Car hire is a great way to get around Orlando, with an excellent network of roads to guide you around the city. Routes to all the theme parks are really well signposted – just look for the big green signs overhead.
Interstate 4 (I-4) is Orlando's only main highway, running from the north-east to the south-west of the city. The likes of Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal are all located off the I-4 but with up to eight lanes it copes pretty well with the traffic. The speed limit on the I-4 is restricted to 65mph.
International Drive (often known as I-Drive) is the city's major tourist road, stretching 10 miles across Orlando. It's where you'll find many of the city's restaurants, shopping centres and other attractions, so you're likely to be using this road a lot.
Elsewhere across the city, you'll find a range of expressways to get you where you need to go in your hire car. The main one within Orlando is the SR-528 (The Beach Line Expressway), running from the heart of the city to the eastern hotspots of the Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach. From here, you can join the 1-95 and head north to Jacksonville, or south to Miami.
When it comes to road signs, it's important to remember that overhead signs show the road you're crossing, not the road you're actually driving on.
Depending on where you go, you'll find some of Orlando’s roads have toll booths, with costs ranging from 50 cents to a couple of dollars.
It’s worth having some quarters and dollar bills handy in case the booth is unmanned as this means you won’t be able to get change. Don’t be tempted to drive through one of these toll booths without paying as you’re likely to land a fine.
Unlike in the UK, you’re allowed to turn right on a red light in the US. Just make sure you come to a complete stop first and check for traffic. If you’re not sure, it’s better to wait until the lights turn green.
You can also legally overtake on both sides. When you see a ‘STOP’ sign you must always stop, even if the coast is clear, before setting off again.
If you’re driving on one of the freeways you may be happiest staying in the right-hand lane – just keep an eye out for your junction so you can move across in time for the slip road, known in the US as an ‘off-ramp’.
Speed limits on Interstate highways are set at 70mph, dropping to 65mph on four-lane divided highways (essentially four-lane motorways) outside urban areas and 60mph on other state highways – but this can vary so keep an eye out for signs.
In built-up areas the limit drops to 30mph, and 20mph around schools. The police are very strict when it comes to speeding so be sure to stick to the relevant limit at all times to avoid risking a fine. However, you can also get a ticket for driving too slowly. When the posted speed limit is 70mph, the minimum speed limit is 50mph.
