Interstate 4 Westbound - Volusia and Seminole Counties
Interstate 4 West
Approaching the Exit 118 half-cloverleaf interchange with Florida 44 (New York Avenue) on Interstate 4 west. Florida 44 travels west from New Smyrna Beach into the DeLand Historic District through central Volusia County. Exit 118 serves Stetson University and the Volusia County Fairgrounds. Photo taken 12/30/05.
Florida 44 (New York Avenue) passes over Interstate 4 ahead of the Exit 118 ramp departure. Florida 44 meanders around Lake Winnemissett to junction Volusia County 4101 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beltway / Kepler Road). New York Avenue carries the state road westward into downtown DeLand and its junction with U.S. 17 & 92 (Woodland Boulevard). The County Fairgrounds lie just east of the Interstate 4 interchange. Stetson University is located in downtown DeLand along Woodland Boulevard at Michigan Avenue East. Photo taken 12/30/05.
Interstate 4 continues southwest into the city of Lake Helen. Lake Helen was developed by Henry Deland and named after his daughter Helen in 1883. The community began with a sawmill and hotel at the small Lake Helen, and spread out from there.1 Photo taken 01/01/06.
Meeting Interstate 4 at Exit 116 is Volusia County 4116 (Orange Camp Road) and Main Street West from Lake Helen. Downtown Lake Helen and the lake itself lie one mile east of the Exit 116 half-cloverleaf interchange. Main Street East ends at Volusia county 4139 (Lakeview Drive). Photo taken 01/01/06.
Exit 116 departs Interstate 4 westbound for Volusia County 4116 (Orange Camp Road) west and Main Street West eastbound. Orange Camp Road continues Main Street west three miles to junction U.S. 17 & 92 (Woodland Boulevard South) in DeLand. DeLand began in 1876 after Henry A. DeLand purchased the land, settled there, and encouraged others to invest in area property. DeLand founded the DeLand Academy, which later became Stetson University, after benefactor John B. Stetson and the request of John DeLand himself. New York Avenue (Florida 44) derives its name from DeLand's home state of New York.2 Photo taken 01/01/06.
One mile north of the Exit 114 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Florida 472 (Howland Boulevard). Florida 472 spurs southeast from U.S. 17 & 92 (Woodland Boulevard) and DeLand to Interstate 4 near Cassadaga. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Motorists destined for Cassadaga should use Florida 472 northwest to the Martin Luther King Jr. Beltway for Cassadaga Road (Volusia County 4139) east. Blue Springs State Park lies west of Orange City along Volusia County 4142 (French Avenue West). The waters of Blue Springs remain constant at 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. The waters provide a haven for manatee during the winter months. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Road construction present during 2006 involves the adding of a new eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 4 from Howland Boulevard west. Volusia County 4145 overtakes Howland Boulevard from Florida 472 just south of Exit 114. The east-west road joins northern Orange City with northern Deltona. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Westbound reassurance marker posted ahead of the Volusia County 4145 (Graves Avenue East) over crossing. Volusia County 4145 leads west from Howland Boulevard to junction U.S. 17 & 92 (Volusia Avenue) south of French Avenue West, the road to Blue Springs State Park. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Growth of Orange City along the frontage of Interstate 4 results in the installation of sound barriers along the freeway. Pictured here is road work and a mileage sign for Sanford and Orlando. Orange City was started by Dr. Seth French and company in 1874 with a purchase of 5,000 acres. The town derives its name from the thousands of orange groves planted in the area. Orange City was incorporated in 1882.3 Photo taken 01/01/06.
Next in line for westbound travelers is the Exit 111B/A three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with Saxon Boulevard (Volusia County 4146). Saxon Boulevard links Orange City to the west with Deltona to the east. Deltona began as a Mackle Brothers vision in 1962 with the purchase of 17,203 acres. The developers aspired to build a master-planned retirement community with 35,143 lots. Construction followed soon thereafter, with the initial population living in Deltona by April of 1963. By 1991, 52,000 called Deltona home. Unincorporated until a successful vote on December 31, 1995, the city now boasts over 70,000 residents.4Photo taken 01/01/06.
Exit 11A serves the city of DeBary via Saxon Boulevard west to U.S. 17 & 92 (Charles Beall Boulevard) south. The Orange City Park & Ride Lot resides just west of Interstate 4 adjacent to Deltona Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Interstate 4 westbound at the Exit 111 collector/distributor roadway for Saxon Boulevard (Volusia County 4146) west and east. Saxon Boulevard ends 1.75 miles west at U.S. 17 & 92 (Volusia Avenue) and five miles east at junction Volusia County 4162 (Doyle Road) in south Deltona. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Exit 111B departs the westbound c/d roadway for Saxon Boulevard west. Saxon Boulevard intersects the south end of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Volusia County 4156 (Enterprise Road) within one mile. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Exit 111A loops onto Saxon Boulevard eastbound for central Deltona. Saxon Boulevard meets Normandy Boulevard (Volusia County 4154) and Providence Boulevard (Volusia County 4155) within three miles of Interstate 4. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Enterprise Road passes over Interstate 4 one mile north of the Exit 108 folded-diamond interchange with Volusia County 4162 (DeBary Avenue / Dirksen Drive). Volusia County 4162 straddles the north shore of Lake Monroe from Providence Boulevard in Deltona westward to Dirksen Drive in DeBary west of Interstate 4. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The community of Enterprise lies along the north shore of Lake Monroe one mile east of Interstate 4. Enterprise consists of an unincorpated community rich in history. During the 1800s, Enterprise became a weekend destination for area residents with its mineral springs, lakeside access, and steamboat access to Jacksonville. Enterprise was the first county seat for Volusia in 1854. Later the town became a railroad depot along the Jacksonville Tampa and Key West Railroad.5 Photo taken 01/01/06.
Interstate 4 westbound at the Exit 108 ramp departure to Volusia County 4162. DeBary Avenue travels east from Interstate 4 to Enterprise and Doyle Road in Deltona. Dirksen Drive carries the county highway west into DeBary, serving Gemini Springs State Park along the drive to U.S. 17 & 92. DeBary incorporated in 1993 to prevent annexation by the larger Orange City to the north. The community was founded by Frederick deBary with a 400-acre purchase of land in 1871.6 Photo taken 01/01/06.
Interstate 4 straddles the western shores of Lake Monroe between Exit 109 and the Seminole County line. Wetlands associated with the lake lie west of the freeway along the four-mile drive to the St. Johns River crossing. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The first Seminole County interchange joins U.S. 17 & 92 with Interstate 4 at Lake Monroe. U.S. 17 & 92 turn southeast from DeBary to downtown Sanford. Sanford was originally home to the U.S. Army post Fort Mellon, an installation established during the Seminole Wars of the 1830s. Later settlers created the town of Mellonville, which grew as a distribution point for steamboat service between Lake Monroe and Jacksonville. Mellonville became the first county seat of Orange in 1845.
By 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased a large swath of land west of Mellonville with the intention of building "the Gate City of South Florida", a transportation hub for southern Florida. In 1877, the city of Sanford incorporated and by 1883, Mellonville was annexed. The Southern Florida Railroad fueled growth with its establishment to Sanford by 1884. Sanford grew as a vegetable shipping center in the early 1900s, receiving the nickname "Celery City" for its most successful crop. On April 25, 1913, Seminole County separated from Orange with Sanford as its seat. Between 1942 and 1968, Sanford Naval Air Station operated on what is now Orlando-Sanford International Airport.7 Photo taken 01/01/06.
A pair of three-lane concrete bridges span the St. Johns River at the Volusia and Seminole County line. The St. Johns River flows northward to Jacksonville and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the longest northward flowing river in the United States. The name St. Johns is based on the Catholic mission established on Fort St. George Island near the river's mouth in 1578, the San Juan del Puero. The River took the name Rio de San Juan because of that. Rio de San Juan translated to St. Johns River in English, and the name has remained ever since.8 Photos taken 01/01/06.
Looking west at the U.S. 17 & 92 bridge over the St. Johns River and the parallel CSX lift-bridge. In the background is the Florida Power and Light plant. Exit 104 also serves the Port of Sanford and the Central Florida Zoological Park. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Westbound at the folded-diamond interchange with U.S. 17 & 92 (Exit 104). U.S. 17 & 92 travel east along the south shores of Lake Monroe to Sanford and junction Florida 46 (West 1st Street). Once at downtown Sanford, the tandem travel south along French Avenue. Tieing into the interchange from the south is Orange Boulevard and Seminole County 15 (Monroe Road). Orange Boulevard travels west to Florida 46 and Seminole County 431. Monroe Road heads south through the community of Lake Monroe to junction Florida 46 at Upsala Road. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Interstate 4 enters the city of Sanford ahead of the Exit 101C diamond interchange with Florida 46. Florida 46 travels west from Sanford 20 miles to the Lake County city of Mount Dora. Eastward, the state highway constitutes a divided-arterial four miles to the Sanford Historic District. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The on-ramp from U.S. 17 & 92 forms the exit-only lane for Exit 101C (Florida 46). Florida 46 travels west 1.5 miles to junction Seminole County 431 (Orange Boulevard) and 4.1 miles to junction Seminole County 46A (Longwood-Markham Road). Both roads serve the northern reaches of Heathrow. Use Florida 46 east to Towne Center Boulevard south for the Seminole Town Center Mall. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Exit 101C departs Interstate 4 westbound, one mile north of the Exit 101B trumpet interchange with Florida 417 Toll (Center Florida Greeneway). Florida 417 Toll comprises the eastern beltway of the Orlando metropolitan area. and the toll road serves Orlando-Sanford International Airport via Exit 50 and Orlando International Airport via Exit 26. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Florida 46 shields and guide sign posted at the Exit 101C ramp end. Florida 46 is quite busy in the area of Interstate 4 with traffic from the Seminole Towne Center mall Photo taken 08/25/07.
A lengthy collector/distributor roadway serves the movements to (Exit 101B) Florida 417 Toll (Central Florida Greeneway) south and (Exit 101A) Seminole County 46A (H.E. Thomas Parkway). Seminole County 46A follows H.E. Thomas Parkway east from Orange Boulevard to Monroe County 15 (Country Club Road) along the Sanford and Lake Mary city lines. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Interstate 4 westbound splits with the Exit 101B/A c/d roadway for Florida 417 Toll south and Seminole County 46A. The Central Florida Greeneway heads east with Sanford area interchanges serving Rinehart Road (unsigned Seminole County 431B), Seminole County 46A (West 25th Street), and Airport Boulevard / U.S. 17 & 92 in the first five miles. H.E. Thomas Parkway meets Rinehart Road just east of its partial-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 4. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The Exit 101B/A roadway does not include return access to Interstate 4 west. Instead drivers partition into ramps directly onto the Central Florida Greeneway south and Seminole County 46A at Colonial Center Parkway. International Parkway stems south from H.E. Thomas Parkway parallel to Interstate 4 to Lake Mary Boulevard. Lake Mary entails all of the land south of Seminole County 46A and east of Heathrow. Incorporated on August 7, 1973, Lake Mary's origins began in January of 1923 as the Lake Mary Chamber of Commerce. The town started as small railroad villages known as Bent's Station and Belle Fountain. Now basically a bedroom community for Orlando, Lake Mary was named after the wife of a minister who settled along the lake that would become Lake Mary.9 Photo taken 01/01/06.
Drivers bound for Florida 417 Toll south to Winter Springs, Oviedo, and Orlando depart via Exit 101B. The toll road returns to Interstate 4 in northern Osceola County west of Kissimmee (Exit 62). Heathrow meanwhile lies west of Interstate 4 via Seminole County 46A and Heathrow Boulevard. Photo taken 01/01/06.
A large pedestrian bridge spans Interstate 4 between Heathrow and Lake Mary near milepost 100. The 1000' long suspension bridge was built in 2003 at a cost of $3.5 million. Photos taken 01/01/06.
Exit 98 joins Lake Mary Boulevard with Interstate 4 via a partial-cloverleaf interchange. Lake Mary Boulevard travels east from Markham Woods Road to Red Cleveland Boulevard south of Orlando-Sanford International Airport. An extension of Lake Mary Boulevard will continue the road east to Cameron City and junction Florida 46 and 415 east of Sanford. Photo taken 01/01/06.
A two-lane off-ramp serves Lake Mary Boulevard from Interstate 4 west. Lake Mary Boulevard enters the unincorporated Heathrow west of the freeway. Markham Woods Road travels north-south through Heathrow between Seminole County 46A and Florida 434 (Sanlando Springs Road). Lake Mary itself lies three miles to the east along Lake Mary Boulevard. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Drivers bound for Lake Mary Boulevard depart Interstate 4 westbound. Lake Mary Boulevard intersects International Parkway and Heathrow Boulevard just west of the freeway. To the east, the arterial meets unsigned Seminole County 431B (Rinehart Road) in one mile, Seminole County 15 (Country Club Road) in 2.5 miles, and junction U.S. 17 & 92 at Sanford in five miles. Photo taken 01/01/06.
E.E. Williamson Road passes over Interstate 4 west ahead of the Sabal Point area rest area. This is one of two such facilities along the entire length of Interstate 4 westbound. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The one-half mile guide sign for Exit 94 (junction Florida 434) resides at the westbound rest area near Sabal Point. Florida 434 (Sanlando Springs Road) arcs through the Seminole County suburbs of Forest City, Longwood, Winter Springs, and Oviedo. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Use Florida 434 (Sanlando Springs Road) west to Wekiva Springs Road north to Sweetwater and Wekiwa Springs State Park. Wekiva itself lies west of Interstate 4 along San Lake Road. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The return ramp from the rest area forms the exit-only lane to Florida 434 (Sanlando Springs Road). Travel Florida 434 east for the cities of Longwood and Winter Springs. Longwood began as settlements created by those who remained after the end of the second Seminole Indian War in the 1800s. Early settlers established orange groves and other crops and later shops and churches.10 The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Longwood otherwise exists as a bedroom community for Orlando. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Florida 434 travels overall between Florida 424 (Edgewater Drive) in Orlando and Florida 50 (Colonial Drive) at University Park. A diamond interchange joins Sanlando Springs Road with Interstate 4 at Exit 94. Photo taken 01/01/06.
The final Seminole County interchange joins Florida 436 (Semoran Boulevard) with Interstate 4 at Altamonte Springs. Semoran Boulevard comprises a busy east-west surface arterial through Forest City, Altamonte Springs, Fern Park, and Casselberry. The state highway splits from U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) and arcs 25 miles east and south to the Orlando International Airport interchange of Florida 528 Toll (Beachline Expressway). Use Semoran Boulevard east to University Boulevard at Goldenrod for the University of Central Florida. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Westbound at the Exit 92 diamond interchange with Florida 436 (Semoran Boulevard). Use Florida 436 west to Seminole County and U.S. 441 north for the city of Apopka. Downtown Apopka lies 7.5 miles to the west. Altamonte Springs meanwhile encompasses all of the area surrounding Interstate 4 in southern Seminole County. City hall lies 1.9 miles east at the Altamonte Drive (Florida 436) intersection with Seminole County 427 (Ronald Reagan Boulevard). Photo taken 01/01/06.
