This 90-mile drive from Fort Lauderdale to River Park, Florida, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 52 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's an economical option for exploring within the state. You'll spend most of your time on Florida's Turnpike, offering a consistent driving experience. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a quick and efficient way to get from one point in Florida to another.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 90 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for roughly 85% of this 90-mile route. The drive features a significant stretch of 75.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which means you'll encounter consistent speed limits and relatively uninterrupted travel for a good portion of your journey. While Northwest 9th Avenue and Southeast Airoso Boulevard will offer brief transitions off the main highway, the overall feel is one of efficient road travel. This isn't a route known for winding country roads; rather, it's designed for covering distance with ease.
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.
Florida's Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 75.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and Northwest 9th Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near Northwest 31st Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 85.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These 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
7
85.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward Port Saint Lucie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 142
Toward Port Saint Lucie
6
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and River Park, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North and Port Saint Lucie.
Florida's Turnpike Toll
9.7 mi in|~18m
Miami
9.7 mi in|~18m
Orlando
9.7 mi in|~18m
Florida's Turnpike North
9.8 mi in|~18m
Port Saint Lucie
85.2 mi in|~1h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
75.1 mi
1h 22m
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
2.9 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
Powerline Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Pompano Parkway
1 mi
1m
Northwest 31st Avenue
1 mi
1m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 75.1 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and River Park, 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, OrlandoUse 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
75 mi·1 hr 22 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 142Toward Port Saint LucieUse the right lane.
12
Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
483 ft·15 sec·Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
13
Turn right onto FL 716
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 615
2.9 mi·5 min·Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
15
Turn right onto Southeast Lucero Drive
286 ft·17 sec·Southeast Lucero Drive
16
Turn left onto Southeast Solaz Avenue
273 ft·14 sec·Southeast Solaz Avenue
17
Turn right onto Southeast Castana Court
456 ft·20 sec·Southeast Castana Court
18
Arrive at destination
Southeast Castana Court
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with this drive. You could leave Fort Lauderdale in the morning and arrive in River Park before lunchtime, or depart in the afternoon to avoid peak traffic. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a quick fuel stop before you depart or upon arrival if needed, especially considering the $14 fuel estimate. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 75 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment.
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 45 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.1 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Park, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Lauderdale, FL
This is one driving day of about 90 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 75.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45 mi from Fort Lauderdale, FL
· 58m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.33 one way
$28.65 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$15.58
$31.17
premium
$4.72
$16.74
$33.47
diesel
$5.61
$19.87
$39.74
Estimated Tolls: $5.26
Florida's Turnpike
(75.1 mi)$5.26
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
$14
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27
0
$9.45
$4.32
Efficient EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
EV Truck/SUV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Late night
in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
River Park, FL
Late night
in River Park on Saturday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
6 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
1h 52m 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 River Park, FL covers 90 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, Northwest 9th Avenue, Southeast Airoso 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 45 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 $14.33 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 90 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 85.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and River Park, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North and Port Saint Lucie.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
