Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
25
then follow signs to the attractions. Most
Orlando car-rental agencies (regardless of
location) will provide you with maps that
will show how to get to your hotel; be sure
and ask for one at the rental counter.
Note:
It's always a good idea when you
make reservations to ask about transporta-
tion options between the airport and your
hotel. Also be sure to ask how far you have
to travel to pick up and drop off a rental
car. Some lots are miles from the airport,
and you could potentially spend lots of
time waiting in line and catching shuttles
before you actually get to the airport on
your day of departure.
By Car
If you're visiting from abroad and plan to
rent a car in the United States, keep in
mind that foreign driver's licenses are usu-
ally recognized in the U.S., but you may
want to consider obtaining an interna-
tional driver's license.
For full details on the ins and outs of
renting and driving a car in Orlando, see
p. 65.
For listings of the major car-rental
agencies in Orlando, please see “Airline,
Hotel & Car-Rental Websites” (p. 392).
The Lay of the Land
Orlando's major artery is Interstate 4.
Locals call it the
I-4
or that
#@$*%^#!!
highway! It runs diagonally across the state
(though directional signs are always
marked east or west) from Tampa to Day-
tona Beach. The exits along this route will
take you to Disney, Universal, SeaWorld,
International Drive, U.S. 192, Kissimmee,
Lake Buena Vista, and north to downtown
Orlando and Winter Park. Most exits are
well marked, but construction is common
and exit numbers have been changed
through the years. If you get directions by
exit number, always ask the name of the
road to help avoid getting lost. (Cellphone
users can dial
&
511
to get a report of I-4
delays.)
The
Florida Turnpike,
a toll road,
crosses I-4 and links with I-75 to the north
and Miami to the south.
U.S. 192/Irlo
Bronson Memorial Highway
is a major
east-west artery that reaches from Kissim-
mee to U.S. 27, crossing I-4 near World
Drive, the main Walt Disney World
entrance road. Construction has widened
this stretch of highway and made driving a
bit easier, while the addition of large
numerical markers has made locating
hotels, restaurants, and attractions much
easier as well. The
Beachline Expressway
(Hwy. 528; previously the Bee Line
Expwy.), also a toll road, goes east from I-4
past Orlando International Airport to
Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Cen-
ter. The
East-West Expressway
(also
known as Hwy. 408) is a toll road that can
be helpful in bypassing surface traffic in
the downtown area. The
417,
also a toll
road, runs from north of the Orlando
International Airport to I-4 just below
U.S. 192. This route is a good alternative
to I-4 if you are staying on the lower end
of International Drive, World Center
Drive, or areas east of the I-4, as it is far
less traveled than the main highway.
AAA
(
&
800/222-1134;
www.aaa.
com) and other auto club members should
call their local offices for maps and opti-
mum driving directions.
For additional information, see “By Car,”
under “Getting Around” in chapter 3.
Orlando is 436 miles from Atlanta;
1,312 miles from Boston; 1,120 miles
from Chicago; 1,009 miles from Cleve-
land; 1,170 miles from Dallas; 1,114 miles
from Detroit; 1,088 miles from New York
City; and 1,282 miles from Toronto.
• From Atlanta, take I-75 south to the
Florida Turnpike to I-4 west.
• From points northeast, take I-95 south
to Daytona Beach and I-4 west.
• From Chicago, take I-65 south to
Nashville, then I-24 south to I-75, and
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