U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 (US 17), also known as the Coastal Highway, is a north–south United States Highway that spans in the southeastern United States. It runs close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length, with the exception of the portion between Punta Gorda and Jacksonville, Florida, and the portion from Fredericksburg to Winchester, Virginia, both of which follow a more inland route. Major metropolitan areas served along US 17's route include the Punta Gorda, Greater Orlando, and Jacksonville metropolitan areas in Florida, the Brunswick and Savannah metropolitan areas in Georgia, the

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

and Myrtle Beach metropolitan areas in South Carolina, the Cape Fear and New Bern metropolitan areas in North Carolina, and the

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...

and Winchester metropolitan areas in Virginia. The highway's southern terminus is at Punta Gorda, Florida, at an intersection with US 41. Traveling north, US 17 joins up with US 50 in Paris, Virginia, and the northern terminus of US 17 is in downtown Winchester. This is also the point at which the portion of US 50 called the Northwestern Turnpike begins. Though US 1 is generally considered to be the highway that runs alongside

Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...

(I-95), US 17 runs parallel to I-95 for much of its extent, and even shares the same physical road for short spans in

Fredericksburg, Virginia Fredericksburg is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,982. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce combines the city of Fredericksburg wi ...

, and Ridgeland, South Carolina. As such, US 17 is out of sequence in the U.S. Highway numbering plan (US 17 would, under the plan, run parallel to and between US 15 and US 19; the U.S. Highway following that path is instead marked US 219).

Route description

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Florida

US 17 begins in downtown

Punta Gorda, Florida , nickname = , settlement_type = City , motto = , image_skyline = Punta Gorda City Hall.jpg , imagesize = 250px , image_caption = Punta Gorda City Hall , image_fla ...

, at US 41 (Cross Street), just to the west of Tamiami Trail. After running east, it runs roughly north along the Peace River, through Arcadia,

Zolfo Springs Zolfo Springs is a town in Hardee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,827 at the 2010 census, up from 1,641 at the 2000 census. History Early prosperity in the area (known initially as simply Zolfo) was due to its location alon ...

(where it crosses the Peace River), and Wauchula. At Fort Meade, it joins with US 98, which follows it northward (westward on US 98) until Bartow. While US 98 goes northwest, US 17 goes northeast. US 17 begins a long concurrency with US 92 just north of Winter Haven in

Lake Alfred Lake Alfred is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was approximately 5,015 at the 2010 Census. It is part of the Lakeland– Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The city was established soon after ...

(US 92 following eastbound), which takes both highways through

Kissimmee Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, wh ...

, where they join US 192. Like US 92, US 17 roughly parallels

Interstate 4 Interstate 4 (I-4) is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Florida, maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Spanning along a generally southwest–northeast axis, I-4 is entirely concurrent wi ...

(I-4) along the overlap. When all three meet US 441, US 192 follows US 441 southbound, while US 17/US 92 follows US 441 north into downtown Orlando. US 17/US 92 then splits from US 441 at

State Road 50 The following highways are numbered 50: International * European route E50 Brazil * BR-050 Canada * Alberta Highway 50 * Manitoba Highway 50 * Newfoundland and Labrador Route 50 * Ontario Highway 50 (Also referred to as Peel Regional Road 50 ...

(SR 50, Colonial Drive) and jogs east, splitting back north from SR 50 when it meets SR 15 (Mills Avenue). In

Sanford, Florida Sanford is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Seminole County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 61,051. Known as the "Historic Waterfront Gateway City", Sanford sits on the southern shore ...

, US 17/US 92 crosses the St. Johns River into Volusia County via the Bill Benedict Bridge. US 92 then splits away from US 17 north of DeLand, as US 92 continues east to

Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, or simply Daytona, is a coastal resort-city in east-central Florida. Located on the eastern edge of Volusia County near the Atlantic coastline, its population was 72,647 at the 2020 census. Daytona Beach is approximately nort ...

on International Speedway Boulevard, while US 17 continues north toward Palatka, where it again crosses the St. Johns River. In Clay County, US 17 runs through suburban Jacksonville. The northern stretch of US 17 in Clay County is known as Park Avenue. In Jacksonville, the southern portion of US 17 is known as Roosevelt Boulevard. Here, the highway goes past Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax). Near downtown Jacksonville, US 17 joins

I-10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...

for approximately one mile, before merging into I-95. US 17 then exits onto Union Street and continues as North Main Street until the Nassau County border. It then continues until it reaches the Georgia state line, crossing over the St. Marys River.

Georgia

In Woodbine, US 17 crosses the Satilla River by way of the J. Edwin Godley Bridge. In Brunswick, Georgia, Brunswick, the route traverses the South Brunswick River (Georgia), Brunswick River over the Sidney Lanier Bridge, then across the Altamaha River bridge between Glynn County, Georgia, Glynn County and McIntosh County, Georgia, McIntosh County. At the South Carolina state line, US 17 crosses the Savannah River on the Talmadge Memorial Bridge.

South Carolina

US 17 enters South Carolina in Jasper County, South Carolina, Jasper County as a two-lane road and within enters Hardeeville, South Carolina, Hardeeville, where it becomes a four-lane configuration. US 17 intersects I-95 in Hardeeville and runs parallel to I-95 until Ridgeland, South Carolina, Ridgeland, where it merges with the Interstate until Point South, South Carolina, Point South. At Point South, US 17 leaves I-95 and heads eastward into northern Beaufort County, South Carolina, Beaufort County, sharing a concurrency with U.S. Route 21, US 21 until Gardens Corner. US 21 splits off to Beaufort, South Carolina, Beaufort while US 17 heads northeast into the ACE Basin and Colleton County, South Carolina, Colleton County. This stretch of road has been upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane configuration, due to safety concerns. Once in Jacksonboro, South Carolina, Jacksonboro, the road enters Charleston County, South Carolina, Charleston County, crossing the Edisto River and maintains a four-lane configuration for the remainder of the state. The road passes through several rural communities as it approaches Charleston from the west. In Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston, the section running from South Carolina Highway 171 (SC 171) to Sam Rittenberg Boulevard has been named the "Charleston Nine Memorial Highway", in honor of nine Charleston firefighters killed in the line of duty in the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire on June 18, 2007. US 17 passes through the West Ashley community before it traverses the Ashley River (South Carolina), Ashley River Drawbridges to the Charleston Peninsula. From the drawbridges, it is known as the Septima Clark Crosstown Connector and is mostly routed north of the affluent historical areas of the city. Upon reaching the Interstate 26, I-26 terminus, US 17 becomes limited-access and above grade as it approaches the Cooper River (South Carolina), Cooper River via the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The stretch of US 17 in Charleston is infamous among locals for its traffic congestion, especially on weekday mornings. Upon crossing the river, the highway enters Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Mount Pleasant at grade and is signalized for several miles up through the second interchange with Interstate 526, I-526 and connecting roads to the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, Sullivan's Island. The road leaves the Charleston metro area and enters the Francis Marion National Forest and going through the rural communities of Awendaw, South Carolina, Awendaw and McClellanville, South Carolina, McClellanville, where Hurricane Hugo made landfall in September 1989. US 17 continues on its northeastern journey to Georgetown, South Carolina, Georgetown and crosses the marsh-lined Santee River as it enters Georgetown County, South Carolina, Georgetown County. US 17's route through Georgetown is a major thoroughfare through the city and skirts the historic district. After going through Georgetown and passing by DeBordieu, South Carolina, DeBordieu, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Pawleys Island, and Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, Litchfield Beach, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, Murrells Inlet US 17 enters Horry County, South Carolina, Horry County, passes Garden City, South Carolina, Garden City Beach, Surfside Beach, South Carolina, Surfside Beach, and arrives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Myrtle Beach, where it splits between a business route and the mainline route, which remains west of the beach and tourist areas served by US 17 Business. The roads rejoin north of the city and continue as US 17 through Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, Atlantic Beach, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach and Little River, South Carolina, Little River before crossing into North Carolina.

North Carolina

In Wilmington, North Carolina, US 17 (here concurrent with Interstate 140 (North Carolina), I-140) crosses the Northeast Cape Fear River between New Hanover County, North Carolina, New Hanover County and Brunswick County, North Carolina, Brunswick County over the Dan Cameron Bridge. Between New Bern, North Carolina, New Bern and James City, North Carolina, James City, US 17 (concurrent with U.S. Route 70, US 70 and North Carolina Highway 55 [NC 55]) crosses the Trent River (North Carolina), Trent River by way of the Freedom Memorial Bridge. Farther east, between James City, North Carolina, James City and Bridgeton, North Carolina, Bridgeton, US 17, still concurrent with NC 55, crosses the Neuse River over the Neuse River Bridge. In Washington, North Carolina, Washington, US 17 crosses the Pamlico River over the Pamlico-Tar River Bridge. Farther along, in Williamston, North Carolina, Williamston, US 17 (concurrent with U.S. Route 13, US 13) crosses the Roanoke River, then the Cashie River at Windsor, North Carolina, Windsor. At the Bertie County, North Carolina, Bertie County-Chowan County, North Carolina, Chowan county line, US 17 traverses the Chowan River on the Chowan River Bridge, one of the longest bridges along US 17's route. In Perquimans County, North Carolina, Perquimans County, US 17 (here concurrent with North Carolina Highway 37, NC 37) crosses the Yeopim River and the Perquimans River at Hertford, North Carolina, Hertford. Crossing into Pasquotank County, North Carolina, Pasquotank County over the Little River (Albemarle Sound), Little River, US 17 enters Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Elizabeth City and begins a short concurrency with U.S. Route 158, US 158. At Morgan's Corner, North Carolina, Morgan's Corner, the US 158 concurrency ends, and US 17 crosses the Pasquotank River into Camden County, North Carolina, Camden County before heading north into Virginia.

Virginia

US 17 enters Virginia into the city of Chesapeake, Virginia, running along the border of the Great Dismal Swamp. It runs through more of the city of Chesapeake and around the cities of Portsmouth, Virginia, Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, Norfolk before it crosses the James River (Virginia), James River between Newport News, Virginia, Newport News and Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Isle of Wight County on the James River Bridge concurrent with U.S. Route 258, US 258. The route also crosses the York River (Virginia), York River between Gloucester County, Virginia, Gloucester County and York County, Virginia, York County at Yorktown, Virginia, Yorktown on the George P. Coleman Bridge. Finally, US 17 traverses the Rappahannock River between Stafford County, Virginia, Stafford County and Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Spotsylvania County at Fredericksburg as it overlaps I-95. Then it traverses the Blue Ridge Mountains through Fauquier County, Virginia, Fauquier County and crosses the town of Warrenton, Virginia, Warrenton. It then merges with Interstate 66, I-66 in Marshall, Virginia, Marshall and runs concurrently until Delaplane, Virginia, Delaplane. The highway terminates at a junction with U.S. Route 11, US 11 and U.S. Route 522, US 522 in Winchester, Virginia, Winchester

History

Florida

From 1956 until 1993, US 17 signs in Florida featured black numbering on a yellow shield. The color coding of U.S. Routes by the Florida Department of Transportation was stopped when the state could only use federal funding for stock black-and-white; a few yellow US 17 signs remain.

South Carolina

US 17 has had slight variations over its history in South Carolina. US 17 once traversed the Cooper River on the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, Grace & Silas N. Pearman Bridge, Pearman Memorial Bridges before the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge replaced both in 2005. US 17 also ran through downtown Myrtle Beach before the new bypass route was finished in order to alleviate heavy traffic. US 17 Alternate was commissioned as a route between Point South and Georgetown, mostly for trucks who wished to bypass Charleston and the weight restrictions of the former bridges.

Hurricane Charley Highway

On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley made landfall near the southern terminus of US 17 at Punta Gorda. The hurricane threatened to hit much of the highway, affecting the route in Florida from Punta Gorda to north of Orlando (when Charley followed the route of Interstate 4, I-4 out to sea). The Georgia stretch of US 17 was not hit, but was under a Tropical cyclone warnings and watches, hurricane warning. When Charley made landfall again in South Carolina, its trail through Virginia was close to US 17.

Major intersections

;Florida : in Punta Gorda. : on the Solana, Florida, Solana–Cleveland, Florida, Cleveland city line : in Fort Meade. The highways travel concurrently to Bartow. : in

. The highways travel concurrently to DeLand. : in Haines City, Florida, Haines City : in

. The highways travel concurrently through the city. : in Kissimmee. US 17/US 441 travel concurrently to Orlando. : in Orlando : in Orlando : northwest of Sanford, Florida, Sanford : in Jacksonville : in Jacksonville. The highways travel concurrently through the city. : in Jacksonville. The highways travel concurrently through the city. : in Jacksonville. US 17/US 23 travel concurrently through the city. : in Jacksonville. US 1/US 17 travel concurrently through the city. : in Jacksonville : in Yulee, Florida, Yulee ;Georgia : west of Brunswick, Georgia, Brunswick. The highways travel concurrently for approximately . : west of Brunswick : in Brunswick : in Brunswick : south-southeast of Riceboro, Georgia, Riceboro : in Midway, Georgia, Midway : in Richmond Hill, Georgia, Richmond Hill : in Savannah, Georgia, Savannah. The highways travel concurrently through the city. : in Savannah. I-16/US 17 travel concurrently through the city. ;South Carolina : in Hardeeville, South Carolina, Hardeeville : in Hardeeville : in Hardeeville. The highways travel concurrently to Ridgeland, South Carolina, Ridgeland. : in Ridgeland. The highways travel concurrently to Point South, South Carolina, Point South. : northeast of Pocotaligo, South Carolina, Pocotaligo. The highways travel concurrently to Gardens Corner, South Carolina, Gardens Corner. : in Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston : in Charleston. The highways travel concurrently, on separate lanes, through the city. : in Charleston : in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Mount Pleasant : in Georgetown, South Carolina, Georgetown : in Georgetown : in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Myrtle Beach ;North Carolina : southwest of Leland, North Carolina, Leland : in Leland. US 17/US 74 travel concurrently to west of Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington. US 17/US 76 travel concurrently to west of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach. : west of Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington. US 17/US 421 travel concurrently to downtown Wilmington. : in Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington : in Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington : in Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington west of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach : in Kirkland, North Carolina, Kirkland : west of New Bern, North Carolina, New Bern. The highways travel concurrently to the New Bern–James City, North Carolina, James City city line. : in Washington, North Carolina, Washington : south-southwest of Williamston, North Carolina, Williamston. US 13/US 17 travel concurrently to Windsor, North Carolina, Windsor. US 17/US 64 travel concurrently to south of Williamston. : in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Elizabeth City. The highways travel concurrently to southeast of Morgans Corner, North Carolina, Morgans Corner. ;Virginia : in Chesapeake, Virginia, Chesapeake. I-64/US 17 travel concurrently through the city. : in Chesapeake : in Portsmouth, Virginia, Portsmouth : in Portsmouth : in Suffolk, Virginia, Suffolk : in Bartlett, Virginia, Bartlett. The highways travel concurrently to Newport News, Virginia, Newport News. : in Newport News, Virginia, Newport News : in Newport News : in Brays Fork, Virginia, Brays Fork. The highways travel concurrently to Tappahannock, Virginia, Tappahannock. : in Port Royal Cross Roads, Virginia, Port Royal Cross Roads : south of Fredericksburg. The highways travel concurrently for approximately . : south of Fredericksburg. I-95/US 17 travel concurrently to northwest of Falmouth, Virginia, Falmouth. : in Opal, Virginia, Opal. The highways travel concurrently to Warrenton, Virginia, Warrenton. : southeast of Marshall, Virginia, Marshall. The highways travel concurrently for approximately . : southeast of Paris, Virginia, Paris. The highways travel concurrently to Winchester, Virginia, Winchester. : in Waterloo, Clarke County, Virginia, Waterloo : southeast of Winchester, Virginia, Winchester. US 17/US 522 travel concurrently to Winchester. : in Winchester. The highways travel concurrently through the city.

References

External links

Endpoints of U.S. Highway 17

Coastal Highway Route 17
– Visit the USA

– Road Trip 62 {{Authority control U.S. Route 17, United States Numbered Highway System, 17 Interstate 95 Dixie Highway, 017

Route description

Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

North Carolina

Virginia

History

Florida

South Carolina

Hurricane Charley Highway

Major intersections

See also

Related routes

Special routes

References

External links