Coral Springs, FL
A planned suburb on the edge of the Everglades that grew into a city of its own
Coral Springs is a master-planned city in north-west Broward County, about twenty miles north-west of Fort Lauderdale, built from the 1960s on former farmland at the edge of the Everglades. The 2020 census counted about 134,000 people, part of the Miami metropolitan area of more than six million.
Until the 1960s this was flat, wet ranch and bean land at the far edge of the farmed country, with the sawgrass of the Everglades beginning just to the west. In 1961 Coral Ridge Properties, a Fort Lauderdale developer, bought nearly 4,000 acres from the Lyons family and set out to build a planned town from scratch. The masthead year is 1963, when Coral Springs was chartered as a city, named after the company. Westinghouse bought the developer in 1966, and the town grew steadily through the 1970s and 1980s as families moved out from the older coastal cities. It was planned with strict design rules from the beginning: controls on signs, building colours and landscaping that still give it a tidier, greener look than many of its neighbours.
The city is a grid of broad, landscaped boulevards, University Drive, Sample Road, Wiles Road, Atlantic Boulevard, Coral Ridge Drive, enclosing curving residential streets, canals and lakes. The Sawgrass Expressway runs along its western and northern edges, beyond which lie the conservation lands of the Everglades. A downtown has been built deliberately around Sample Road and University Drive, with a new city hall opened in 2018, shops and flats, while a corporate park in the north holds the larger employers. Its neighbours are other planned and suburban cities: Parkland to the north, Margate and Coconut Creek to the east, Tamarac to the south. The city runs more than fifty parks, and its sports complex is busy every evening.
Coral Springs is above all a place for families, and its schools, parks, youth leagues and clean streets are why people move here. The population is diverse: many residents are Hispanic, Caribbean or Jewish, and dozens of languages are spoken in its schools. Shopping centres along the main roads hold restaurants serving the whole range of South Florida cooking, from Cuban and Jamaican to Brazilian and Asian. The Coral Springs Center for the Arts and a small museum of art provide culture close to home, though for nightlife and the beach most residents drive east to Fort Lauderdale. The Florida Panthers ice hockey team trains at an ice rink in the city's sports complex.
On 14 February 2018 a former student shot dead seventeen people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in neighbouring Parkland, a school attended by many Coral Springs teenagers; the city's police and firefighters were among the first to respond, and the attack and the student-led campaign for gun control that followed are woven into local life. Today the city is largely built out, so growth comes from redevelopment, particularly the dense downtown taking shape around Sample Road and University Drive. Housing costs, traffic and the price of home insurance, which has soared across South Florida, are the everyday concerns. Hurricanes are a standing threat, and summer storms can flood low streets.
Where People Live
Downtown Coral Springs
The newer civic centre around Sample Road and University Drive, with city hall, shops, restaurants and new flats, built to give a suburb a centre.
Eagle Trace & the north-west
Golf-course communities in the north-west of the city, around the Eagle Trace course, with larger houses near the Sawgrass Expressway.
Ramblewood & central Coral Springs
The older residential neighbourhoods built in the 1970s and 1980s, with canals, lakes and schools on curving streets.
Corporate Park
The business district in the north of the city, where the larger employers, including financial technology and distribution companies, have offices.
Mullins Park & the Sportsplex
The city's largest park and its sports complex, with fields, an aquatic centre, tennis courts and the ice rinks used by the Florida Panthers.
Coral Ridge Drive & the western edge
Newer subdivisions along the western boulevards, ending at the Sawgrass Expressway and the edge of the Everglades conservation areas.
Where to stay
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Coral Springs South
3100 N University Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33065 · wyndhamhotels.com
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center
11775 Heron Bay Blvd, Coral Springs, FL 33076 · marriott.com
Hampton Inn & Suites Coconut Creek
5740 N State Rd 7, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 · hilton.com
Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Coconut Creek Coral Springs
5730 N State Rd 7, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 · marriott.com
Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Coral Springs
620 N University Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33071 · marriott.com
Studio 6 Extended Stay - Coral Springs, FL - Fort Lauderdale
5645 N University Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33067 · studio6.com
Seton Villas Motel Coral Springs
1311 FL-7, Margate, FL 33063
Country Haven Motel Coral Springs
1100 US-441, Margate, FL 33063
Restaurants & places to go
Airports
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) 15 mi to the centre
Fort Lauderdale, FL, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 25 airlines (Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 97 destinations incl. Atlanta, Tampa, Bogota, Chicago, Denver… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 25 airlines, 97 direct destinations
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320, A321) · 42 routes: Aguadilla, Armenia, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Bogota, Boston, Cancun, Cartagena, Chicago, Cockburn Town, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Guatemala City, Kingston, Las Vegas, Latrobe, Lima, Los Angeles, Managua, Montego Bay, Myrtle Beach, New York, Niagara Falls, Oranjestad, Orlando, Panama City, Philipsburg, Plattsburgh, Port-au-prince, Punta Cana, Rio Negro, San Jose, San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Santiago, Santo Domingo, St. Thomas … +2 more
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, Embraer 190) · 28 routes: Austin, Bogota, Boston, Cancun, Kingston, Lima, Los Angeles, Montego Bay, Nassau, New York, New York, Newark, Newburgh, Port-au-prince, Port-of-spain, Providence, Punta Cana, Raleigh-durham, Richmond, Rio Negro, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Washington, White Plains, Windsor Locks, Worcester
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 26 routes: Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Islip, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh-durham, San Juan, St. Louis, Tampa, Windsor Locks
- United Airlines UA (Saab 340, A320, 737-800, 737-900, 757-200, 737-700…) · 17 routes: Alice Town*, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Freeport*, Governor's Harbor*, Great Exuma*, Houston, Key West*, Marsh Harbor*, Newark, North Eleuthera*, Orlando*, San Francisco, Tampa*, Treasure Cay*, Washington
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 717, 73C) · 10 routes: Atlanta, Austin*, Baltimore, Houston*, Milwaukee*, New Orleans*, Phoenix*, San Francisco*, San Juan*, Tampa*
- Silver Airways (3M) 3M (Saab 340) · 10 routes: Alice Town, Freeport, Governor's Harbor, Great Exuma, Key West, Marsh Harbor, North Eleuthera, Orlando, Tampa, Treasure Cay
- Delta Air Lines DL (MD-88, 737-800, 757, 737-800, 737-900, A319…) · 8 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, New York, Raleigh-durham*, Toronto*
- US Airways US (A319, A320, 737-800, 734, A321) · 8 routes: Bogota, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Port-au-prince, Washington
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, 737-800, 737, A321) · 7 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Port-au-prince, Washington
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80) · 5 routes: Asheville, Greenville, Knoxville, Lexington KY, Plattsburgh
- Caribbean Airlines BW (737-800) · 3 routes: Kingston, Montego Bay, Port-of-spain
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (787-8) · 3 routes: Copenhagen*, Oslo*, Stockholm*
- Air Canada AC (A320) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Air Transat TS (310, 737-800) · 2 routes: Montreal*, Toronto*
- Bahamasair UP (DH8, 737) · 2 routes: Freeport, Nassau
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Denver, Trenton
- Virgin America VX (A320) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- WestJet WS (737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Air France AF (757, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800) · 1 route: Seattle
- Alitalia AZ (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A320) · 1 route: Bogota
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- SkyBahamas Airlines Q7 (Saab 340) · 1 route: Marsh Harbor
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (757, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) 7.1 mi to the centre
Fort Lauderdale, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Boca Raton Airport (BCT) 11 mi to the centre
Boca Raton, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
North Perry Airport (HWO) 19 mi to the centre
Hollywood, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Pompano Beach Airpark (PPM) 8.6 mi to the centre
Pompano Beach, FL, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Palm Beach County Park Airport (LNA) 24 mi to the centre
West Palm Beach, FL, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Getting there by ferry
Water Taxi Stop - Bokamper’s Sports Bar and Grill
Ferry terminal · 11 mi from the centre
Water Taxi Stop - Shooter’s Waterfront
Ferry terminal · 12 mi from the centre
Esplanade Park
Ferry terminal · 12 mi from the centre
Pirate Republic Bar
Ferry terminal · 12 mi from the centre
Briny Irish Pub/Brightline Train Station
Ferry terminal · 12 mi from the centre
Local transit
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (T
Rail · Pompano Beach, Florida · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Broward County Transit
Bus · Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
Amtrak
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Greyhound
Intercity coach
Jefferson Lines
Intercity coach
MegaBus
Intercity coach
Trailways
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
NetJets
Fractional, jet card · Cessna Citation, Embraer Phenom, Bombardier Challenger & Global · The largest private-jet operator in the world; fractional shares and the NetJets card, US and Europe.
Flexjet
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Magellan Jets
Jet card, charter · Partner fleet · Jet cards and on-demand charter from Boston.
Sentient Jet
Jet card · Partner fleet, light to heavy · One of the first jet-card programmes; guaranteed availability on partner aircraft.
Aero
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Living Here
Getting about
- Coral Springs is built for the car. The Sawgrass Expressway, a toll road, connects to Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike and Interstate 75, and the main boulevards are busy at rush hour.
- Broward County Transit runs buses along the main roads; frequencies are modest and journeys long by comparison with driving.
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport is about half an hour south-east by road, Palm Beach International a little further north, and Miami International about an hour south.
- Tri-Rail and Brightline stations are on the coast, about a twenty-minute drive east.
Health
- Broward Health Coral Springs is the city's hospital, with emergency care; larger hospitals and trauma centres are in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
- Dial 911 for any emergency. Hurricane season runs from June to November; follow county evacuation guidance. Heavy summer rain floods streets quickly.
- Healthcare in the United States is expensive; visitors need travel insurance with good medical cover.
Work & study
- The city has no university of its own; Broward College, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and Nova Southeastern University in Davie are within half an hour or so.
- Financial technology, distribution, healthcare, retail, schools and the service trades are the main sources of work; many residents commute to jobs across Broward and Palm Beach counties.
- Non-citizens need a visa or immigration status that allows work. Housing is costly, and home insurance in South Florida is among the most expensive in the country.
Money & manners
- US dollars. Cards are taken almost everywhere, and tap-to-pay is normal. Tipping of around 18 to 20 per cent is expected in restaurants and bars.
- A suburban, family-centred place; Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole are heard alongside English.
- Florida has no state income tax but adds sales tax to most purchases, and prices are shown before tax.
News
Situations Vacant
Classified
Property
Sport
Display Advertising
Sources
- Geoverts Local — Coral Springsthe local directory, the people-and-company index, and who is hiring
- Better Mapping — Coral Springsthe intelligence map — parcels, boundaries and what is actually where