Developed and operated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), SunTrax is a first‑of‑its‑kind research and development (R&D) facility built to combine both air and ground transportation testing within a single campus. SunTrax offers an integrated environment where innovations in next-generation aviation, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, and infrastructure can be developed simultaneously in a secure environment.
The 575-acre facility comprises SunTrax Ground and the rapidly expanding SunTrax Air, positioning Florida as a national leader in innovative technology testing and reinforcing FDOT’s commitment to delivering future transportation solutions.
SunTrax Air is FDOT’s premier R&D hub for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) for the state of Florida and features the nation’s first AAM Aerial Test Track. This 212-acre aviation campus supports a wide range of AAM aircraft and includes vertiports, 20,000-square-foot hangars, and versatile, high-speed charging pads designed to accommodate evolving vehicle sizes and power requirements.
The test sites provide open, flexible areas where engineers can observe aircraft movement and handling, and the on-site AAM Headquarters includes a passenger lounge that simulates passenger operations, logistics, and training workflows.
In the future, SunTrax Air plans to include an elevated vertiport that simulates rooftop urban takeoff and landing conditions, making this facility the nation’s most comprehensive environment for developing the next generation of aerial transportation systems.
SunTrax Ground is a key facility for advanced surface transportation research, spanning 200 acres and offering customizable urban, suburban, and geometric test environments that support the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). It features a 2.25-mile oval track, which is the only highway-speed testing site for autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the southeastern United States.
This state-of-the-art facility enables FDOT and industry partners to analyze vehicle behavior in intricate roadway scenarios and evaluate safety systems in a controlled environment. SunTrax Ground is equipped with specialized infrastructure, including roundabouts designed to enhance vehicle flow and dual-purpose access roadways that can be utilized for emergency staging during disaster response situations.
Leading the way in transportation research and innovation, SunTrax has been lauded with several prestigious awards recognizing its dedication to transportation and advancing technology solutions.