Florida turnpike

[hotspot]

It is migration time for Canadians. We will be doing the drive to Florida again in a few weeks and I would like to try the Turnpike this year. We will be getting on where it meets I-75 and exiting at Ft Lauderdale. From their website it seems it will cost approx $17.00. What I need to know is: do I have to have exact change, would a roll of quarters be the best choice, and where would I get that? I don't want to be searching around for a bank when it's all too easy for me to get lost in the first place.
Help!

[brucecz]

Originally Posted by hotspot

It is migration time for Canadians. We will be doing the drive to Florida again in a few weeks and I would like to try the Turnpike this year. We will be getting on where it meets I-75 and exiting at Ft Lauderdale. From their website it seems it will cost approx $17.00. What I need to know is: do I have to have exact change, would a roll of quarters be the best choice, and where would I get that? I don't want to be searching around for a bank when it's all too easy for me to get lost in the first place.
Help!

Singles and a roll of quarters will do it. That what we used this past Dec-New Years.

Bruce

[TUGBrian]

every time I drove it there were always one or two manned booths regardless of the time of day.

[Icarus]

Read the information on this page. It answers all your questions, including where to get a roll of quarters.

http://www.floridasturnpike.com/tools_paytoll.cfm

-David

[Steamboat Bill]

A $20 US dollar bill will work fine.

[jfitz]

Originally Posted by hotspot

What I need to know is: do I have to have exact change, would a roll of quarters be the best choice, and where would I get that?

All toll facilities have at least one booth manned 24/7 which will give change. You can also purchase rolls of quarters at the manned booth and then use exact change lanes for the rest of your trip.

[Talent312]

Originally Posted by hotspot

It is migration time for Canadians. We will be doing the drive to Florida again in a few weeks and I would like to try the Turnpike this year. We will be getting on where it meets I-75 and exiting at Ft Lauderdale. From their website it seems it will cost approx $17.00. What I need to know is: do I have to have exact change, would a roll of quarters be the best choice, and where would I get that? I don't want to be searching around for a bank when it's all too easy for me to get lost in the first place.
Help!

IMHO, the idea of a roll of quarters is silly. Just use paper money for that section of the Turnpike, as all of the toll-plazas from I-75 - Ft. Lauderdale have staffed booths.

However, if you wish to exit + reenter, or use local toll highways, where the toll is under $1, changing a few dollars into quarters as you go, will speed you on your way.

[Steamboat Bill]

Originally Posted by Talent312

IMHO, the idea of a roll of quarters is silly. Just use paper money for that section of the Turnpike, as all of the toll-plazas from I-75 - Ft. Lauderdale have staffed booths.

However, if you wish to exit + reenter, or use local toll highways, where the toll is under $1, changing a few dollars into quarters as you go, will speed you on your way.

Some of the exits are unmanned, but the toll is never more than 75c for those exits

[silvib]

You might want to explore acquiring Sun Pass pre-paid tolls or a transponder. It'll inform you I would think on the website you were given by David, or call 1-800-749-7453. All of the toll plazas have an E-Pass or Sun Pass booth, which you drive through (at a greatly reduced speed) with a transponder, a little device attached to your vehicle & your a/c is charged, as well as manned booths, but what they've been working on of late, is widening the E-Pass section to regular lane width and literally just driving right on by the toll booth itself, without slowing down at all, it's great. I never use the Turnpike so don't know if they've done that there, but it's certainly worth asking.

[gidat1]

Why not save that $ 17.00 and drive down to Destin, Fort Walton Beach or Pensacola. They are bit colder but much cheaper to stay and more friendlier..

Phil

[hotspot]

Phil:
"Colder" is a dirty word to a Canadian in March. If I'm going to drive 24+ hours to get my sunshine fix, I want perspiration!
Lots of good suggestions, guys, thanks a lot. I didn't realize that there were booths with actual people in them at all times, we don't have many toll roads at all up here so I'm naive.
David, I had run across that website earlier but didn't explore the info in depth, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It seems with a solid combo of singles and spare change I should manage just fine.
Thanks everyone for the help!
hotspot