U.S. 23 extends just 37.9 miles south into the Sunshine State, mostly along shared alignments with U.S. 1 and U.S. 301. The route joins the Nassau County town of Callahan with Jacksonville to the south and Folkston, Georgia to the north. The 2.549 mile long segment of U.S. 23 along New Kings Road and Kings Road through Grand Park and Mid Westside in Jacksonville represents the lone stand alone portion of the route in Florida. Prior to 2006, U.S. 23 ran solo from I-95 to U.S. 1/17 (Main / Ocean Streets) as well. That changed with the realignment of U.S. 17 to overlap with U.S. 23 along the couplet of State and Union Streets.
North into Georgia, U.S. 23 and SR 23 briefly overlap through Folkston. Georgia Route 23 previously formed a multi state highway with Florida State Road 23 leading south to Macclenny, Lake Butler and Gainesville. It was renumbered as part of multi state highway 121 between Lebanon Station, Florida and Rock Hill, South Carolina. SR 23 in Florida was eventually reused for the First Coast Expressway.
U.S. 23 Florida Guides
A General Drafting Map from 1964 showed U.S. 17/23 overlapping south from Jacksonville to Palatka. It appears that this was a cartographic error as the route was never posted south from Downtown.
 South  North  West |
 | A begin shield for U.S. 23 was added along State Street west at U.S. 1/17 (Main Street) by December 2018. 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 17 south, U.S. 23 north and SR 228 (State Street) west proceed one block from U.S. 1 (Main Street) to Laura Street. 03/14/10 |
 | The first confirming marker for U.S. 23 north stands at the intersection with Laura Street. 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 17 south, U.S. 23 north and SR 228 west continue from beyond the Rosa L. Parks Transit Station toward Interstate 95. 03/26/20 |
 | Julia Street stems south from U.S. 17/23-SR 228 (State Street) at the Downtown Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville. 03/26/20 |
 | Another I-95 trailblazer along State Street precedes the signal at Pearl Street. 03/26/20 |
 | State Street west at Clay Street south. 03/26/20 |
 | Broad Street heads north from LaVilla to Hogans Creek and as Boulevard through west Springfield. 03/26/20 |
 | Jefferson Street leads north to SR 114 (W 8th Street) and UF Health Jacksonville hospital. 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 23 north transitions from State Street onto Kings Road ahead of the exchange with Interstate 95. 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 17 south and SR 228 west combine with I-95 south and I-10 west to the Roosevelt Expressway. The ensuing left turn is for Madison Street south one block to U.S. 17 north / U.S. 23 south on Union Street. 03/26/20 |
 | Davis Street heads south into the LaVilla neighborhood and north paralleling I-95 to Hogans Creek. 03/26/20 |
 | The northbound entrance ramp for Interstate 95 toward Brunswick, Georgia departs from U.S. 23 (Kings Road) next. 03/26/20 |
 | Passing under Interstate 95, U.S. 17/SR 228 part ways with U.S. 23 (Kings Road) north at the forthcoming entrance ramp toward Downtown Jacksonville. 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 17/SR 228 follow I-10 west from I-95 to Riverside and Murray Hill in Jacksonville. 03/26/20 |
 | Ramps from both directions of U. 23 (Kings Road) combine ahead of Interstate 95 south above Union Street and U.S. 90 (Beaver Street). 03/26/20 |
| North |
 | Continuing west from I-95/U.S. 17-SR 228, U.S. 23 (Kings Road) runs between the New Town and Mid Westside neighborhoods. 06/13/08 |
 | Eaverson Street stems south from U.S. 23 (Kings Road) to U.S. 90 (Beaver Street). 06/13/08 |
 | The Jacksonville AMTRAK Station lies 3.6 miles northwest of Myrtle Avenue just off U.S. 1/23. 06/13/08 |
 | Myrtle Avenue is a major collector south to Forest Street at Brooklyn and north to the Moncrief and 29th & Chase neighborhoods in Jacksonville. 06/13/08 |
 | Kings Road northbound at Tyler Street. 06/13/08 |
 | U.S. 23 (Kings Road) intersects Pearce Street by Edward Waters College. 06/13/08 |
 | Fairfax Street separates New Town and College Gardens south from U.S. 23 to Acorn Street. 06/13/08 |
 | Spires Avenue heads north from Kings Road to W 13th Street at a pair of elementary schools. 06/13/08 |
 | A staggered intersection joins U.S. 23 (Kings Road) with Flag Street south and Kings Park Drive north. 06/13/08 |
 | Canal Street heads north to U.S. 1 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway at the Grand Park neighborhood. 06/13/08 |
 | U.S. 23 (Kings Road) continues northwest into Grand Park ahead of Division Street. 06/13/08 |
 | Turning northwest onto New Kings Road, U.S. 23 converges with U.S. 1 at the west end of Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway. 06/13/08 |
 | U.S. 23 combines with U.S. 1 north along New Kings Road beyond a CSX Railroad overpass. 06/13/08 |
| North South East |
 | U.S. 17 north and SR 228 east combine with U.S. 23 south as Union Street intersects Davis Street. Davis Street north to Kings Road provides northbound access to Interstate 95 for southbound motorists along U.S. 23. 12/30/06 |
 | SR 228 east separates from U.S. 17 north 0.6 miles ahead at U.S. 1 (Main Street) south. Trailblazers precede the junction, though the U.S. 17 shield was removed in 2016. 12/30/06 |
 | Jefferson Street flows south from Hogans Creek and Florida State College at Jacksonville to intersect Union Street at the next eastbound traffic light. 12/30/06 |
 | Broad Street leads north from the end of SR 13 and the Acosta Bridge to intersect U.S. 17 north, U.S. 23 south and SR 228 at the subsequent signal. 12/30/06 |
 | Clay Street travels four blocks south to the Duval County Courthouse complex at Duval Street. 03/26/20 |
  | The First Baptist Church parking garage at Union and Pearl Streets features a light house replica. The garage is part of a nine square block campus, which includes a 10,000 seat auditorium.1 12/30/06, 03/26/20 |
 | Union Street east intersects Julia Street between a pair of parking garages. 03/26/20 |
 | The Jacksonville Skyway passes over Union Street east at Hogan Street. The people mover connects the adjacent Rosa L. Parks Transit Station with Downtown, the Convention Center and Riverplace. 03/26/20 |
  | Continuing beside the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, another set of shields precedes the separation of U.S. 17 north and SR 228 east at forthcoming U.S. 1 (Main Street). 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 90 parallels U.S. 17/23 (Union Street) one block to the south along Beaver Street. 03/26/20 |
 | U.S. 23 south concludes as U.S. 17 turns from Union Street onto U.S. 1 (Ocean Street) north. U.S. 1/17 overlap through Springfield to M.L. King, Jr. Parkway at Brentwood. Joining SR 10A east to Arlington Expressway, unsigned SR 139 emerges from U.S. 23 ahead. 03/26/20 |
 | SR 228 parts ways with U.S. 17 north / U.S. 23 south to join U.S. 1 (Main Street) south to Forsyth Street in Downtown. U.S. 1 separates into a one way couplet along Main Street south and Ocean Street north to the Main Street Bridge. 03/26/20 |
Sources:
- First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Wikipedia.
Photo Credits:
12/30/06, 06/13/08, 03/14/10, 03/26/20 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 95
U.S. 1
U.S. 17
U.S. 301
State Road 115
State Road 139
State Road 228 / County Road 228
Page Updated 10-24-2022.