International Drive facts for kids
| I-Drive | |
International Drive, Orlando FL (April 2011)
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| Length | 11.1 mi (17.9 km) |
|---|---|
| South end |  US 192 (Irlo Bronson Highway) |
| Major junctions |
 SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) SR 482 (Sand Lake Road) SR 435 (Kirkman Road) |
| North end | Oak Ridge Road |
International Drive, often called I-Drive, is a very important road in Orlando, Florida, United States. It's like the main street for tourists visiting the city. You'll find I-Drive a bit southwest of downtown Orlando, right at the edge of the city. It's a bit like the famous Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, but for Orlando – a central spot packed with fun things for visitors.
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Exploring International Drive
I-Drive is about 11 miles long. Its northern part is in Orlando, while the middle and southern parts are in Orange County. There's also a separate part called International Drive South in Osceola County. Important roads nearby include Sand Lake Road, Kirkman Road, SR 536, and Universal Boulevard. Universal Boulevard runs next to the middle part of I-Drive.
I-Drive usually has four lanes, two going in each direction. Some parts have six lanes, with three lanes in each direction. The section from Universal Boulevard to Sand Lake Road can get very busy, especially in the evenings. This is because many popular attractions are in this area.
Fun Places to Visit on I-Drive
The International Drive area is home to many exciting places. You can find the Madame Tussauds wax museum and the huge Orange County Convention Center. There's also the Pointe Orlando entertainment complex, which has shops and restaurants.
If you love theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando and its water park Aquatica are here. You can also visit Fun Spot America amusement park. For amazing views, check out the ICON Orlando Ferris wheel. There's also the world's tallest StarFlyer ride and the world's tallest Slingshot ride for thrill-seekers.
You'll find unique places like the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's and WonderWorks, an upside-down building with cool exhibits. There are many hotels, themed restaurants, bars, and outlet malls for shopping. You can also play mini golf at places like Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf. The major theme park resort Universal Orlando is also very close by.
A water park called Wet n' Wild used to be on International Drive. It was one of America's first water parks. It closed in 2016 to make way for Universal's Volcano Bay, which opened in 2017.
Getting Around I-Drive
The I-Ride Trolley system helps people get around the I-Drive area. It's mainly for tourists and people attending conventions. It's a great way to see the sights without needing a car. There are also public bus routes operated by Lynx that connect I-Drive to places like the Orlando International Airport and Downtown Orlando.
The Story of I-Drive
The first part of I-Drive was created in the 1960s by a lawyer named Finley Hamilton. He wanted to build a hotel, the Hilton Inn South, which opened in 1970. He thought tourists going to Walt Disney World (which opened in 1971) would see his hotel from the highway.
"They called the hotel 'Finley's Folly' – everyone, all of my friends," Hamilton said. "They said it was in the boondocks. ...But it turned out to be highly successful. ...I came up with International Drive," he remembered, "because it sounded big and important." Over time, International Drive grew to its current size.
In 1992, the International Drive Master Transit and Improvement District was formed. This group helps manage growth, transportation, and building projects in the area. One of their main goals was to create a good transportation system for tourists. This led to the creation of the I-Ride trolley system.
Universal Boulevard: A Parallel Road
Universal Boulevard runs mostly next to International Drive. It crosses I-Drive and connects to Interstate 4, leading to the Universal Orlando Resort. This road was first called Republic Drive.
In 1998, the road was extended into Universal Studios and renamed Universal Boulevard. This was done to prepare for the opening of Islands of Adventure in 1999.
Universal Boulevard usually has less traffic than International Drive. It can be used as an alternate route, especially during big events at the Orange County Convention Center. Some new communities and apartments are also planned for this area. The University of Central Florida opened its Rosen College of Hospitality Management here in 2005.
Major Road Connections
| County | Location | Mile | Roads intersected | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola | | 0.0 | 0.0 | US 192 – Old Town, Celebration |
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| | 0.9 | 1.4 |   CR 522 to Florida's Turnpike (Osceola Parkway) – Disney World, Int’l Airport |
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| Orange | | 3.0 | 4.8 |  SR 535 |
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| Gap in route | |||||||
| | 3.0 | 4.8 |    SR 417 to SR 535 / SR 536 (World Center Drive) – Int’l Airport |
SR 417 exit 6 | |||
| | 7.4 | 11.9 | Central Florida Parkway | Access to SeaWorld | |||
| | 8.4 | 13.5 | SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) – Int’l Airport, Cocoa |
SR 528 exit 1 | |||
| | 10.8 | 17.4 | SR 482 (Sand Lake Road) |
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| Orlando | 12.2 | 19.6 | SR 435 (Kirkman Road) – Universal Studios |
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| 13.3 | 21.4 | Oak Ridge Road | |||||
| Orlando International Premium Outlets | |||||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||||
