Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Apalachicola, FL

Drive Time

9h 59m

Distance

494.3 mi

796 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$83

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 50m ★

6 AM

9h 59m

8 AM

10h 17m

10 AM

10h 6m

12 PM

10h 4m

3 PM

10h 7m

5 PM

10h 17m

8 PM

9h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Fort Lauderdale, FL

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Apalachicola, FL covers 494.3 miles and takes about 9h 59m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, Young Boulevard, Hampton Springs Avenue 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 $82.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

247.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 9h 59m highway drive covering 494.3 miles, with most of the trip on Florida's Turnpike and Young Boulevard. 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 24 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 Young Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Northwest 9th Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 494.3 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 0.6 miles (Northwest 9th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Northwest 9th Avenue

Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

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

275.6 mi into trip | ~5h 7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 27 North: Williston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 27 North: Williston

390.3 mi into trip | ~7h 34m in | US 98 / Hampton Springs Avenue

Turn left onto US 98 / Hampton Springs Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Apalachicola, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.

Williston

275.4 mi in | ~5h 6m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Florida's Turnpike	240.6 mi	4h 20m
Young Boulevard	66.5 mi	1h 25m
Hampton Springs Avenue	54.4 mi	1h 11m
US 27	48 mi	1h 1m
US 319	32.5 mi	49m
I 75	24.6 mi	26m
Sopchoppy Highway	17 mi	24m
Northwest 9th Avenue	2.9 mi	5m

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 Apalachicola, FL.

Start on SR 842

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Broward Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · Northwest 9th Avenue

Use the none lane.

Continue on SR 845

1.1 mi · 2 min · Powerline Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on SR 845

2.4 mi · 4 min · South Powerline Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on SR 845

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Pompano Parkway

Use the left / none lanes.

Turn left onto SR 814

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Atlantic Boulevard

Use the none lane.

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 none lane.

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

25 mi · 26 min · I 75

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward US 27: Ocala, Williston

Keep slight left at fork

295 ft · 9 sec

Toward US 27 North: Williston Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 27

48 mi · 1 hr 1 min · US 27

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Main Street

Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate

67 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Young Boulevard

Turn left onto US 98

54 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Hampton Springs Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn slight right onto US 319

6.5 mi · 9 min · Sopchoppy Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 319

11 mi · 14 min · Sopchoppy Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 319

32 mi · 49 min · US 319

Turn left onto Avenue C

456 ft · 22 sec · Avenue C

Turn right onto 5th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · 5th Street

Arrive at destination

5th Street

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 247.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 4h 36m into the drive.

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

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 109 miles or 2h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 247.2 miles or 4h 36m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 247.2 miles or 4h 36m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apalachicola, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fort Lauderdale, FL

Aim for roughly 247 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Apalachicola, FL

Aim for roughly 247 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks 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 247.2 mi from Fort Lauderdale, FL · 4h 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Gainesville, FL

247 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Gainesville, FL

Overnight Options

Night 1

Gainesville, FL

247 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Gainesville, FL after about 247 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Palm Bay, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orlando, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 247.2 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.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 247 miles or 5 hours on the road.

Arriving in Apalachicola, FL

The final approach into Apalachicola, 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 Apalachicola, FL.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Apalachicola, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$82.57 one way

$165.14 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 173 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$89.44	$178.88
premium	$4.90	$95.28	$190.56
diesel	$5.64	$109.82	$219.63

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

$83

Tolls

$17

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$229–$339

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 172.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	148.3	1	$51.90	$23.73
Efficient EV	123.6	1	$43.25	$19.77
EV Truck/SUV	197.7	2	$69.20	$31.64

Gas CO2

173 kg

EV CO2

58 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Afternoon in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday

Local time

4:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Apalachicola, FL

Afternoon in Apalachicola on Sunday

Local time

4:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

4 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

9h 59m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 Apalachicola, FL covers 494.3 miles and takes about 9h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, Young Boulevard, Hampton Springs Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 247 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 247.2 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 $82.57 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Apalachicola, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.

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