State Road 17 also formerly known as Alternate U.S. 27, is a north–south state road in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. It is split into two sections. The road provides scenic views as it winds through the hills of the Lake Wales Ridge

Lake Wales Ridge

The Lake Wales Ridge is a low ridge running for about 150 miles south to north in Central Florida. The greater part of the ridge is in Highlands County and Polk County, but it extends north into Osceola, Orange and Lake Counties. It is named for the city of Lake Wales, roughly at the mid point of...

.

Southern Segment

It runs from Sebring

Sebring, Florida

Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...

 in Highlands County

Highlands County, Florida

Highlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

 as "Lakeview Drive." It goes through downtown Sebring as "Ridgewood Drive" before continuing north-northwest of the city, entering Avon Park

Avon Park, Florida

Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...

 from the east as "Cornell Street."

At a four-way stop, it turns north, following Memorial Drive until it reaches Main Street, then it goes west through Avon Park's downtown until it intersects US 27

U.S. Route 27 in Florida

U.S. Route 27 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the South Florida Metropolitan Area northwest to the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Throughout the state, US 27 has been designated the Claude Pepper Memorial Highway by the Florida State Legislature...

/98

U.S. Route 98 in Florida

U.S. Route 98 is an east-west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended eastward across the Florida Peninsula and westward into Mississippi...

.

Northern Segment

A section runs from US 27/98 in 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...

, southwest of Frostproof

Frostproof, Florida

Frostproof is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The city is located in southern Polk County on the Lake Wales Ridge. The population was 2,975 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,954...

. It bisects that town, taking the name "Scenic Highway" as it winds through Hillcrest Heights

Hillcrest Heights, Florida

Hillcrest Heights is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 266 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 280. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area....

, Babson Park

Babson Park, Florida

Babson Park is a census-designated place in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,182 at the 2000 census. It is also the home of Webber International University....

 and Lake Wales

Lake Wales, Florida

Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,194 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,802 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...

. It continues north, taking names Main Street in 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...

, Hamilton Blvd in Lake Hamilton

Lake Hamilton, Florida

Lake Hamilton is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,304 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,406...

, and 10th Street in Haines City

Haines City, Florida

Haines City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 13,174 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population estimated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida is 18,762. Haines City is the third most populous city in Polk County, Florida...

, where it ends at US 17

U.S. Route 17 in Florida

U.S. Route 17 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area....

/92.