A1A is 339-mile highway running between Fernandina Beach & Kay West in Florida. This highway is heavily associated with Florida beach culture, running alongside the Atlantic Ocean waterfront & the East Coast Barrier Islands. Since the 1960s, this road has become a popular spring break destination, serving as "the strip" in both Fort Lauderdale & Daytona Beach. There is no doubt this highway is a gorgeous journey, offering beautiful ocean views & tropical vistas. And don't forget to bring Jimmy Buffett's album, A1A, along for the journey - after all, it was inspired by the drive along this magnificent coastal roadway.
The road was assigned the number SR 1 in the 1945 renumbering as the easternmost major north–south road. However, tourists and residents confused the road with the parallel U.S. Route 1, so the name was changed to SR A1A, which stands for "Atlantic 1 Alternate". The State Road Board changed the designation to SR A1A on November 25, 1946, about a year and a half after the renumbering. SR A1A is signed north–south.
A1A also has been a backbone of Florida Spring Break, serving as "the strip" in both Fort Lauderdale, a popular spring break destination in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, as well as Daytona Beach, which became a popular destination for college spring breakers in the 1980s through the present.
A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway is more than a name-it’s a state of being. This 72-mile segment of historic State Road A1A abounds with white, sandy beaches, ample recreational adventures and history dating back before the birth of this country. One may want to enjoy the lush vistas or take advantage of the seemingly endless amount of recreational activities