Trip from Alachua, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

328.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Alachua, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 328.8 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Northwest 105th Avenue, Creek Drive, Palmetto Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.70 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

164.4 miles from Alachua, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 59m drive with frequent turns across 328.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Northwest 105th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Northwest 105th Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Creek Drive	Unavailable	Refreshing
Palmetto Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Turkey Creek Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
ML King Memorial Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Northwest 43rd Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Northwest 16th Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Northwest 34th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Northwest 105th Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Palmetto Boulevard

2

Turn right onto Northwest 105th Avenue

3

At the end of the road, turn left onto Creek Drive

4

Turn right onto Palmetto Boulevard

5

Turn left onto Turkey Creek Boulevard

6

Turn right onto ML King Memorial Highway

7

Turn right onto Northwest 43rd Street

8

Turn left onto Northwest 16th Boulevard

9

Turn right onto Northwest 34th Street

10

Continue on Southwest 34th Street

11

Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road

12

Take the ramp slight right toward I 75 South: Tampa

13

Merge slight left

14

Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando

15

Take the exit slight right toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard

16

Keep slight left to continue on East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard

17

Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

18

Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue

19

Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue

20

Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard

21

Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Miami

22

Merge slight left

23

Take the exit slight right toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown

24

Turn left onto West Broward Boulevard

25

Continue on East Broward Boulevard

26

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 164.4 miles from Alachua, FL, or about 2h 29m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 164.4 miles or 2h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lauderdale, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Alachua, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Alachua, FL

This is one driving day of about 328.8 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alachua, FL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Orlando, FL

164 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Fort Lauderdale, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 164.4 mi from Alachua, FL

Gainesville, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orlando, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 164.4 miles from Alachua, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.15	$53.70	$107.39
midgrade	$4.60	$59.49	$118.99
premium	$4.90	$63.38	$126.76
diesel	$4.35	$56.31	$112.62

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 115 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alachua, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 328.8 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Northwest 105th Avenue, Creek Drive, Palmetto Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 164.4 miles from Alachua, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.