Located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale is situated directly above the popular tourist and snowbird destination of Miami. However, Ft. Lauderdale is also a frequent destination for snowbirds and tourists with a total 2006 tourist population of 10.35 million visitors. Port Everglades is located in Ft. Lauderdale – the 3rd most frequently used port for cruises. However, auto transport services for college students spending an extended vacation in the area has been on the decline due to recently passed strict laws meant to prevent the damage and mayhem associated with such visitors. In fact, in 1985, there were an estimated 350,000 college students that vacationed in Ft. Lauderdale. By 2006, that number had dropped to around 10,000.
Ft. Lauderdale is readily accessible by the major Interstate that also runs through Miami, Interstate 95. However, direct access to the city requires the use of highways 842, 1 and 5. Like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale’s close proximity to both the tropical Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico ranks it high among cities likely to be struck by hurricanes. Although direct hits are not as common, flooding and high winds due to close hurricanes can cause auto transport delays within the city limits and traveling in close proximity.