Sunpass questions

bukhrn wrote:
Does the Sunpass roads honor EZPass like other states with their own toll passes?

No the Sunpass isn't compatible.

The best "official" information that I could find (they sure made it hard to find) is at:
http://www.floridasturnpike.com/all-electronictolling/ESP/FAQs.cfm?SunPass

Florida Turnpike wrote:
Can I use E-ZPass to pay for tolls in Florida?

No. E-ZPass and SunPass are not compatible at this time but Florida’s Turnpike is working on an interoperability solution with the E-ZPass toll operators.

Does the Sunpass roads honor EZPass like other states with their own toll passes?

What ever amount you have left in your Sunpass account can be transferred back to your credit card when you wish. The Sunpass makes it easier to use the toll roads, and saves you money if/when you do use toll roads.

I greatly dislike toll roads, once the Guvment can reach into your wallet electronically it will spiral out of control.

It's all a question of what kind of roads you want to drive in South Florida? The Florida Turnpike is expensive, especially if you do not have a Sunpass, but for $5.00 you can get a mini! The turnpike is an easier drive than I-95 and when you get on the Homestead Extension it is even easier. I realize that the road widening project in Broward and Miami Dade counties has been completed, but even after or before rush hour, traffic flow can be difficult for an RV. True, I-95 is free, but there are two tolls on SR 836, one on the Don Shula Expressway (SR874) and another one on the turnpike (SR821), so your going to pay tolls anyway, just not as many. When were return to South Florida, I pay the price to stay off I-95 and enjoy the ride. Just my 2 cents!

why pay tolls from where you are coming from? I 95

After living in Florida for about 17 years, my advice is to get the Sunpass (you may use it more then you think) and exit I-95 and get onto the turnpike at Ft Pierce. Take the Homestead extension of the Turnpike. Takes you right to Hwy 1 in Homestead.

There are no tolls on Hwy 1 in the Keys. There is a toll if you take Card Sound Road out of Homestead down into the Keys.

I do agree with all the others that you do not HAVE to use the Turnpike or get Sunpass. Just take I-95. But I have noticed over the years, that in general, the folks driving on tollways down here seem to exhibit a little better driving behavior then those on other primary roads.

My .02

For one trip and not going to Orlando (lots of toll roads) I would not get a Sun Pass. You can take I-95 to downtown Miami and then 836 (pay cash) and then 874 and 821 (toll by plate) to US1 south of Homestead which is free. Many will say to get on the Fla Turnpike at Jupiter (toll by plate) but as long as non rush hour 95 moves well now that the widening is completed south of Jupiter. Used this route is year although I do have a Sun Pass.

suprz wrote:
Just dreaming and planning a florida keys trip. I just read that US 1 in the keys does not accept cash for tolls and only uses Sunpass? So to go to the keys, I have to go to the trouble of getting a sunpass??...

On the turnpike extension to the keys, they removed the toll booths and replaced them with overhead license plate readers that will either bill your SunPass if you have one, or send you a bill in the mail. As has been pointed out earlier, the tolls are a little less expensive if you have a SunPass. On other parts of the turnpike there are exits that you can not use unless you have a SunPass. There are no toll booths and the fines are quite steep if you use those exits without a SunPass.
There are no tolls on US1 in the keys.

Thanks for the reminder. We're headed to Orlando this summer and Key West this Christmas. Just signed up for the $5 mini pass sticker for the windshield.

US 1 that runs through the Keys is not a toll road. You can plan your route not using any toll roads if you want. I95 down through Fl to just north of Miami, thenconnect to the Palmatto Exway (hwy 826). The palmatto connects with US1 and then down into the keys. Alot of traffic. If you swing over to the toll road, the southern part will bill by plate as you go through. It's a little more pricy but you won't have to get a sunpass, if that's what you want to do.