South Florida Map

About South Florida Map

This map of South Florida presents all the counties, cities, towns and transportation systems of South Florida. Major highways, such as the Interstate Highways and U.S. Highways, as well as other roads, railways and airports are all marked on the map to show the connections between locations throughout South Florida. Natural features such as rivers and lakes, as well as areas of natural protection, such as Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, are shown on the map as well. Cities and towns in South Florida include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, Naples and Cape Coral. In the corner of the South Florida map is an inset map which highlights where South Florida is in relation to the rest of the state of Florida. The map of South Florida has a legend, compass and a scale of distances to aid navigation.

Counties of South Florida

Below is the list of all the counties falls under south Florida.

Most Populous / Major Cities of South Florida

South Florida

South Florida, the southernmost part of the U.S. state of Florida, is one of the world’s most diverse, most dynamic, and most internationally oriented regions in the world. The tropical climate, world-famous beaches, multicultural, vibrant communities and unique ecosystems of plants and animals make South Florida one of the world’s most popular destinations for visitors. And in terms of business, tourism, trade, health care, education, and transport, South Florida is a major center for activity. Although there are no officially designated boundaries for South Florida, the region generally is defined as the following 16 counties in the south of the state: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands, and Polk, and Osceola, and Orange, and Brevard, and Pinellas, and Hillsborough, and other neighboring counties. In terms of geography, South Florida covers a vast area, extending from the Gulf of Mexico in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The area contains highly developed metropolitan cities and towns, as well as vast areas of protected natural landscapes.

Geography of South Florida

South Florida is a massive geographic area which includes the area of low-lying coastal and inland plains, rivers and lakes, as well as numerous barrier islands covered in mangrove trees and other tropical flora. South Florida is comprised of mostly urban natural environments, such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coast, as well as cities on the Gulf Coast, such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples. Inland South Florida is home to a large freshwater lake, Lake Okeechobee, which is the largest freshwater lake in Florida, as well as many rivers including the Kissimmee River and the Peace River. South Florida also is home to an immense amount of conservation lands, as well as natural resources, including Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, two of the world’s largest wetlands. These two preserves have an incredible array of plants and animals that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Counties of South Florida

Some of the counties in South Florida are: the fifteen southern Florida counties such as Lee, Collier, Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Polk, Orange, Osceola, Highlands, Hendry, Glades, Hardee, and DeSoto, in addition to the four urban metropolitan counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe. South Florida is comprised of a diverse array of agricultural counties, urban metropolitan counties as well as environmentally protected wilderness counties. The area is home to a diverse population of over 15 million people and is considered one of the fastest growing in the country.

Major Cities in South Florida

Some of the largest cities in Florida are in South Florida. The three major metropolitan areas in South Florida are Miami, the international gateway between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean; Fort Lauderdale, the world of boating and beaches as well as well as downtown business and entertainment districts and banks and branches; and West Palm Beach, with high-end shopping and arts and culture as well as activities along the waterfront. Other large metropolitan areas in Florida are on the Gulf Coast, including the Tampa and St. Petersburg area, a major financial, healthcare and tourist hub. Other metropolitan areas in Florida include Orlando, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakeland, Melbourne, Port St. Lucie, Clearwater, Brandon and Kissimmee.

Climate

The weather and average temperatures in South Florida exist within a tropical to humid subtropical climate, with warm temperatures prevalent throughout the year. The cool to mild winter months consist of mostly dry and cool to mild daytime temperatures. The warm to hot summer months are characterized by hot, humid, and wet conditions throughout the season. The average summer temperature for South Florida is approximately 85°F to 92°F (29°C to 33°C) for both overnight and daytime temperatures. The average winter temperatures for daytime hours average from 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C) for the region. Due to the location of South Florida between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, it is very susceptible to severe tropical weather including tropical storms and hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season typically runs from the month of June to the month of November. In general, South Florida has a region that consists of a wet season and a dry season, with the wet season extending from the month of May to the month of October and the dry season extending from the month of November to the month of April.

Economy

The regional economy of South Florida is one of the largest and most diverse in the country. The tourism industry plays a very large role for many areas including: Miami Beach, the Florida Keys, Naples, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay and the many attractions in the Orlando area. International trade also plays a major role at cargo ports and cruise ports such as PortMiami, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay and Port Canaveral. Other industries that play a major role in the regional economy include: financial services and aviation; healthcare and biotechnology; real estate and agriculture; marine environment related marine industries; manufacturing; logistics; and technology. South Florida is also a major location for multinational companies’ regional headquarters that serve the Americas.

Transportation

Southeastern states have a very extensive and diverse system of transportation. South Florida for example has an extensive network of Interstate Highways such as I-95, I-75, I-4 and Florida’s Turnpike that allow for travel to and from within the region’s metropolitan areas. U.S. Highways such as US 1, 27, 41 and 98 also facilitate travel. The region is also home to major airports including Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport as well as airports in Tampa, Orlando, Southwest Florida and the Sarasota/Bradenton area. The region’s major passenger and freight rail lines as well as its regional transit systems and seaports also facilitate efficient and convenient travel throughout the region.

Natural Attractions and Protected Areas

South Florida is known worldwide for its environmental and ecological resources. Everglades National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. Much of the world’s largest subtropical wilderness area is protected in the park. In the park and surrounding areas many species of animals reside including the American alligator, the American crocodile, the endangered Florida panther, the West Indian manatee and over 300 species of birds. Big Cypress National Preserve protects thousands of acres of wetland and cypress forest which adjoins and filters water through the Everglades. Central Florida’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Okeechobee is a world class fishing, boating and wildlife viewing destination. The coral reefs and tropical marine environments of the Florida Keys support a variety of ecosystems and some of the world’s best diving and snorkeling.

Tourism

Tourism is a very large part of South Florida’s identity and economy. From sun bathing on the beach to luxury travel by land or sea, there are many different types of travelers that frequent South Florida. There are cruisers, outdoor enthusiasts, and culturally inclined travelers. Popular destinations include: Miami Beach, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Clearwater Beach, Siesta Key, Naples, Key West, Sanibel Island, and Marco Island. There are also many state parks and nature preserves throughout the region. South Florida’s art, culture, shopping, sports, and entertainment options, including many museums and museums, make it a very unique and popular tourist destination. Performing arts centers and entertainment along the water and in many of the region’s diverse and multicultural neighborhoods also draw in large numbers of visitors.

Culture and Lifestyle

Inhabiting South Florida are people from all corners of the globe. There are influences from every Latin American country, the Caribbean and Europe among others. This cultural diversity is expressed in languages, in festivals, in food, in architecture, in music and in the arts. An internationally known multicultural metropolis such as Miami is part of South Florida as are the coastal towns and the many different inland communities. South Florida is a great place for people who enjoy spending time outdoors. The sub-tropical climate with warm weather all year round as well as an abundance of parks, wonderful beaches, golf courses and water sports for all kinds of sportsmen and women make South Florida a great place to live.

Why South Florida Is Important

America's most influential region is South Florida, where the geography of a region, the economy of a region, the global connections of a region and the natural resources of a region all come together. The South Florida region is a bridge between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean and it supports millions of South Floridians and millions of visitors to South Florida each year through the region’s airports, seaports and other travel modes as well as through the region’s health care, education systems and business in general. South Florida is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world as well as very modern, very diverse cities and diverse natural areas such as protected wetlands that are protected as well as a tremendous amount of wildlife. There is no region in the United States as unique as South Florida. It is one of the most influential regions in the United States.