The South Florida region generally consists of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties and urban areas along the I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike corridor south from West Palm Beach to Miami. The linear metropolitan area is bound by the Atlantic Coast to the east and the Everglades, including Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, to the west.

Suburban expansion has used most undeveloped land in South Florida. However, pressure to expand west has continued to grow as the population pushes outward. Retirees, immigrants, beach worshipers, and business people have all migrated to South Florida as a place of opportunity. Since new development anywhere west of the turnpike is more likely to require wetland displacement, most growth has focused on in-fill development or the reuse of existing properties. Interstate 75 and U.S. 41 are two of the few routes that approach South Florida from the west.

South Florida has some of the most spectacular beaches in the United States, and Miami Beach is one the most well-known beaches in the world. The wide beach there is known for its colorful buildings, walkable storefronts, and culturally diverse restaurants. It is not uncommon to see people dressed lavishly in Miami Beach, and the 1996 movie The Birdcage shows off some of the outstanding architecture of the city’s Art Deco District.

Downtown Miami is its own cultural mecca, with a multitude of shops and restaurants along Calle Ocho southwest of Downtown. Several condominium high rises line Biscayne Bay in the vicinity of the financial district. American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat, also resides along Biscayne Boulevard at the intersection of U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) and SR 886 (Port Boulevard). The venue is located next to the walkable Bayside Marketplace mall and Museum Park, all accessible by car via U.S. Biscayne Boulevard and Interstate 395 as well as the Metrorail, which extends north roughly along SR 933 (NW 12th Avenue).

The cheapest way to fly into Miami may not be through Miami International Airport (MIA), although that airport serves as the primary gateway from the United States to Latin America and the islands of the Caribbean Sea. For those arriving from other U.S. destinations, it is worthwhile to compare fares with Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL). The lower fares are largely due to the fact that most low-cost carriers fly into Fort Lauderdale instead of MIA. In addition to air travel, Miami is internationally known as a major seaport. Many cruise ships depart the Port of Miami daily, leaving for destinations such as the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Panama Canal, and South America. Cruise ships also dock at Port Everglades, located northeast of FLL Airport and east of I-595.

Several toll roads in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area are managed by the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority. These include the Airport Expressway (SR 112), the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and Gratigny Parkway (SR 924) among others. The agency formed in 1994 to improve traffic flow on these expressways, each of which is a significant aspect of the regional freeway network.

Street Numbering System

Nick Stearn provided the site with a general overview of the street numbering system for the Miami-Dade Metropolitan area. South of Flagler Street, the road dividing north and south addresses, and Miami Avenue, the road dividing east and west addresses, every half-mile is a through road. The east-west roads are divided into groups of eight, with 1/16 mile between streets. This is why SW Eighth Street (U.S. 41) is a major through road. Avenues (north-south) are 1/4 mile apart and have a similar pattern, going by fives and starting with (N/S) West Second Avenue. The sequence continues through Seventh Avenue (U.S. 441), 12th Avenue, 17th Avenue, etc, with each also a half mile apart. Except in extreme western areas, streets always follow this pattern. Krome Avenue (SW/NW 177th Avenue, SR 997) generally represents the western most extent of the built up area by the Everglades, with the exception of areas around Homestead.

The only real exceptions to the street numbering system in Miami-Dade County are Coral Gables and Hialeah, which use their own numbering systems. The main streets and avenues follow the same patterns, but have different numbers than the county. NW 42nd Avenue (LeJeune Road) becomes E 8th Avenue in Hialeah and loses its number in Coral Gables, but forms the 400 block. For purposes of consistency, the county-wide designations are posted at major intersections.

Homestead also has its own numbering system. A peculiarity of this is that the avenues in the southwest quadrant almost always lose a number in regular intervals immediately to the east of the main arterials. The pattern is usually 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9. The relative uniformity of this system leads to three-digit numbers in the southern and western portions of the county. The street numbering format in Broward County is completely different, with each city utilizing its own system.

Freeways and Toll Roads

Alligator Alley / Everglades Parkway

Interstate 75 provides one of two routes from South Florida west to Southwest Florida. Traversing the Everglades along Alligator Alley (Everglades Parkway), I-75 travels east from Naples and Collier County to U.S. 27 and Weston in Broward County. A systems interchange joins the freeway with I-595 (Port Everglades Expressway) east to Fort Lauderdale and the tolled Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) north to Coral Springs. I-75 turns south from the exchange through Davie, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines and Miramar before crossing into Miami-Dade County.

The final 5.44 miles of Interstate 75 form an L-shaped route south to Hialeah and east to SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway). The freeway ends opposite SR 924 (Gratigny Parkway), a toll road leading east to Opa Locka.

Planning for the extension of I-75 south from Tampa and St. Petersburg included a corridor overlaying U.S. 41 east from Naples to Miami. That route would have been costly due to environmental impacts and right of way needs along U.S. 41 through the urban area to Interstate 95.

This 1976 General Drafting map shows the final alignment proposed for I-75 through eastern Broward and northern Miami-Dade counties.

I-75 through Broward and Dade Counties - 1976

North-South Expressway

Interstate 95 is the major north-south freeway in the Miami metropolitan area. Approaching the city from the north along the Atlantic coastline, I-95 has six to eight lanes along with tolled Express Lanes as it connects West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami. Once within Downtown Miami, Interstate 95 connects to several spur routes to various destinations within the city, including I-195 and I-395 and the Downtown Distributor (SR 970). Interstate 95 ends with U.S. 1 continuing south onto Dixie Highway toward Coral Gables, Homestead and the Florida Keys.

Interstate 195

Guides:

Julia Tuttle Causeway

Interstate 195 is a short spur route connecting I-95 in Miami with Miami Beach to the east via the Julia Tuttle Causeway. It seamlessly connects with the Airport Expressway (SR 112) at the Midtown Interchange with I-95. SR 112 is the unsigned counterpart to I-195. It extends east from the freeway end at SR 907 in Miami Beach to SR A1A (Collins Avenue).

Interstate 395

Guides:

Dolphin Expressway

State Road 836 is the Dolphin Expressway connecting Florida’s Turnpike in the west with Interstate 95 in the east. Previously only tolled in the eastbound direction, the expressway uses all electronic tolling as it connects Downtown Miami with Miami International Airport (MIA). East of Interstate 95, the toll road extends as Interstate 395 to MacArthur Causeway (SR A1A) that leads to Miami Beach. SR 836 is the hidden designation for the short Interstate route.

Part of an $802 million project, construction through 2024 replaces the entire elevated structure along Interstate 395 between SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway)/I-95 and the MacArthur Causeway Bridge along SR A1A.

Interstate 595

Guides:

Port Everglades Expressway

Interstate 595 is the Port Everglades Expressway, linking I-75 and SR 869 (Sawgrass Expressway) at Sunrise and Weston with I-95 and U.S. 1 at Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Reversible Express Lanes run down the middle of the freeway between I-75 and I-95. The toll lanes were completed in 2014

Florida’s Turnpike

Florida’s Turnpike (State Road 91) parallels Interstate 95 southward from Fort Pierce in Martin County through to Palm Beach and Broward Counties. The mainline spurs south to the Golden Glades Interchange with I-95 and SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway). The Homestead Extension (State Road 821) continues the mainline mileage west along the Miami-Dade County line and south to Homestead and Florida City in south Miami-Dade County.

Construction adds Express Lanes to the Homestead Extension. Motorists using these lanes will bypass most local exits, but at a higher toll rate than charged in the general travel lanes.

Toll Florida State Road 112

Guides:

Airport Expressway

The Airport Expressway extends west from I-95 and I-195 at the 36th Street Interchange to Miami International Airport (MIA) and SR 953 (SW 42nd Avenue). As of 2014, tolls are charged in both directions of SR 112. The Airport Expressway uses all electronic toll collection via Sunpass or toll by plate.

Florida State Road 826

Guides:

Palmetto Expressway

One of the oldest freeways in Miami-Dade County, SR 826 is the Palmetto Expressway. The busy commuter route forms a loop around Miami. The north-south leg originates at U.S. 1 in Kendall and travels north along the west side of Miami and Miami International Airport (MIA) and through Hialeah and Miami Lakes. The east-west section passes through Miami Gardens, north of Opa-Locka, to connect with Interstate 95, U.S. 441 and Florida’s Turnpike at the Golden Glades Interchange.

SR 826 continues east from the Golden Glades Interchange along NE 167th Street through North Miami Beach to NE 163rd Street and U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard). The state route concludes at SR A1A (Collins Avenue) in Sunny Isles Beach.

Toll Florida State Road 836

Guides:

Dolphin Expressway

SR 836 emerges from Interstate 395 at the Midtown Interchange with I-95. Lining the tolled Dolphin Expressway, SR 836 travels west to Miami International Airport (MIA), Sweetwater and NW 137th Avenue at the University Park community. The extension west from Florida’s Turnpike Homestead Extension to SR 825 (NW 137th Avenue), north of U.S. 41 and the Tamiami Lakes neighborhood, opened to traffic in 2007.

Like the parallel Airport Expressway to the north, tolls charged on the Dolphin Expressway use all electronic toll (AET) collection with SunPass and toll by plate options.

Toll Florida State Road 869

Guides:

Sawgrass Expressway

The Sawgrass Expressway constitutes a 20-mile toll road looping north from I-75 and I-595 at Sunrise to Tamarac and Coral Springs and east to Parkland, Coconut Creek and Deerfield Beach. Tolls are collected electronically, and express lanes are planned.

Just east of Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91), SR 826 transitions onto SW 10th Street, a surface arterial extending east through Deerfield Beach to Arlington Park, Shorewood and U.S. 1 (Federal Highway).

Toll Florida State Road 874

Guides:

Don Shula Expressway

SR 874 angles northeast from Florida’s Turnpike – Homestead Extension to SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) near Kendall. The tolled commuter route also connects with the Snapper Creek Expressway east to South Miami. Tolls are collected electronically by Sunpass or toll by plate.

Toll Florida State Road 878

Guides:

Snapper Creek Expressway

The Snapper Creek Expressway is an east-west connector linking SR 874 (Don Shula Expressway) with U.S. 1 (Dixie Highway) at Kendall. The toll road is maintained by the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority. It uses all electronic toll collection.

Toll Florida State Road 924

Guides:

Gratigny Parkway

Gratigny Parkway is a toll road extending east from the ending Interstate 75 and Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) to the city of Opa-Locka and NW 119th Street. SR 924 also follows NW 119th Street east to I-95 and the cities of Biscayne Park and North Miami.

Florida State Road 970

Guides:

Downtown Distributor

State Road 970 is the Downtown Distributor, a series of ramps connecting Miami’s Central Business District with Interstate 95 just north of its end. U.S. 1 follows the Downtown Distributor as part of its 2013 relocation away from Brickell Avenue south of the Miami River. The US highway however remains unsigned along SR 970 as of Spring 2019.

U.S. Highways

U.S. 1

Guides:

Biscayne Boulevard / Dixie Highway

U.S. 1 is Biscayne Boulevard through Miami, and it is variably known as Dixie Highway and Federal Boulevard in other parts of South Florida. Replaced by I-95 as the primary north-south route through Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, U.S. 1 remains well traveled, providing connectivity to the various municipalities throughout the region.

State Road A1A loops east in segments from U.S. 1 as the alternate to the highway mainline. SR 5 is the counterpart for U.S. 1 south to the Overseas Highway, which leads U.S. 1 southwest to Key West.

U.S. 27

Guides:

Okeechobee Road

U.S. 27 enters the Miami metropolitan area from the northeast, having traveled south through the middle of the Florida peninsula southward from Clermont, Haines City and Sebring. The majority of the route through the Sunshine State is a four to six-lane divided highway. Encircling the south side of Lake Okeechobee between Clewiston and South Bay, U.S. 27 emerges along a rural route through sugarcane fields and northern reaches of the Everglades onto Okeechobee Road.

Through Miami-Dade County, U.S. 27 turns southeast along Okeechobee Road through Hialeah Gardens, Medley and Hialeah. The final stretch lines NW 36th Street, paralleling SR 112 (Airport Expressway) east into Miami. The route ends at U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) alongside Interstate 195.

U.S. 41

Guides:

Tamiami Trail

U.S. 41 enters the Miami metropolitan area from the west, following the historic Tamiami Trail, which is a play on the names of Tampa and Miami. U.S. 41 connects these two cities via Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples. Replacing the historical designation of U.S. 94 between Naples and Miami, U.S. 41 travels east-west across the Everglades and into the western suburbs.

SW 8th Street leads U.S. 41 east along an increasingly urban route to Sweetwater, West Miami and Coral Gables. U.S. 41 ended just east of I-95 at Brickell Avenue until 2013, when U.S. 1 was relocated away from Brickell Avenue. Although still unmarked as of summer 2017, U.S. 41 was extended slightly further along Brickell Avenue north across the Miami River to SE 3rd Street, where U.S. 1 resumes along its original route east from the Downtown Distributor (SR 970).

Previously, U.S. 41 overlapped with U.S. 1 north along Biscayne Boulevard to the MacArthur Causeway (SR A1A) out to Miami Beach.

NW 7th Avenue

U.S. 441 branches south from U.S. 98 in Palm Beach Garden, following a six-lane arterial route through to Broward County between Parkland and Coconut Creek. Southward through Margate, North Lauderdale and Plantation, U.S. 441 generally consists of a heavily developed commuter route.

Paralleling Florida’s Turnpike, U.S. 441 continues south through Davie, Hollywood and Miramar into north Miami-Dade County. U.S. 441 meets the turnpike at its south end as part of the Golden Glades Interchange with SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and Interstate 95. NW 7th Avenue leads the remainder of U.S. 441 south in close proximity to I-95 through the city of North Miami and Miami through to its terminus at U.S. 41 (SW 7th/SW 8th Streets).

State Roads

Florida State Road A1A

Guides:

Collins Avenue

State Road A1A (Collins Avenue) is the main coastal route through Miami Beach. Made famous by its seaside route, SR A1A consists of a segmented highway that provide scenic alternatives to U.S. 1. The section in Miami-Dade County originates at U.S. 1 and I-395 north of Downtown Miami. It follows MacArthur Causeway east to Miami Beach and Collins Avenue north from there. SR A1A connects Surfside, Sunny Isles Beach and Golden Beach to the Broward County line. The ensuing drive takes the state road through Hallandale Beach and Hollywood to Dania Beach Boulevard, which leads the route inland to U.S. 1 (Federal Highway) in Dania Beach.

Florida State Road 9

Guides:

NW 27th Avenue

Throughout most of Florida, SR 9 is the hidden counterpart to Interstate 95. Southwest from the Golden Glades Interchange, the state route emerges as a stand along route to Opa-Locka and NW 27th Avenue. NW 27th Avenue extends SR 9 south into central Miami to U.S. 1 (Dixie Highway).

Florida State Road 94

Guides:

Kendall Drive

A 10.70-mile route, SR 94 is located entirely within Miami-Dade County. The state road follows Kendall Drive / SW 88th Street between SR 997 (Krome Avenue) and U.S. 1 (Dixie Highway) at Pinecrest.

Florida State Road 94 East
Passing south of Dadeland Mall, SR 94 (SW 88th Street) intersects U.S. 1 beyond a Metrorail viaduct. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 94 West
Ramps from Dadeland Mall and SR 94 (SW 88th Street) converge ahead of the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) north. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 817

Guides:

University Drive

SR 817 is University Drive from SR 9 (Unity Boulevard) in Miami-Dade County just south of Miami Gardens, north to SR 869 (Sawgrass Expressway) in Coral Springs. The entire state road consists of a multi lane arterial.

Florida State Road 817 North
A flyover ramp links SR 817 (University Drive) north with I-595 (Port Everglades Expressway) west. 12/28/03
The connection to I-595 east toward Fort Lauderdale from SR 817 (University Drive) north uses the nearby on-ramp from SR 84. SR 84 comprises the frontage road system for the Port Everglades Expressway across Broward County. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 817 South
SR 817 (University Drive) south at the flyover for I-595 east to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). 12/28/03
SR 817 crosses a canal and intersects SR 84 west. There is no direct access to Interstate 595 west from University Drive. Instead drivers are directed west along SR 84 to the on-ramp past Pine Island Road. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 818

Guides:

Griffin Road

State Road 818 is Griffin Road from SR 823 (Flamingo Drive) at Cooper City east to U.S. 1 in Dania Beach.

Florida State Road 822

Guides:

Sheridan Street

SR 822 follows Sheridan Street through Hollywood. The 5.79 mile long state road begins at U.S. 441 and ends at SR A1A.

Florida State Road 822 East
SR 822 (Sheridan Street) crosses the Stranahan River and ends at SR A1A across from Hollywood North Beach Park. 01/06/01
Florida State Road 822 West
Sheridan Street west at the diamond interchange with Interstate 95 in Hollywood. 01/06/01
Interstate 95 heads south from SR 822 (Sheridan Street) and the city of Hollywood to Pembroke Park and Hallandale Beach. 01/06/01
Florida State Road 823

Guides:

W 4th Avenue, NW 57th Avenue / Flamingo Road

SR 823 begins at U.S. 27 (Okeechobee Road) in Hialeah, then travels 9.70 miles north to Miami Lakes and Miami Gardens along NW 57th Street to the Broward County line. The state road shifts westward through Miramar and overtakes Flamingo Road north through Pembroke Pines, Davie and Cooper City before ending at I-595 and SR 84 at Plantation.

Florida State Road 823 North
SR 823 (Flamingo Road) north at SR 84 east. SR 84 parallels as the Port Everglades Expressway frontage road system, providing local access to and from I-595 from intersecting north-south arterials. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 838

Guides:

Sunrise Boulevard

SR 838 is Sunrise Boulevard, which formerly began at SR 869 (Sawgrass Expressway) near Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise. SR 838 travels 8.16 miles east along Sunrise Boulevard from SR 817 through Sunrise Heights in Plantation, Lauderhill and Washington Park to U.S. 1 in Fort Lauderdale.

Beyond an overlap with U.S. 1 by Holiday Park, SR 838 (Sunrise Boulevard) extends another 1.19 miles to SR A1A (Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard) on the coast.

Florida State Road 838 East
SR 838 (Sunrise Boulevard) passes above U.S. 441 at a diamond interchange between the two arterials. 12/28/03
Entering the city of Fort Lauderdale, SR 838 (Sunrise Road) east elevates across a frontage road and an AMTRAK line to meet Interstate 95. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 838 West
SR 845 (NW 9th Avenue) stems north from SR 842 in Fort Lauderdale to intersect SR 838 (Sunrise Boulevard) en route to the city of Oakland Park. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 842

Guides:

Broward Boulevard

SR 842 travels 7.17 miles along Broward Boulevard from SR 817 (University Drive) in Plantation east to U.S. 1 in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Another 1.41 mile segment of SR 842 lines Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, from SE 16th Avenue to Nurmi Isles and SR A1A (Fort Lauderdale Beach / Seabreeze Boulevards).

Florida State Road 842 East
SR 842 (Las Olas Boulevard) concludes eastbound at the one way couplet of SR A1A (Seabreeze Boulevard south / Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard north). 12/28/03
Florida State Road 860

Guides:

Miami Gardens Drive

An east-west arterial route, SR 860 follows NW 186th Street from I-75 to NW 67th Avenue / Ludlam Road, and NW 183rd Street from there into the city of Miami Gardens. The 12.98-mile route meanders east to North Miami Beach along a combination of NW 185th and NW 186th Streets between I-95 and its end at U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) in Aventura.

Florida State Road 860 West
SR 860 (NW 186th Street) west ends at a trumpet interchange with Interstate 75 south of Miramar. 12/28/03
Florida State Road 907

Guides:

Alton Road

SR 907 serves the western half of the barrier island city of Miami Beach along Alton Road. A 0.41 mile segment loops east of the interchange with I-195, intersecting SR 112 (Arthur Godfrey Street) at-grade while the SR 907 mainline connects with ramps to Julia Tuttle Causeway west to Miami. The state road otherwise totals 5.66 miles between SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway) by South Beach and SR A1A (Collins Avenue) east of the La Gorce neighborhood.

Florida State Road 907 South
Shield assembly formerly posted along Alton Road south at SR 112 (W 41st Street) and the beginning of Interstate 195 (Julia Tuttle Causeway). November 1999
Florida State Road 913

Guides:

Rickenbacker Causeway

Rickenbacker Causeway, a toll bridge connecting Miami with Virgina Key and Key Biscayne, was a part of SR 913. Only a 0.373 mile segment of SW 26th Road, from SW 1st Avenue and I-95 & U.S. 1, to the bridge approach remains in the state system.

Florida State Road 933

Guides:

SW / NW 12th Avenue

SR 933 follows SW 12th Avenue north from SR 972 (SW 2nd Street / Coral Way) to SR 112 (Airport Expressway) for 4.25 miles in Miami. The remainder of the route along NW 12th Avenue to SR 934 (NW 79th / 81st Street) near El Portal was decommissioned.

Florida State Road 948

Guides:

NW 36th Street

SR 948 is a divided arterial connecting SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) at Doral to the west with SR 112 (Airport Expressway) and U.S. 27 (Okeechobee Road) to the east. The 4.00-mile long urban route runs along the north side of Miami International Airport (MIA) through Virginia Gardens and Miami Springs.

Florida State Road 953

Guides:

LeJeune Road

LeJeune Road leads SR 953 11.74 miles north from U.S. 1 (Dixie Highway) in Coral Gables to SR 916 (NW 135th Street) in Opa-Locka. The urban arterial connects with Miami International Airport (MIA) from west Miami and Hialeah while also linking SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) with SR 112 (Airport Expressway).

Florida State Road 972

Guides:

Coral Way

SR 972 runs 4.16 miles along an urban route east from SW 37th Avenue / Douglas Road, 0.51 miles east of SR 953 (LeJeune Road), to Brickell Avenue (former U.S. 1) in the city of Miami. The route previously extended west along SW 24th Street / Coral Way to the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) near West Miami.

Miami Streets

NE 2nd Avenue
Replaced shield assembly on NE 2nd Avenue south at NE 12th Street. The westbound on-ramp to I-395 and the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) departs in one block. 12/28/03
Paralleling the MetroMover south from I-395, NE 2nd Avenue intersects NE 10th Street east to adjacent U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard). 12/28/03
NE 8th Street
NE 8th Street east at U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) and American Airlines Arena. 12/28/03
NE 12th Street
NE 12th Avenue partitions into separate ramps for I-395 leading to the nearby Midtown Interchange with SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) west and Interstate 95. 12/28/03
Miami Avenue
South Miami Avenue crosses the South Miami River on a four lane draw bridge. 12/28/03

Page updated October 15, 2020.