State Road 52 (SR 52) is the major east–west road through northern

Pasco County, Florida Pasco County is located on the west central coast of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the 2020 census, the population was 561,691. Its county seat is Dade City, and its largest city is Zephyrhills. The county is named after Samuel Pasco ...

. The road begins in Bayonet Point at

US 19 U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie. The highway's southern ...

( SR 55), passes through

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

, runs past

Saint Leo University Saint Leo University is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university in St. Leo, Florida. It was established in 1889. The university is associated with the Holy Name Monastery, a Benedictine convent, and Saint Leo Abbey, a Benedictine mon ...

, in Saint Leo, and terminates in

Dade City Dade City is a city in and the county seat of Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is located in the Tampa Bay Area. The population was 6,437 at the 2010 census. Dade City is popular with tourists for its antique stores, restaurants, and h ...

at US 98 /

US 301 U.S. Route 301 (US 301) is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It runs from Biddles Corner, Delaware at Delaware Route 1 to Sarasota, Florida at U.S. Route 41. It passes through the states of Delaware, Mar ...

( SR 533).

Route description

State Road 52 exists primarily as a six-lane commercial strip between US 19 and Moon Lake Road. In 2007, the road was widened to six lanes between Moon Lake Road and

Suncoast Parkway Suncoast may refer to: * Florida Suncoast, a 1980s marketing term for peninsular (non-panhandle) Florida's Gulf of Mexico coastal counties ** Florida Suncoast Dome, the original name of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida ** Suncoast Center, ...

, but most of the development taking place here has been residential so far. On the Southeast corner of the Suncoast Parkway interchange, there is a Florida State Police barracks and Florida Division of Forestry fire tower. The road narrows down to four lanes and then two as it enters Fivay Junction and approaches Shady Hills Road, before crossing the

Pithlachascotee River The Pithlachascotee River, often called the Cotee or "Cootie" River, is a blackwater river in Pasco County, Florida. Originating near Crews Lake, the river flows for over U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flo ...

. As the road runs along the north side of some agricultural land, it eventually meets with a railroad crossing, and then passes a saw mill before encountering

US 41 U.S. Route 41, also U.S. Highway 41 (US 41), is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, ...

( SR 45) at a section of Pasco County which is known as Gowers Corner. Plans to widen SR 52 in the vicinity of US 41 include the realignment of both roads. East of

is a community known as the Pilot Country Estates Airport, where residents have their own private airplanes. Beyond that, most of the features surrounding SR 52 consist of fledgling farmland and minor lakes. At least one other gated community exists east of this point. Other sites along this segment include the Dirt Devil's Speedway and a concrete factory on the southwest corner of CR 583 (Ehren Cutoff). A winery was established at some point in the early 21st Century and a model aviation club existed in one of two locations along this segment of the road. After a pair of bridges over two dry creeks, SR 52 encounters Bellamy Brothers Boulevard (CR 581 North), which leads drivers north through farms and woods before entering the City of Brooksville. Meanwhile, SR 52 climbs a hill and then drops before approaching the Pasco County Juvenile Detention Center. Almost immediately, the road enters the unincorporated hamlet of Pasco as it crosses a former railroad right-of-way that once ran from St. Petersburg to Trilby. The interchange with

Interstate 75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from S ...

(Exit 285) is easily in view of motorists before reaching the former grade crossing, but not without approaching a gated community and two truck stops. Immediately after the I-75 interchange, SR 52 passes by and industrial park and

Recreational Vehicle A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans (also known as travel trailers and camper ...

dealership, then curves to the northeast as it crosses another dry creek bridge. The road turns back east as it enters

and instantly makes a direct left curve into Saint Leo. The north-to-eastbound ramp takes drivers though the St. Leo Abbey Historic District and

on a steep hill. Between CR 579 and Alternate CR 35, there's an CR 52 Alternate along Clinton Avenue south of State Road 52 that has no direct connection to the main road. Immediately after the CR 579 intersection, the road takes another sharp northeast curve, and despite a sharp curve back to the right, continues to move to the northeast. JWGII WelcomeToDadeCity

After SR 52 enters the Dade City Limits, it runs along the northwestern border of Pasco High School, until the intersection of Old San Ann Drive and moves north onto 21st Street. Eventually, County Road 41 replaces SR 52 as the designation for 21st Street when it makes a sharp right onto Meridian Avenue, but eastbound SR 52 and southbound CR 41 overlap each other until 17th Street, where CR 41 turns south unexpectedly. As the road divides again east of 10th Street, drivers truly enter the heart of Dade City when they encounter local parkland that was once part of a

Seaboard Air Line The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad which existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, t ...

right-of-way, and then intersects 7th Street (former US 98-301), where the historic

Pasco County Courthouse The Pasco County Courthouse (constructed in 1909) is a historic site in Dade City, Florida, located at 37918 Meridian Avenue. It was designed by architect Edward Columbus Hosford in the Classical Revival style. On September 20, 2006, it was added ...

can be found on the southeast corner. After passing by more local government buildings including the Dade City Branch of the Pasco County Library, State Road 52 ends at US 98- 301 on the opposite side of the

Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot Dade City station is a railroad station and historic site located in Dade City, Florida, United States. The station is located on CSX's S-Line, which runs along the east side of the building. On July 15, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National R ...

. This was a Truck Detour for US 98-301 until February 2007.

History

Former segments of State Road 52, have included Roth Lane, in Saint Leo, and North 21st Street and Lock Street in Dade City.

Major intersections

Related route

County Road 52 Alternate is the bannered route of SR 52 south of Dade City. It begins at County Road 579 just south of the intersection with SR 52, and runs east along Clinton Street.

References

External links

Florida Route Log (SR 52)
{{Commons category, Florida State Road 52 052 052 Dade City, Florida