Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Palm Springs, FL

Drive Time

38m

Distance

24.5 mi

39 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m

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

Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Kelly

Downtown Palm Springs, FL, FL

Palm Springs, FL

DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transit between Fort Lauderdale and Palm Springs, Florida, this 24.5-mile trip is an efficient way to get across the region. You can easily complete the entire journey in about 38 minutes, making it a perfect one-day outing that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a highly economical route for your commute or local travel. The drive primarily utilizes I-95, SR 9, and East Broward Boulevard to move you between these two Florida locations. Because the duration is so brief, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about strict road-trip logistics.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

12.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience as roughly 66% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a significant stretch of 13.2 miles on I-95, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The route transitions from these fast-paced interstate lanes into local sections via SR 9 and East Broward Boulevard. This mix means you will spend the bulk of your time maintaining highway speeds before navigating shorter segments of city-adjacent road. It is a straightforward, functional drive designed for speed and direct access rather than winding, scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and SR 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 24.5 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 South: Miami

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 95 South: Miami
7
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Miami

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 95 South: Miami
5
2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 12 Toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, S...
9
16 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 13.2 mi 16m
SR 9 2.3 mi 3m
East Broward Boulevard 1.6 mi 3m
East 65th Street 1.5 mi 2m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector 1.1 mi 1m
Northwest 135th Street 0.8 mi 1m
West 4th Avenue/Red Road 0.7 mi 1m
US 441 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 13.2 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on SR 842

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Broward Boulevard
Use the none lane.
2

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami Use the none lane.
3

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 South: Miami Use the slight left lane.
4

Merge onto I 95

13 mi · 16 min · I 95
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 12 Toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East Use the slight left lane.
7

Turn straight onto US 441

0.5 mi · 53 sec · US 441
8

Continue on SR 9

2.3 mi · 3 min · SR 9
Use the straight lane.
9

Turn left onto SR 9

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Northwest 27th Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Turn right onto SR 916

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Opa Locka Boulevard
Use the none lane.
11

Continue on SR 916

0.8 mi · 1 min · Northwest 135th Street
Use the none lane.
12

Turn left onto Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector

1.1 mi · 1 min · Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
Use the left lane.
13

Turn right onto East 65th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · East 65th Street
Use the none lane.
14

Continue on West 65th Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · West 65th Street
15

Turn left onto SR 823

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 4th Avenue/Red Road
16

Turn right onto West 53rd Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West 53rd Street
17

Turn right onto West 8th Avenue

163 ft · 4 sec · West 8th Avenue
18

Arrive at destination

West 8th Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 38-minute trip, you do not need to worry about planning formal rest stops or meal breaks. Your best strategy is to monitor traffic patterns on I-95, as the highway-heavy nature of the route can be subject to congestion depending on the time of day. With only 24.5 miles to cover, you have the advantage of being able to leave at your convenience without needing to pace yourself for fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, though at an estimated cost of $4, it is a light expense to manage. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation active even on the local segments of East Broward Boulevard to ensure you stay on the most efficient path to your destination.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 12.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.2 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 24.5 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 12.2 miles or 17m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm Springs, 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 24.5 miles and 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 13.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12.2 mi from Fort Lauderdale, FL · 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Miramar, FL

12 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.

Popular next leg

Miramar, FL to Palm Springs, FL

12.4 mi · 22m

Pacing Suggestions

Hialeah, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hollywood, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Palm Springs, FL

The final approach into Palm Springs, 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 Palm Springs, FL.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.09 one way

$8.19 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $4.43 $8.87
premium $4.90 $4.72 $9.45
diesel $5.64 $5.44 $10.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.4 0 $2.57 $1.18
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.14 $0.98
EV Truck/SUV 9.8 0 $3.43 $1.57

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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

4:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Palm Springs, FL

Afternoon in Palm Springs on Sunday

Local time

4:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

72°F

Miramar, FL

12 mi in

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

1 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

38m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 Palm Springs, FL covers 24.5 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, SR 9, East Broward Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.2 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 $4.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 24.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Palm Springs, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Palm Springs, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

24.9 mi 39m

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

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