The route begins in downtown Orlando, one of the largest urban concentrations in the interior of the state, surrounded by lakes and shaped by its agricultural, military, and tourist past. From there, the route heads north through enclaves such as Winter Park, Eatonville, and Maitland, towns with deep historical roots—some linked to African American communities that emerged after the abolition of slavery, others to the early rise of the railroad and elite tourism. The landscape alternates between residential neighborhoods, historic districts, and green areas where lakes and vegetation dominate the surroundings.
Upon entering Seminole County, the route passes through communities such as Casselberry, Longwood, and Winter Springs, reflecting suburban growth tied to the Orlando metropolitan area, as well as former Indigenous, military, and railroad settlements. Farther along, the route reaches Sanford, a city located on the shores of Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River, which became one of the state’s major centers of river and rail transportation and played a key role in the region’s citrus and agricultural industries.
The journey continues across the St. Johns River into Volusia County, where the landscape becomes more subdued and rural. Historic communities such as DeBary and Enterprise appear among forests, sandy hills, and natural reserves before reaching Deltona, a twentieth-century planned city that emerged as a residential development and is now integrated into the central–east Florida urban corridor. As a whole, the route offers a comprehensive view of interior Florida, combining Indigenous history, colonization, railroads, agriculture, urban expansion, and river ecosystems.
The complete route, together with its detailed historical context, is part of Discovering Florida – Volume 3.
