Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Monday
Local time
11:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Mexico Beach, FL
Drive Time
10h 52m
Distance
529.6 mi
852 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$88
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 42m
★
6 AM
10h 52m
8 AM
11h 12m
10 AM
10h 59m
12 PM
10h 57m
3 PM
11h 0m
5 PM
11h 11m
8 PM
10h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Mexico Beach, FL covers 529.6 miles and takes about 10h 52m 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 long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $88.47 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
264.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 529.6 miles and 10h 52m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Florida's Turnpike and Young Boulevard.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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?
At 10h 52m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near Northwest 31st Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 529.6 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 8.7 miles (Northwest 31st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
8.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
Northwest 31st Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
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
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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
8
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
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Mexico Beach, 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 | 32.6 mi | 49m |
| I 75 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| Avenue E | 22.7 mi | 31m |
| Sopchoppy Highway | 17 mi | 24m |
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 Mexico Beach, FL.
1
Start on SR 842
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Broward Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest 9th Avenue
3
Continue on SR 845
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Powerline Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on SR 845
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Powerline Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SR 845
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pompano Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto SR 814
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Atlantic Boulevard
7
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 31st Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
240 mi
·
4 hr 20 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 75
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 27: Ocala, Williston
14
Keep slight left at fork
295 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 27 North: Williston
Use the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 27
48 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 27
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
17
Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
67 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Young Boulevard
18
Turn left onto US 98
54 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Hampton Springs Avenue
19
Turn slight right onto US 319
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Sopchoppy Highway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 319
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Sopchoppy Highway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 319
33 mi
·
49 min
·
US 319
22
Turn left onto US 98
23 mi
·
31 min
·
Avenue E
23
Continue on US 98
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Monument Avenue
24
Continue on US 98
12 mi
·
19 min
·
Bay Road
25
Turn left onto South 32nd Street
369 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 32nd Street
26
Arrive at destination
South 32nd 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 264.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 4h 55m 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 117 miles or 2h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 264.8 miles or 4h 55m 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 264.8 miles or 4h 55m
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 9h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mexico Beach, 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 265 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Mexico Beach, FL
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 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 264.8 mi from Fort Lauderdale, FL · 4h 55m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
175 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
350 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 Tallahassee, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
265 mi · about 5.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gainesville, FL after about 265 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 264.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 240.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 265 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Mexico Beach, FL
The final approach into Mexico Beach, 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 Mexico Beach, FL.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Mexico Beach, 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
$88.47 one way
$176.94 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
185 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $95.83 | $191.66 |
| premium | $4.90 | $102.08 | $204.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $117.66 | $235.32 |
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
$88
Tolls
$17
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$235–$345
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 185.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 158.9 | 1 | $55.61 | $25.42 |
| Efficient EV | 132.4 | 1 | $46.34 | $21.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 211.8 | 2 | $74.14 | $33.89 |
Gas CO2
185 kg
EV CO2
62 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.
Destination
Mexico Beach, FL
Morning in Mexico Beach on Monday
Local time
10:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 52m 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 Mexico Beach, FL covers 529.6 miles and takes about 10h 52m 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. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 265 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 264.8 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 $88.47 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 529.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (Northwest 31st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Mexico Beach, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.
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Return Trip
Mexico Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
532.6 mi
10h 52m
Continue From Mexico Beach, FL
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