Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 7m

Distance

320.5 mi

516 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 55m ★

6 AM

6h 8m

8 AM

6h 34m

10 AM

6h 17m

12 PM

6h 14m

3 PM

6h 18m

5 PM

6h 32m

8 PM

6h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city in Broward County, Florida, United States

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Alachua, FL

Larry Milligan

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL covers 320.5 miles and takes about 6h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, I 75, Northwest 43rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.02 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

160.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 320.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a 6h 7m highway drive covering 320.5 miles, with most of the trip on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Florida's Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 240.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 320.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 306.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9.8 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

250.5 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in | Florida's Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 75 North: Ocala

306.8 mi into trip | ~5h 40m in

Take the exit toward FL 24: Archer Road, Gainesville, Archer

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 384 Toward FL 24: Archer Road, Gainesville, Archer

307.1 mi into trip | ~5h 40m in | FL 24 / Southwest Archer Road

Turn right onto FL 24 / Southwest Archer Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

320.5 mi into trip | ~6h 7m in | Palmetto Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto Palmetto Boulevard

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Florida's Turnpike	240.6 mi	4h 20m
I 75	56 mi	1h
Northwest 43rd Street	4.9 mi	8m
Northwest 9th Avenue	2.9 mi	5m
South Powerline Road	2.4 mi	4m
ML King Memorial Highway	2.1 mi	2m
Southwest 34th Street	1.7 mi	3m
Powerline Road	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Florida's Turnpike — 240.6 mi, about 4h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Alachua, FL.

Start on SR 842

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Broward Boulevard

Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · Northwest 9th Avenue

Continue on SR 845

1.1 mi · 2 min · Powerline Road

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Continue on SR 845

2.4 mi · 4 min · South Powerline Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on SR 845

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Pompano Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto SR 814

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Atlantic Boulevard

Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Northwest 31st Avenue

Use the right lane.

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · this road

Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando Use the straight / left lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

240 mi · 4 hr 20 min · Florida's Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Florida's Turnpike

Toward I 75 North: Ocala Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 75

56 mi · 1 hr · I 75

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 384 Toward FL 24: Archer Road, Gainesville, Archer Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto FL 24

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Archer Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto FL 121

1.7 mi · 3 min · Southwest 34th Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on FL 121

1.0 mi · 2 min · Northwest 34th Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto Northwest 16th Boulevard

1.1 mi · 2 min · Northwest 16th Boulevard

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto CR 2053

4.9 mi · 8 min · Northwest 43rd Street

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 441

2.1 mi · 2 min · ML King Memorial Highway

Turn left onto Turkey Creek Boulevard

101 ft · 5 sec · Turkey Creek Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Continue on Turkey Creek Boulevard

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Turkey Creek Boulevard

Turn right onto Palmetto Boulevard

0.3 mi · 1 min · Palmetto Boulevard

Continue on Palmetto Boulevard

0.3 mi · 1 min · Palmetto Boulevard

Turn left onto Creek Drive West

0.4 mi · 1 min · Creek Drive West

Turn right onto Northwest 105th Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Northwest 105th Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto Palmetto Boulevard

461 ft · 20 sec · Palmetto Boulevard

Arrive at destination

Palmetto Boulevard

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

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

The halfway point lands around 160.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 3h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 71 miles or 1h 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 160.3 miles or 3h 2m 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 52m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Fort Lauderdale, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fort Lauderdale, FL

This is one driving day of about 320.5 miles and 6h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Fort Lauderdale, 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.

The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 240.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 160.3 mi from Fort Lauderdale, FL · 3h 2m into the drive

city in and county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orlando, FL

160 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Port Saint Lucie, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orlando, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 160.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 240.6 miles.

Arriving in Alachua, FL

The final approach into Alachua, 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 Alachua, FL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Holy Grain Coffee Shop

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Orlando, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 206.1

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14077045878

Visit website

Harvest Thyme Alachua

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Alachua, Florida

2.1 mi

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocala, Florida

2.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Paloma Parlor

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Windermere, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 206.1

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+14078760895

Visit website

Brick & Iron Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocala, Florida

3 mi

Holy Grain Coffee Shop

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 206.1

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14077045878

Visit website

Harvest Thyme Alachua

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 320.5

Alachua, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+13865883188

Visit website

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 274.8

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524219810

Visit website

Paloma Parlor

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 206.1

Windermere, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+14078760895

Visit website

Brick & Iron Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 274.8

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+13525812650

Visit website

Sipping Grounds Midtown

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 274.8

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13522991294

Visit website

The Kookaburra Alachua

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 320.5

Alachua, Florida

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+19042099391

Visit website

The Juniper General Store

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 274.8

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+13525094006

Opus Coffee - UF Health Springhill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 320.5

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

+13522268512

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 320.5

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.6 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 251.9

Wildwood, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887518560

Visit website

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 22.9

Delray Beach, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15614950233

Visit website

Joseph C. Carter Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19548285411

Visit website

Nehrling Gardens

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 206.1

Gotha, Florida

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+14074459977

Visit website

Scott Springs Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 274.8

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+13523685517

Visit website

Ocala Downtown Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Regular Gas

$51.02 one way

$102.03 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 112 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$55.49	$110.99
premium	$4.72	$59.60	$119.19
diesel	$5.61	$70.76	$141.52

Estimated Tolls: $16.83

Florida's Turnpike (240.4 mi) $16.83

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Tolls

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$93–$118

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 112.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	96.1	1	$33.65	$15.38
Efficient EV	80.1	0	$28.04	$12.82
EV Truck/SUV	128.2	1	$44.87	$20.51

Gas CO2

112 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Late night in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday

Local time

2:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Alachua, FL

Late night in Alachua on Saturday

Local time

2:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

12 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 7m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL covers 320.5 miles and takes about 6h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, I 75, Northwest 43rd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 160.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

The route from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Alachua, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

323.2 mi 6h 8m

Continue From Alachua, FL

Tampa, FL 140.3 mi · 2h 47m Jacksonville, FL 75.5 mi · 1h 47m

More from Fort Lauderdale, FL

East Milton, FL 628.3 mi · 11h 27m Bonifay, FL 544.7 mi · 9h 57m Apalachicola, FL 494.3 mi · 9h 59m Fanning Springs, FL 332.3 mi · 6h 20m Jacksonville, FL 318.5 mi · 5h 59m Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 313.9 mi · 6h 2m

Overnight trips from Fort Lauderdale, FL Scenic drives in FL

Explore more options from Fort Lauderdale, FL or browse trips ending in Alachua, FL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.

Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Alachua, FL

Nearby Places

Holy Grain Coffee Shop

Paloma Parlor

Holy Grain Coffee Shop

Harvest Thyme Alachua

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

Paloma Parlor

Brick & Iron Cafe

Sipping Grounds Midtown

The Kookaburra Alachua

The Juniper General Store

Opus Coffee - UF Health Springhill

Tesla Supercharger

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Joseph C. Carter Park

Nehrling Gardens

Scott Springs Park

Ocala Downtown Square

Wreck It Ft Laudy

Tuscawilla Art Park

Tuscawilla Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Alachua, FL

Same local time

12 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 7m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Alachua, FL

More from Fort Lauderdale, FL