracie. We are not long distance drivers at all! The longest we will drive is about 1- 1 1/2 hours away. We will fly into Orlando (we hate flying also that's why we have to take Xanax) and drive from there. We just started taking something so we didn't freak out while flying. I used to cry for most of the flight (2 3/4 hours) because I was so scared! Now, It makes me sleep and I fly just fine. My husband is a "white knuckle" flyer. Every time there's a bump he grabs the arm rest with white knuckles! The little pill calms him enough too.

what you may possibly be hearing is that in recent years there has been much toll construction, putting in the drive fast Sun Pass readers. There are usualy 3 of these lanes for Sun Pass holders. As one approaches these "fast" lanes there will be a jog to the right for non Sun Pass holders. There will be booths for exact change as well as attended booths....just not as many as there once was.

Get a Sun Pass you will be very happy to have done so. Even if you don't use it very often you will be glad to have it.

btk

We live 10 miles North of the the airport in Baldwin Park and are going back to TV next week for the LSV.

From where we are we take the 408 toll road to the FL turnpike to TV. Its about 65 miles from our house.

You can take Semoran Blvd. (436) North out of the airport which is well marked as the "North" exit and pickup the 408 about 6-7 miles N of OIA.

The slow way is through Apopka and Mount Dora which is a nice little town with a Midwest feel. We see lots of Tvers there.

From the airport take 528 west to the Florida Turnpike north. Stay on the TP to the Wildwood exit, around mile post 304. Take 301 north to the first traffic light which is 44, turn right (east) to Buena Vista Blvd.........and you are in TV. Drive time 1 hour 5 minutes.

...EXACTLY.......have you been followin' me?..or have I been followin' yee ?

..For what it is worth (FWIW)

... The 528 is the "BEACHline"...(formerly known as the BEEline).

..Coming or going...on 528 ...NEAR THE AIRPORT......55 MPH Speed Limit.
..Lots of UNmarked silver Chargers and white Camaros....please keep it to 55
....... until you are PAST the Airport reduced speed zone......
SO MANY lost people in rental cars...
......................... and gonna miss their flight crazies...
....It SHOULD be 45 mph to accomodate DUH OLD FARTS like ME...
...........................and in case You did NOT get the "MEMO"...
....................................It IS "ALL about ME-ME-ME and ONLY ME".......

BTW..By The Way...did you know that "THE" AIRPORT is referred to as MCO...
....because it USED to be ...McCOy Air Force base. ..Heck...
..I thought it meant Mickey Came Over.

Driving from Orlando International Airport...

Exit the airport, follow signs to the Beachline Expressway/SR 528.
Take the Beachline/SR 528 west, through two toll booths, to the Florida Turnpike (Exit 4).
Take the Florida Turnpike north to Wildwood Exit 304 for US 301
Continue north on US 301 to CR 466 (NOTE: you will pass CR 466A about 3 miles prior to CR 466)

We went to Florida Mall a couple of weeks ago. From our home in Tamarind Grove to the mall was exactly 55 miles. It took just over an hour and the toll we paid twice, once was $2.50 and the other time I think was 75 cents. Florida Mall is just west of the airport.

.....at our place "da Boss" only lets me chauffeur her to "Mall of Millenia"

.....From "The Square" at Lake Sumter Landing to "Mall of Millenia".
...............is almost 57 miles and 1 hour and 10 minutes.
........................(the first 20 min. is from LSL to the Turnpike at Wildwood)
............enter the Turnpike (southbound) at US-301 in Wildwood.
............exit the Turnpike at I-4 Eastbound..(toward Daytona)
............the first exit off I-4 is Conroy Road (only 1 mile)
............the Mall of Millenia is directly on the right.

.........West Elm
.........IKEA...
.........The Rack ( Nordstroms' Clearance Center)
.........Bloomingdale's
.........The "Apple" Computer Store
.........The Elephant Bar
..........and DOZENS more.

............NOW.......if we could only afford the gas to get her there..........

Getting your own sun pass is the best way to go. We kept our sun pass when we moved to Europe 2 years ago and now each time we come back to Florida I go to the sun pass website and ensure I have enough money in the account and have it backed up to a credit card for replenishment. The website also allows you to enter the license plate number of your rental car and the dates you will be using your sun pass with it. Overall, seamless operation and saves time and money.

Last time we rented a car at MCO (National Car), they told us to just use the Sun-Pass lanes and they would charge our credit card for the tolls afterwards. We did and were $7.00 for tolls about a week later.

You might want to ask your rental car company, before you go out and purchase a transponder....

Hope this helps and have a great time on your upcoming visit....

If you are on the southeast part of The Villages, it is faster and cheaper to go Rte. 27 to the turnpike. I take a side road (468) in Fruitland Park to 44 to 27 bypassing all the Leesburg traffic. Saves one toll too. The Village Airport Van goes that route also if they are leaving from that part of The Villages.

What a coincidence...my maiden name was McCoy!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road
 

Thanks everyone!

getting to villages
 

from orlando airport get on turnpike exit to hay 301 10 miles to villages

Easiest direction from the Orlando Airport to The Villages - turn on your GPS.

.........if you happen to have one. :D

Bill :)

a GREAT investment, if you ask me.

GPS is the way to go.
 

We have a GPS but sometimes those who live in TV may be able to give a better way to go. Sounds like we usually take the right direction. Thanks to you all for your input! I visited my daughter in NC for Christmas and she kept telling me to visit the mall there. I said "but I don't want to take the highway" like the GPS indicated I should do". She said, "oh mom, I take all the back roads". So, I figured some of you may have some short cuts from MCO to TV! I hate highway driving....too fast for me.

True true!! Especially since the prices have come down so much over time.

I think some folks might be somewhat intimidated by them or don't feel them to be necessary. I used to think that all I needed was a road map: "I don't need no stinkin' GPS!!" :ohdear: That is, until I tried one. Wouldn't be without one now!

Bill :)

A lot of new areas in TV aren't yet on the GPS...

I can't get from St. James to Pennecamp without my GPS.
Of course, suffering from DBD (Dumb Blond Disease) doesn't help.:sigh:

LOL Swimdawg!

Do the toll takers still wear the festive tropical shirts? Love those, makes me feel vacationish.

This is the way I went. 301 dumps you out right on 466a and then straight to the Village of Sanibel. Perfect for me.

May have to try highway 301 to TV. Probably get lost...:)

Yea for the Garmin NUVI. :clap2:

What are you going to do when you get those old 60's Corvettes that register 160 MPH on the speedometer? :)
Don't ask me how I know they will actually do that fast! You have to get them on the road and 'blow them out'.
I'll bet Carguys knows! :a040:

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