State Road 542 is a west–east route in Central Florida, serving Polk County

Polk County, Florida

Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...

. It runs 6.8 miles from the downtown of Winter Haven

Winter Haven, Florida

Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...

 to the downtown of Dundee, Florida

Dundee, Florida

Dundee is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,912 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,008...

.

Route description

State Road 542 starts in the heart of downtown Winter Haven, as Central Avenue, the west-east axis of the city's grid plan. Its western terminus is the intersection with 1st Street (SR 549

Florida State Road 549

Florida State Road 549, or 1st Street N, is a north-south state road in the U.S. state of Florida. It runs 1.5 miles through the downtown of Winter Haven as the north-south axis of the city's grid plan.-Route description:...

), the city's north-south axis. As it heads eastward, it soon reaches Lake Elbert, whose southern shore it skirts as Lake Elbert Drive SE. Past Lake Elbert, it shoots due eastward as Dundee Road, passing Overlook Drive, a southwest-northeast access route to Cypress Gardens Blvd

Florida State Road 540

State Road 540 is a west–east route in Central Florida, serving Polk County. It runs from the south side of the city of Lakeland to US 27. SR 540 also runs along the future entrance to Legoland Florida...

, and intersecting with US 27 at the Dundee Ridge Plaza shopping center. True to its name, Dundee Road leads from US 27 to the downtown of Dundee

Dundee, Florida

Dundee is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,912 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,008...

, where it intersects with SR 17

Florida State Road 17

State Road 17 , also formerly known as Alternate U.S. 27, is a north–south state road in the U.S. state of Florida. It is split into two sections...

, the Scenic Highway.

Related routes

County Road 542 picks up where SR. 542 left off in western Winter Haven, traversing westward toward eastern Lakeland. It is called K-Ville Avenue or E Main Street toward the west, and within Winter Haven is known as Avenue G NW.