New Truck Parking Lot in Florida to Add 120 Spots in 2026
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A stretch of Interstate 4 in Florida from Orlando to Tampa where 90 lonely public parking places exist for 18,000 trucks passing daily will gain a companion in two years when a new lot with 120 slots opens.
The board of the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) recently agreed to contribute $5 million in state funds to the $27.1 million price tag for the new I-4 truck parking lot.
“A big challenge for truck drivers moving goods around the state will soon get a little bit easier. Logging those long hours is a way of life but struggling to find a safe spot to park when operators need to take breaks mandated by the hours-of-service regulations can be like searching for a needle in a haystack,” noted Hillsborough TPO officials.
Calling the new parking facility a game changer, TPO officials recently announced that their $5 million contribution to the project “is going to tweak the adjacent roadways to make sure everything flows smoothly to get the trucks in and out of this new parking facility. Not only will the drivers be able to catch some Z’s, but there will be pedestrian infrastructure to make nearby commercial facilities a breeze to get to.” Planned truck parking facility for I-4 in Florida
Wade Reynolds, TPO executive planner, told Transport Topics that the new public truck parking along I-4 will reduce truck parking in unauthorized areas such as vacant lots or highway shoulders. The grand opening is slated for spring of 2026.
“With the Port [of Tampa], airport and numerous distribution centers located in the area, providing safe spaces for shippers and eliminating parking in inappropriate areas is a high priority for shippers in the region,” Reynolds added.
The most recent FDOT Freight Mobility and Trade Plan, issued two years ago, noted that the greatest shortages of truck parking in Florida are along the I-4 corridor as well as near Jacksonville and Miami.
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“FDOT found that overall truck parking facility demand is near 85% for truck stops and 50% at rest areas statewide. However, during peak periods, truck parking demand can exceed 150% in some areas. When there is limited parking available, drivers often park in unauthorized areas including the right-of-way on access and egress ramps,” the plan stated.
The new parking lot, chosen partly due to nearby amenities for truckers near the exit, will be located on I-4 and County Line Road on the east side of Plant City.
“By providing reliable parking capacity, the project reduces time drivers spend searching for commercial vehicle parking, making supply chain movement more efficient. Additionally, the electric hookups [at the new site] and the reduced time searching for parking will decrease commercial vehicle emissions,” Reynolds added.
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The new parking lot is being constructed in such a way that it can be expanded to 250 spots. Another feature is the inclusion of at least six electrical hookups to provide standby power for refrigerated trucks and auxiliary power for in-cab comforts.
In addition, the facility will be connected to the Truck Parking Availability System from the Florida Department of Transportation to help truckers find available parking locations.
The bulk of the project will be funded by a $15 million federal grant awarded in 2022 from the Federal Highway Administration’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program.
