Driving Directions from the Orlando Airports to Port Orleans

Updated 2019 to take account of revised toll charges

Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Port Orleans Resort via SR-417 (Recommended)

The journey from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Port Orleans via SR-417 (Central Florida Greeneway) is just under 20 miles and will take you somewhere around 25 minutes as the traffic is generally quite light on this route. The total toll charges will come to $3.50, so ideally have some change ready in quarters or pre-book a Florida Visitor Toll Pass which can then be collected from the airport (now including all terminals, A, B or C). View Route in Google Maps.

  1. You will pick up your rental car from a large parking garage on the ground level of the airport, next to the A or B terminal buildings. For a guide to the airport’s general layout and location, please see Orlando International Airport Wayfinding Map.
  2. After you exit the parking garage, follow the brown overhead airport signs for the South Exit (towards SR-417, Disney / Kissimmee).
  3. You will drive through a short tunnel which runs beneath the airplae taxiway, stay left to follow Jeff Fuqua Boulevard / South Access Road, stay on the South Exit route and avoid exit lanes leading to Parking Lots.
  4. After about 1½ miles, stay in the left-hand lanes to remain on Access Road, do not take the exit for Heintzelman Blvd.
  5. After another 1¼ miles, stay in the left-hand lanes signposted to SR-417 (Toll), do not take the exit for Boggy Creek Road.
  6. Move over to the right-hand lanes and take the fork signposted for SR-417 South (Disney World / Tampa).
  7. There will soon be a toll plaza costing $1.75, and then another one approximately 8 miles later, also $1.75. Note: unless you have made specific arrangements in advance, avoid using the left-hand lanes marked for vehicles with electronic ‘SunPass’ transponders if you want to avoid a hefty fine later!
  8. Shortly after the second toll plaza, take Exit #6 on your right onto SR-536, which is signposted for International Drive and SR-536/SR-535/I-4 East.
  9. Stay in the middle lanes and continue straight ahead, following the overhead lane signs for SR-536 West / World Center Drive, towards Disney World.
  10. The road soon becomes Epcot Center Drive just as it crosses over the I-4, and you are now entering Walt Disney World – as the massive overhead sign will tell you!
  11. Stay left, avoiding the exit-only lane marked for Disney Springs / Typhoon Lagoon.
  12. After the Disney Springs exit, move over to the right to take next exit, signposted towards Old Key West and Port Orleans.
  13. As soon as you exit (taking a sharp bend) immediately move over to the left-hand lane ready to turn left at the traffic lights onto Bonnet Creek Road.
  14. The first turning on your right will be for Port Orleans French Quarter and the third turning on your right is for Port Orleans Riverside.
  15. At the resort security booth, tell the Disney Security cast member that you are checking in and have your reservation details and ID to hand. Once you’ve checked in, you will later be able to use your Magic Band to open the automatic barrier in the right-hand lane.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Port Orleans Resort, Alternative Route via Interstate-4

The journey from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Port Orleans via Interstate-4 is about 20 miles and will take you somewhere around 30 minutes, traffic allowing. This route can get busy, especially during rush-hour. There is one toll payment of $2.50 (which is avoidable if you’d prefer take a less direct route) so ideally have some change ready in quarters or pre-book a Florida Visitor Toll Pass which can then be collected from the airport (terminals A, B or C). View Route in Google Maps.

  1. You will pick up your rental car from a large parking garage on the ground level of the airport, next to the A or B terminal buildings. For a guide to the airport’s general layout and location, please see Orlando International Airport Wayfinding Map.
  2. After you exit the parking garage, follow the brown overhead airport signs for the North Exit (towards SR-436 / SR-528, Downtown Orlando).
  3. You will drive through a short tunnel which runs beneath the airplane taxiway. At this point, keep to the middle lane.
  4. After about a mile you will leave the airport complex and come to the exits for SR-528. Go past Exit #1A (SR-528 East) and then move to the right-hand lane and take Exit #1B (SR-528 West, signposted for I-4 and International Drive).
  5. OPTIONAL: If you want to do some shopping en route, or just reduce the upcoming $2.50 toll payment to $1.25, take exit #8 onto SR-482 (West Sand Lake Road) which will take you straight past the Florida Mall, a WalMart Superstore, etc. You can then continue on this road and rejoin Interstate 4 (Westbound) just after the International Drive intersection (skipping the next two steps below). [MAP DIRECTIONS]
  6. Continue on SR-528 and about four miles later you will pass through a toll plaza costing $2.50. Note: unless you have made specific arrangements in advance, avoid using the left-hand lanes marked for vehicles with electronic ‘SunPass’ transponders if you want to avoid a hefty fine later!
  7. Continue straight on over all the intersections and approximately six miles later you will arrive at the junction for Interstate 4. Keep left to take the fork signposted for I-4 West / Tampa.
  8. After about five miles on the I-4, take the right-hand Exit #67 (signposted for Epcot and Disney Springs).
  9. Ignoring the exit marked for Disney Springs, continue straight and the road will bring you out onto Epcot Center Drive.
  10. You are now entering Walt Disney World – as the massive overhead sign will soon tell you!
  11. Stay left, avoiding the exit-only lane marked for Disney Springs / Typhoon Lagoon.
  12. After the Disney Springs exit, move over to the right to take next exit, signposted towards Old Key West and Port Orleans.
  13. As soon as you exit (taking a sharp bend) immediately move over to the left-hand lane ready to turn left at the traffic lights onto Bonnet Creek Road.
  14. The first turning on your right will be for Port Orleans French Quarter and the third turning on your right is for Port Orleans Riverside.
  15. At the resort security booth, tell the Disney Security cast member that you are checking in and have your reservation details and ID to hand. Once you’ve checked in, you will later be able to use your Magic Band to open the automatic barrier in the right-hand lane.

Sanford International Airport (SFB) to Port Orleans Resort via SR-417 (Recommended)

Sanford airport is further north than Orlando Internatinal, and tends to be used more by budget airlines and international charter flights rather than the major carriers. It is much smaller and thus easier to navigate around — see map. If you take the SR-417 route, the journey is about 50 miles and will take you around an hour, traffic allowing. The total toll charges come to $8, so have some change ready in quarters. View Route in Google Maps.

  1. Once you’ve collected your rental car at Sanford airport, drive to the exit of the parking lot and hand in the yellow copy of your rental paperwork at the security booth. Turn right onto East Airport Boulevard.
  2. After two miles, get into the left-hand lane as you go underneath the SR-417 bridge and turn left onto SR-417 South, signposted towards Orlando (also known as the Central Florida Greeneway).
  3. Your first toll plaza is not far ahead and will cost $2.50 for cars. Note: unless you have made specific arrangements in advance, avoid using the left-hand lanes marked for vehicles with electronic ‘SunPass’ transponders if you want to avoid a hefty fine later!
  4. You will soon cross over a long causeway over Lake Jesup and a few miles later you’ll go through another toll plaza ($1.00 charge).
  5. About 18 miles into your journey, beware when the road splits into two at exit 33A/B to form the SR-408. Do NOT follow the SR-408 signposted for Orlando/Titusville at this point, but remain on the SR-417 South by keeping to the left-hand lanes.
  6. There will be three more toll plazas on your journey, the first for $1.00 and the next two for $1.75 each.
  7. Shortly after the final toll plaza, take Exit #6 on your right onto SR-536, which is signposted for International Drive and SR-536/SR-535/I-4 East.
  8. Stay in the middle lanes and continue straight ahead, following the overhead lane signs for SR-536 West / World Center Drive, towards Disney World.
  9. The road soon becomes Epcot Center Drive just as it crosses over the I-4, and you are now entering Walt Disney World – as the massive overhead sign will tell you!
  10. Stay left, avoiding the exit-only lane marked for Disney Springs / Typhoon Lagoon.
  11. After the Disney Springs exit, move over to the right to take next exit, signposted towards Old Key West and Port Orleans.
  12. As soon as you exit (taking a sharp bend) immediately move over to the left-hand lane ready to turn left at the traffic lights onto Bonnet Creek Road.
  13. The first turning on your right will be for Port Orleans French Quarter and the third turning on your right is for Port Orleans Riverside.
  14. At the resort security booth, tell the Disney Security cast member that you are checking in and have your reservation details and ID to hand. Once you’ve checked in, you will later be able to use your Magic Band to open the automatic barrier in the right-hand lane.

Note: as an alternative, preferred only during quieter times of the day, you may wish to take Interstate-4 which is toll-free and about 43 miles. To do this, turn LEFT as you exit the car pickup location, then turn right at the next lights to follow the Airport Exit route (Red Cleveland Blvd). Turn right at the next lights onto East Lake Mary Blvd, and after about six miles the road will take you over the Interstate itself, and then you need to be in the right-hand lane ready to turn immediately right onto the slip road which is signposted for I-4 West / Orlando. About 32 miles later, take Exit #67 signposted for Epcot / Disney Springs, and follow the instructions above from Orlando International Airport, step 9 onwards. View this Specific Route in Google Maps.

Tolls and Other Travel Information

Car rental companies may try to charge you an additional fee for their electronic toll charge payment scheme. I strongly advise against this as it is almost always more expensive than paying in cash as you go. An even better solution for tourists renting from Orlando Intentional Airport is the Florida Visitor Toll Pass which allows you to drive straight through E-PASS/etc toll lanes, paying a reduced rate compared to cash, and with no setup or service fees. You can pre-register via their app or online at visitortollpass.com, and then pick up your in-car pass at the airport when you arrive (Orlando International only, with machines available at terminals A, B or C).

For information on other transportaton options, please see our Ground Transportation page.

For fuller details of these and other routes, check out the excellent kissimmee-us192.com, which includes step-by-step drive through photographs and videos in their “British Visitors” section.