Florida Connector
| Florida Connector St. Augustine, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL 1 Map Set (519.5 mi.) |
GPX Data | Overview
Florida Connector Overview Image
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|---|---|
| 1. St. Augustine, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL (519.5 mi.) | Detail
Florida Connector Section 1 Detail Image
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See Florida from coast to coast to coast.
The Florida Connector creates the opportunity for two loop routes in Florida that are ideal for cycling December through March. It joins the Atlantic Coast Route, Section 7, in St. Augustine and Ft. Lauderdale creating the first loop option. A second loop encompassing Fort Lauderdale, Key West, and Fort Myers Beach via a ferry is also possible.
Florida has an extensive though sometimes confusing network of bicycling facilities ranging from 2-foot bike lanes or shoulders to separated bike paths and sidewalks. Some stretches are better suited to sidewalk cycling due to moderate to heavy traffic; in other areas sidewalks will be pedestrian use only. The approach to often nearly invisible short bridges are usually marked with "frogs", "buttons", "turtles", "slugs" or rumble strips.
Heading south from St. Augustine mostly on SR A1A, the route alternates between urban and suburban conditions along the coast until it swings west at Bulow Creek State Park and Plantation Ruins Historic State Park. You will wind your way through many lakes and sinkholes. Sometimes you'll see huge trucks filled with oranges, and you may even see a live (or dead) armadillo along the side of the road. In the Orlando area, you'll experience the mind-boggling traffic and myriad services associated with Disney World. The route is only five miles away from the main entrance. Continuing south, it's more swamps, farms, and orange groves.
You begin to leave the heavy traffic behind when you ride onto the pleasant bike path south then east leaving Fort Myers. If you are heading to Fort Myers Beach, the path continues almost all the way to the bridge into the tourist seaside town, where you can dip your bike tire in the Gulf of Mexico.
Traveling east from Fort Myers, you once again leave the tourist corridor behind and have a chance to encounter the more residential and rural aspects of Florida. There is ample evidence of the development to come by the presence of the planned community, Lehigh Acres. Between LaBelle and Clewiston your companions will mostly be birds and reptiles. Services through this swampland are few and far between. Alligators tend to fear humans but give them a wide berth anyway. The route skirts the southern banks of Lake Okeechobee and access is available to ride around it on a path built by the Corps of Engineers. The route into Fort Lauderdale returns you to more urban riding conditions and the connection with the Atlantic Coast Route near the airport.
Photo by Adam Coppola
Generally the terrain is either rolling or flat.
| Florida Connector - Main Route | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Distance | Elevation | Total Climb | Avg. Climb/mile |
| Total | 519.5 miles | Minimum: 0 ft. Maximum: 245 ft. |
6,275 ft. south bound 6,360 ft. north bound |
12 ft. per mi. south bound 12 ft. per mi. north bound |
| Florida Connector Alternates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Section | Distance | Total Climb | Avg. Climb/mi |
| Ferry Spur | 1 | 6.5 miles | 30 ft. south bound 35 ft. north bound |
5 ft. per mi. south bound 5 ft. per mi. north bound |
Services are plentiful in the urban areas but can be scarce in residential/suburban and rural areas. This route may be ridden all year round. Caution: the hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30.
Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent site, and that can easily be $10-$20/night. If you're friendly and ask around, you can often get yourself invited to camp in a yard. Many small town city parks are free to camp in.
Route Highlights
- St. Augustine
- Walt Disney World
- Universal Orlando Resort
- Lake Okeechobee
- Edison and Ford Winter Estates and Museum
More Route Resources
RIDING CONDITIONS
Riding south from St. Augustine, SR A1A along the coast is a two-lane beach access road that carries a considerable amount of weekend traffic but little commercial truck traffic.
U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 1 has been designated in Florida. Portions of our route run concurrent with it.
For 10 days in late February into early March, Daytona Beach and Volusia County are hosts to an annual gathering billed as "the world's largest motorcycle event." Traffic increases and lodging of all types becomes difficult to find during this period. Advanced reservations are highly recommended. See www.officialbikeweek.com for exact dates.
Heading west across the Bulow Ruins the route follows quiet country roads to DeLand, traveling along the Tomoka Wildlife Management Area. Occasionally, the bridge across Korona Canal is unavailable due to heavy rains and you will need to detour 9.5 mi. south into Ormond Beach via John Anderson Dr. You can reconnect with the route by following Beach Rd./Old Dixie Hwy. 11 mi. northward. Past DeLand, rural two-lane roads traverse the southern edge of the Ocala National Forest, then the route follows a succession of lakes into “retirement” country. The terrain here west of the Atlantic Ocean is slightly rolling, with many road changes on well-marked county and township roads. You’ll go through numerous small towns, turning frequently toward Lake Wales.
The Florida peninsula is honeycombed by underground springs which have caused numerous sink holes. Some of these “sinks” are fairly large. For example, Thrill Hill Rd. passes in and out of a 100-foot deep sinkhole north of Mt. Dora.
Disney World is located between Minneola and Loughman. Traffic increases due to the route passing within 5 miles of the main entrance. U.S. 192 is a shoulderless, 4-lane road with high volumes of cars and RV’s. Many campgrounds and motels along U.S. 192 offer shuttle bus service into Disney World, which is most likely the easiest way to reach this entertaining extravaganza.
Ranches, open scrub, and grassland near Wauchula and Arcadia lead to a (slightly) downhill ride along the tea-colored Peace River. To skip the urban areas around Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers, take SR 31 from SR 70 (1.5 mi. E. of Arcadia) to N. River Rd./SR 78 (10 mi. W. of Alva). This rural 34-mi. stretch of highway has few services, but does have shoulders the entire way.
Expect higher levels of urban traffic in the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda municipalities. A mile-long bridge crosses the Peace River.
The route again becomes rural, traversing a large, as of yet undeveloped subdivision north of Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. Road signs in this area are not always visible or in place.
You’ll be riding in urban traffic when you reach the northern outskirts of historic Ft. Myers. There are walkways on the Caloosahatchee River bridge; be aware of the heavy traffic on the northern approach to the bridge. A separate bike path along Summerlin Rd. gives some relief, though watch out for pedestrians. Sidewalk riding is allowed, and often preferred, in the urban perimeters of Ft. Myers and Ft. Lauderdale; though sidewalks frequently do double duty as bike paths. Pay attention to signage as sidewalk riding is not always legal.
The ferry service from Ft. Myers Beach to Key West departs every morning at 8:30 a.m. arriving into Key West around 12:00 p.m. It is advisable to have reservations. Space is limited on the ferries, so be sure to let them know in advance that you have a bike. The official policy of the ferry is no trailers are allowed and panniers must be removed. It is advised that you have bungies to secure your bike. Call Sea Key West Express for information about cost and schedules at 888-539-2628 or check their website: www.seakeywestexpress.com. Do this well in advance of your departure. All luggage is screened so you need to ask what items (like pocket knives, fuel canisters, tent stakes, etc.) are prohibited when you make your reservation.
Florida’s west coast is often swampy and ringed with low-lying mangrove jungles. Watch for small alligators and crocodiles in the more rural areas between LaBelle and Clewiston as you approach Alligator Alley along the I-75 corridor. From Clewiston to South Bay you will be riding on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, atop the Herbert Hoover Dike along the southern shore of the second largest freshwater lake in the contiguous United States. There are no restrooms or services on the dike. There are two locations between Clewiston and South Bay allowing access on and off the trail (Lake Harbor, and a dirt road 4.5 mi. east of Clewiston). This area can provide good wildlife viewing, particularly in fall and winter when wintering waterfowl are abundant.
The end of the route in Ft. Lauderdale connects you to the Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route. For additional bicycle maps of Florida, visit: www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/policy/usbr/.
A 386-mile loop can be made by using this map and the Atlantic Coast Section 7 map which includes using the ferry service between Key West and Ft. Myers Beach.
CLIMATE
Climate is probably Florida’s greatest natural resource, making both its thriving tourist and agricultural trades possible. Summers throughout the state are long, warm, and humid; winters are mild because of the southern latitude and the relatively warm adjacent ocean waters.
Frequent rainfall and gentle breezes on the coasts make the heat much easier to take. Hurricane season is typically from June through November.
Updated: Dec 18, 2017-
GPX Data |
Overview
Florida Connector Overview Image
- 1. St. Augustine, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL (519.5 mi.)
-
Detail
| Map Updates and Corrections
Florida Connector Section 1 Detail Image
See Florida from coast to coast to coast.
The Florida Connector creates the opportunity for two loop routes in Florida that are ideal for cycling December through March. It joins the Atlantic Coast Route, Section 7, in St. Augustine and Ft. Lauderdale creating the first loop option. A second loop encompassing Fort Lauderdale, Key West, and Fort Myers Beach via a ferry is also possible.
Florida has an extensive though sometimes confusing network of bicycling facilities ranging from 2-foot bike lanes or shoulders to separated bike paths and sidewalks. Some stretches are better suited to sidewalk cycling due to moderate to heavy traffic; in other areas sidewalks will be pedestrian use only. The approach to often nearly invisible short bridges are usually marked with "frogs", "buttons", "turtles", "slugs" or rumble strips.
Heading south from St. Augustine mostly on SR A1A, the route alternates between urban and suburban conditions along the coast until it swings west at Bulow Creek State Park and Plantation Ruins Historic State Park. You will wind your way through many lakes and sinkholes. Sometimes you'll see huge trucks filled with oranges, and you may even see a live (or dead) armadillo along the side of the road. In the Orlando area, you'll experience the mind-boggling traffic and myriad services associated with Disney World. The route is only five miles away from the main entrance. Continuing south, it's more swamps, farms, and orange groves.
You begin to leave the heavy traffic behind when you ride onto the pleasant bike path south then east leaving Fort Myers. If you are heading to Fort Myers Beach, the path continues almost all the way to the bridge into the tourist seaside town, where you can dip your bike tire in the Gulf of Mexico.
Traveling east from Fort Myers, you once again leave the tourist corridor behind and have a chance to encounter the more residential and rural aspects of Florida. There is ample evidence of the development to come by the presence of the planned community, Lehigh Acres. Between LaBelle and Clewiston your companions will mostly be birds and reptiles. Services through this swampland are few and far between. Alligators tend to fear humans but give them a wide berth anyway. The route skirts the southern banks of Lake Okeechobee and access is available to ride around it on a path built by the Corps of Engineers. The route into Fort Lauderdale returns you to more urban riding conditions and the connection with the Atlantic Coast Route near the airport.
Photo by Adam Coppola
RIDING CONDITIONS
Riding south from St. Augustine, SR A1A along the coast is a two-lane beach access road that carries a considerable amount of weekend traffic but little commercial truck traffic.
U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 1 has been designated in Florida. Portions of our route run concurrent with it.
For 10 days in late February into early March, Daytona Beach and Volusia County are hosts to an annual gathering billed as "the world's largest motorcycle event." Traffic increases and lodging of all types becomes difficult to find during this period. Advanced reservations are highly recommended. See www.officialbikeweek.com for exact dates.
Heading west across the Bulow Ruins the route follows quiet country roads to DeLand, traveling along the Tomoka Wildlife Management Area. Occasionally, the bridge across Korona Canal is unavailable due to heavy rains and you will need to detour 9.5 mi. south into Ormond Beach via John Anderson Dr. You can reconnect with the route by following Beach Rd./Old Dixie Hwy. 11 mi. northward. Past DeLand, rural two-lane roads traverse the southern edge of the Ocala National Forest, then the route follows a succession of lakes into “retirement” country. The terrain here west of the Atlantic Ocean is slightly rolling, with many road changes on well-marked county and township roads. You’ll go through numerous small towns, turning frequently toward Lake Wales.
The Florida peninsula is honeycombed by underground springs which have caused numerous sink holes. Some of these “sinks” are fairly large. For example, Thrill Hill Rd. passes in and out of a 100-foot deep sinkhole north of Mt. Dora.
Disney World is located between Minneola and Loughman. Traffic increases due to the route passing within 5 miles of the main entrance. U.S. 192 is a shoulderless, 4-lane road with high volumes of cars and RV’s. Many campgrounds and motels along U.S. 192 offer shuttle bus service into Disney World, which is most likely the easiest way to reach this entertaining extravaganza.
Ranches, open scrub, and grassland near Wauchula and Arcadia lead to a (slightly) downhill ride along the tea-colored Peace River. To skip the urban areas around Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers, take SR 31 from SR 70 (1.5 mi. E. of Arcadia) to N. River Rd./SR 78 (10 mi. W. of Alva). This rural 34-mi. stretch of highway has few services, but does have shoulders the entire way.
Expect higher levels of urban traffic in the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda municipalities. A mile-long bridge crosses the Peace River.
The route again becomes rural, traversing a large, as of yet undeveloped subdivision north of Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. Road signs in this area are not always visible or in place.
You’ll be riding in urban traffic when you reach the northern outskirts of historic Ft. Myers. There are walkways on the Caloosahatchee River bridge; be aware of the heavy traffic on the northern approach to the bridge. A separate bike path along Summerlin Rd. gives some relief, though watch out for pedestrians. Sidewalk riding is allowed, and often preferred, in the urban perimeters of Ft. Myers and Ft. Lauderdale; though sidewalks frequently do double duty as bike paths. Pay attention to signage as sidewalk riding is not always legal.
The ferry service from Ft. Myers Beach to Key West departs every morning at 8:30 a.m. arriving into Key West around 12:00 p.m. It is advisable to have reservations. Space is limited on the ferries, so be sure to let them know in advance that you have a bike. The official policy of the ferry is no trailers are allowed and panniers must be removed. It is advised that you have bungies to secure your bike. Call Sea Key West Express for information about cost and schedules at 888-539-2628 or check their website: www.seakeywestexpress.com. Do this well in advance of your departure. All luggage is screened so you need to ask what items (like pocket knives, fuel canisters, tent stakes, etc.) are prohibited when you make your reservation.
Florida’s west coast is often swampy and ringed with low-lying mangrove jungles. Watch for small alligators and crocodiles in the more rural areas between LaBelle and Clewiston as you approach Alligator Alley along the I-75 corridor. From Clewiston to South Bay you will be riding on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, atop the Herbert Hoover Dike along the southern shore of the second largest freshwater lake in the contiguous United States. There are no restrooms or services on the dike. There are two locations between Clewiston and South Bay allowing access on and off the trail (Lake Harbor, and a dirt road 4.5 mi. east of Clewiston). This area can provide good wildlife viewing, particularly in fall and winter when wintering waterfowl are abundant.
The end of the route in Ft. Lauderdale connects you to the Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route. For additional bicycle maps of Florida, visit: www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/policy/usbr/.
A 386-mile loop can be made by using this map and the Atlantic Coast Section 7 map which includes using the ferry service between Key West and Ft. Myers Beach.
CLIMATE
Climate is probably Florida’s greatest natural resource, making both its thriving tourist and agricultural trades possible. Summers throughout the state are long, warm, and humid; winters are mild because of the southern latitude and the relatively warm adjacent ocean waters.
Frequent rainfall and gentle breezes on the coasts make the heat much easier to take. Hurricane season is typically from June through November.
Updated: Dec 18, 2017Generally the terrain is either rolling or flat.
Florida Connector
- service waypoints
- 236
- minimum elevation
- 0 ft.
- maximum elevation
- 245 ft.
- south bound total climbing
- 6,275 ft.
- north bound total climbing
- 6,360 ft.
- south bound climb per mile
- 12 ft. per mi.
- north bound climb per mile
- 12 ft. per mi.
Florida Connector Alternates
- name
- Ferry Spur
- distance
- 6.5 miles
- south bound total climbing
- 30 ft.
- north bound total climbing
- 35 ft.
- south bound climb per mile
- 5 ft. per mi.
- north bound climb per mile
- 5 ft. per mi.
Services are plentiful in the urban areas but can be scarce in residential/suburban and rural areas. This route may be ridden all year round. Caution: the hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30.
Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent site, and that can easily be $10-$20/night. If you're friendly and ask around, you can often get yourself invited to camp in a yard. Many small town city parks are free to camp in.
- St. Augustine
- Walt Disney World
- Universal Orlando Resort
- Lake Okeechobee
- Edison and Ford Winter Estates and Museum
More Route Resources
