Getting around Jacksonville: roads, transit, airport, parking

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: FDOT District 2’s lane closure report, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville International Airport and the city’s Office of Public Parking.

Jacksonville covers nearly 900 square miles, and most trips are made by car on a web of interstates, beltways and state highways. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority runs the buses, the downtown Skyway and the St. Johns River Ferry, and it is in the middle of budget cuts that change service this fall.

Who to call

• JTA customer service and trip planning: 904-630-3100; trip planner
• Live traffic: FL511, or dial 511
• Jacksonville International Airport: 904-741-4902
• Downtown parking, meters and tickets: 630-CITY (904-630-2489); parking@coj.net

Main roads

The Florida Department of Transportation’s District 2 runs the interstates and state highways. The roads that carry most of the city, as FDOT names them in its weekly closure report:

• I-95, north and south through downtown, with interchanges at Emerson Street (U.S. Alternate 1), Eighth Street and Edgewood Avenue among others.
• I-10, west from downtown.
• I-295, the East Beltway and West Beltway, with express lanes on the West Beltway between Park Street and San Jose Boulevard, and State Road 9B.
• Butler Boulevard, Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard; the Arlington Expressway; Philips Highway (U.S. 1); Blanding Boulevard (State Road 21); and Heckscher Drive.
• Bridges over the St. Johns: among them the Main Street Bridge, the Dames Point Bridge and the Buckman Bridge on I-295.

The Main Street Bridge has one southbound lane and the southbound walkway closed through Jan. 30, 2027. This week’s work is on our road construction and closures page, refreshed weekly.

JTA buses

The JTA’s fixed-route list has 30 bus routes plus four lines of the First Coast Flyer rapid bus (Green, Orange, Blue and Red). Routes include 1 North Main, 3 Moncrief, 8 Beaches/Town Center, 10 Atlantic Blvd, 16 Riverside/Wilson, 17 St. Augustine/San Jose, 19 Arlington, 24 Mayport, 50 University and the 202 Mayport Express. The system map was updated in May 2026.

Service changes: on Sept. 17, the JTA announced cuts to close a $39 million budget shortfall:

• Weekday buses will generally run a Saturday-level schedule.
• The First Coast Flyer keeps 20-minute service; Routes 1, 3, 8, 10 and 19 run every 30 minutes on weekdays.
• Seven routes move from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes; 12 others stay hourly.
• Paratransit does not change.

Check your route in the trip planner or the MyJTA app before you ride. Fares are on the JTA’s fares and passes page, and Gameday Xpress runs from park-and-ride lots to EverBank Stadium on game days.

The Skyway, NAVI and the ferry

• Skyway: the free 2.5-mile elevated monorail runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, with trains every four minutes at peak times, through eight stations from LaVilla and Rosa Parks Transit Station to San Marco and Kings Avenue, according to the JTA. The JTA will pause the Skyway on Nov. 2.
• NAVI, the JTA’s autonomous shuttle, pauses Dec. 31.
• St. Johns River Ferry, between Mayport Village and Fort George Island: scheduled 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends, every half hour. Its page carried an Aug. 15 notice that the ferry was temporarily out of service; check the MyJTA app or call 904-630-3100 before you go.

The airport

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is at 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive, ZIP code 32218; phone 904-741-4902. Rental cars, taxis and shared rides are on the lower level next to baggage claim, the airport’s ground transportation page says.

• Taxi: zTrip, 904-222-2222, at the booths outside baggage claim; no reservation needed.
• Uber and Lyft: request once you are at the curb; pickups are at Poles 1 and 2 on the lower arrival curb. Drop-offs use the upper departures curb.
• Hotel shuttles: north end of the upper departures curb.
• Parking: an hourly garage next to the terminal, a daily garage behind it and economy lots; see the airport’s parking page.

Biking and trails

The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail follows a former CSX rail corridor, the Southbank Riverwalk is a 1.25-mile boardwalk facing downtown, and Hanna Park has more than 20 miles of bike and hiking trails. The city maps its on-street bikeways and shared-use paths. Bikes ride the Skyway free as space permits until the pause. See parks and trails.

Downtown parking

The city’s Office of Public Parking, 231 E. Forsyth St., Suite 424, runs the public garages and enforces parking laws; its officers patrol all of Duval County. City garages, from its downtown parking page:

Ed Ball serves City Hall and the courthouse; Yates serves the Florida Theatre and the Tax Collector. The city maintains about 1,500 parking meters downtown. The rate and the time limit are posted on each meter, and you must park with your front bumper at the meter post, the metered parking page says. Pay by coin, card at some meters or the ParkMobile app using the zone number on the sign.

Tickets are due the day they are issued; late fees are added after 15 and 30 days, and unpaid tickets go to collections after 40 days, according to the city’s parking FAQ. To contest one, go in person to the Office of Public Parking within 15 days. Report a broken meter to 630-CITY with the meter number.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Jacksonville Skyway shutting down?

The JTA said on Sept. 17, 2026, that it will pause Skyway operations on Nov. 2 as part of budget cuts. Until then the Skyway is free and runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.

How do I plan a bus trip in Jacksonville?

Use the JTA trip planner at bustime.jtafla.com or the MyJTA app, or call JTA customer service at 904-630-3100.

How do I get from Jacksonville International Airport to downtown?

The airport lists rental cars, zTrip taxis (904-222-2222) and Uber and Lyft, all on the lower level by baggage claim. App rides pick up at Poles 1 and 2 on the lower arrival curb.

Where can I park downtown in Jacksonville?

The city runs the Water Street, Ed Ball, Yates and Duval Street garages, open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, plus about 1,500 parking meters. ParkMobile works at the meters.

Where do I check Jacksonville traffic?

FL511 at fl511.com or by dialing 511. FDOT District 2 posts its lane closure report every week at nflroads.com.