Getting to Orlando

Now that you have decided to make Central Florida your next vacation destination, it is not time to make your next big decision: how to get here! Luckily for you, one of the reasons that Orlando is such a great tourist destination is because of its amazing accessibility, whichever mode of transportation you decide to take. Orlando has one of the best airports in the nation, two major highways that intersect near all of the attractions, and other great ways of getting here, which we will take a look at below.

By Air: Getting to Central Florida is easy if you decide to fly in. Not only are there many affordable (and sometimes free) ways to get from the Orlando International Airport to your hotel, but the airport is also in a great location as well – just a 15-minute drive to all of the great Orlando attractions or to downtown Orlando! Orlando International Airport is home to over 50 airlines, including all of the major airlines and many non-stop flights to places all around the country on a daily basis. The Orlando International Airport is also home to many rental car companies and offers a plethora of parking nearby as well. But, this major airport is not the only one in town. The Orlando-Sanford International Airport is located 18 miles northwest of Orlando, and this airport is home to many smaller airlines and private planes. Lots of smaller cities around the U.S. are served with service to Orlando through Allegiant Airline, and a lot of these flights are more economical than flying through a larger company. While this airport may be about a 45-minute drive to the attractions area, it may be well worth it if it saves you money on flights.

By car: Central Florida’s attractions area is in a great location because of one reason: Walt Disney himself. The roads here were not built to accommodate the attractions – the attractions were built to accommodate the roads! The main reason Walt chose Orlando as home to the Walt Disney World Resort was because of it accessibility by car to anyone in the nation. Orlando is located right in the heart of Central Florida and is intersected by two major highways, with two more under an hour away. Interstate 4 cuts right through Orlando, running from the east coast of Florida (Daytona) to the west coast (Tampa) and all of the major attractions are located right off this highway. Florida’s Turnpike (a toll road) runs north to south through the state as well and passes right through the City Beautiful. Interstates 75 (on the west coast) and 95 (on the east coast) are also major routes to Florida, and anyone getting to the Sunshine State via either of these highways can either take the Turnpike or I-4 to get to your ultimate vacation spot here in Orlando.

By train: If you don’t like to fly and don’t want to deal with the uncertainty of rising gas prices, the Orlando area has four Amtrak stations – in Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee and Sanford. At the Orlando station, you can get the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star service with service from Orlando to places north like Charleston, S.C., Washington, D.C. and New York City or to other parts in Florida, like Tampa and Miami. The Sanford Amtrak station is also home to the Amtrak Auto Train, which transports passengers and their cars from the Washington, D.C. area down to Orlando. These options, while time consuming, are worth looking into if you are trying to save money for your vacation.

By bus: Orlando is also home to a Greyhound station. Located on John Young Parkway, about 10 miles from the attractions area, this station is open 24 hours a day and is also another affordable way to get down to Orlando. For reservations, you can call the Orlando Greyhound office at 407-292-3424.