Transportation

Zephyrhills is the Gateway to Central Florida

Thanks to a plethora of travel and shipping modes that practically frame Zephyrhills, the city finds itself in a strategic position for any business seeking to maximize its local, national and global potential.

Located in east Pasco County, Zephyrhills is bisected by U.S. 301, a major north-south thoroughfare, and is minutes away from several other major highways, as well as a thriving rail line.

In Florida, U.S. 301 is a popular shortcut from the northeast portion of the state to the Gulf Coast. U.S. 301 extends from Florida north to Delaware, cutting through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.

Interstate 75, another major north-south artery, which runs through the center of the county, is about 15 minutes west of Zephyrhills via State Road 54 or State Road 56. The opening of SR 56 just a few miles south of town has dramatically decreased drive times.

About 15 minutes west of I-75 is U.S. 41, which parallels the interstate in Florida from the Georgia line to Miami. Like I-75, U.S. 41 also extends north to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

On the west coast of Pasco County is U.S. 19, a key north-south highway that connects the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Erie.

Interstate 275 creates an apex with I-75 at the Pasco-Hillsborough line; about 20 minutes from Zephyrhills, I-275 runs southwest, taking motorists past Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport en route to St. Petersburg and its white, sandy beaches.

Connecting Tampa to Orlando is Interstate 4, about 20 minutes south of Zephyrhills via U.S. 301. An east-west highway, I-4 runs from I-275 in Tampa to Interstate 95 in Daytona Beach. I-95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running along the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine.

The Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway are north-south toll roads near the Gulf coast that extend 57 miles, from State Road 60 in Tampa to U.S. Route 98 near Chassahowitzka.

Less than 50 minutes southwest of Zephyrhills is Tampa International Airport. The airport serves more than 70 non-stop destinations, including flights to Canada, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In 2018, the airport handled more than 21 million passengers, making it the 28th busiest airport in North America.

Running just east of Zephyrhills is the CSX railroad. In 2019, CSX Transportation handled nearly 1.1 million carloads of freight through Florida; that year, the company invested more than $490 million on freight cars and other assets to serve its customers. Products shipped include phosphate rock, coal, phosphate fertilizer and passenger vehicles.

Located about a mile from downtown Zephyrhills is Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, is situated on 813 acres. The airport features two asphalt runways and is focus of local and regional developers as corporate and industry growth presents opportunities for regional economic modernization and expansion of services. The Airport is a convenient 20 minute drive from the booming Wesley Chapel and New Tampa centers.

The largest sea port in Florida is the Port of Tampa, about 45 minutes southwest of Zephyrhills. Bulk and tanker ships regularly pass through, but the majority of vessels at the port are general cargo ships. The port is currently connected to prominent container ports in Asia. CSX rail, US 301 and Interstates link Zephyrhills to this gateway to international trade routes.

Tampa is a popular departure point for several Caribbean cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.