OLD FLORIDA TOWNS ON US-27

US-27 enters Florida from the Georgia state line a few miles north of Havana, Florida.  It continues south along an easterly and southerly path for 496 miles until it gets to Miami.

Map of US-27 from Georgia to Miami

The highway travels for much of its length along the central ridge of Florida.  This is some of the highest ground in the state.  It goes through many historic areas you would never see if you stay on the Turnpike or I-75.

Some of the towns you will pass through on this route are: Havana,  Tallahassee,   Perry,   Mayo,   Branford,   High Springs,   Newberry, Archer, Ocala,  The Villages,  Fruitland Park,   Leesburg,  Clermont,   Haines City,   Lake Wales,  Frostproof,   Avon Park,   Sebring,   Lake Placid,  Palmdale,  Moore Haven,  Weston, Hialeah, Miami

Click on the photos below for more information about these towns.

HAVANA is the first major town you come to in Florida after crossing the Georgia border.  This is an old town that was the center of Florida's shade tobacco industry. 

Planter's Exchange, Havana, Florida

TALLAHASSEE is the state capital and has many museums, historic sites, and Florida A&M and Florida State Universities. 

Old Florida Capitol Building, Tallahassee

PERRY is the center of the lumber industry in this part of Florida.

MAYO is a small town that is a county seat and produced a genuine Florida Gator football hero.  

Lafayette County Courthouse, Mayo

BRANFORD is a small village on the bank of the Suwannee River.  It is a good place to relax by the river.  

Suwannee River at Branford, Florida

HIGH SPRINGS is in the heart of spring country and is a favorite spot for outfitters who need canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, snorkel gear, and more. 

Downtown High Springs, Florida

NEWBERRY was a railroad and mining center in its prime.  The town has an interesting collection of well preserved historic buildings. 

Newberry Little Red Schoolhouse

ARCHER was one of the earliest towns on a Florida railroad.

Archer City Hall

OCALA is one of the larger towns along this highway and is noted for its thoroughbred horse farms.  

Horse Statue, Ocala, Florida

THE VILLAGES is a fast growing retirement community that focuses on active senior lifestyles such as golf.  

Golf Carts, The Villages, Florida

FRUITLAND PARK is a small town that was one of the pioneers in the early days of the citrus industry.  

Holy Trinity Church, Fruitland, Florida

LEESBURG was in the heart of Lake County citrus production and at one time had some of the largest groves in the country.  

Downtown Leesburg, Florida

CLERMONT is in the heart of thousands of acres of rolling hills that were at one time mostly planted in citrus.  It is home to the Citrus Tower. 

Historic House, Clermont, Florida

MINNEOLA is a small town on Lake Minneola just north of Clermont.

HAINES CITY was home to a large citrus growing and processing industry.  

Polk Hotel, Haines City, Florida

LAKE WALES is in beautiful hill, lake, and grove country.  It is home to Spook Hill and Bok Tower.  

Bok Tower, Lake Wales, Florida

FROSTPROOF is a great name for a town that is in the center of South Florida's citrus industry.  It was the home of agricultural pioneers Ben Hill Griffin and Latt Maxcy. 

Frostproof High School

AVON PARK is centered around a large landscaped mall that hasn't changed in many years.  The town is named for the river in Shakespeare's home town.  It's an example of Old Florida at its best. 

Episcopal Church, Avon Park, Florida

SEBRING is one of the state's first planned cities.  It is well laid out and has many historic buildings. Sebring has a long history as a center for sports car racing.  

Harder Hall, Sebring, Florida

LAKE PLACID was founded by the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System.  It is now famous for its many murals and caladiums.  

Mural in Downtown Lake Placid, Florida

PALMDALE is almost a ghost town now but was once home to Tom Gaskins and his cypress knee gallery and store.  

Tom Gaskins and Cypress Knees in Palmdale, Florida

MOORE HAVEN is a tiny town on Lake Okeechobee whose founders dreamed of it being the Chicago of the south.  

Moore Haven Lock and Dam

Clewiston Welcome Sign

CLEWISTON is the center of Florida's sugar industry and is located on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee. It is noted as a bass fishing headquarters.

SOUTH BAY is an agricultural center.

ANDYTOWN is a ghost town where US-27 crosses I-75 (Alligator Alley).

Andytown The Way It Was

WESTON is a modern upscale town created in the 1990s.

HIALEAH is an old town noted for its early horse race track.  It is now one of the largest cities in the urban Miami area.

MIAMI has become the de facto capital of Latin America.  It is large, diverse, and has lots of fun things to do.  

Freedom Tower, Miami, Florida