Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Monday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
282.4 mi
454 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
12 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 35m
★
6 AM
5h 48m
8 AM
6h 14m
10 AM
5h 57m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 13m
8 PM
5h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kelly
Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL covers 282.4 miles and takes about 5h 47m 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, FL 50, Cortez Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 204.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.17 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
141.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 47m highway drive covering 282.4 miles, with most of the trip on Florida's Turnpike and FL 50. The longest continuous stretch is about 204.3 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 204.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 50. 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 282.4 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 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
8
214.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward FL 50: Winter Garden, Clermont
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 272
Toward FL 50: Winter Garden, Clermont
9
214.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 50 East: Clermont, Winter Garden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 50 East: Clermont, Winter Garden
7
214.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL 50 West: Clermont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 50 West: Clermont
Towns Along This Route
Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL, road signs point toward Clermont and Winter Garden.
Clermont
214.4 mi in
|
~4h 1m
Winter Garden
214.6 mi in
|
~4h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 204.3 mi | 3h 41m |
| FL 50 | 41.5 mi | 59m |
| Cortez Boulevard | 16.3 mi | 27m |
| West Colonial Drive | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Northwest 9th Avenue | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| South Powerline Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Shoal Line Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Powerline Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 204.3 mi, about 3h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Weeki Wachee Gardens, 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
204 mi
·
3 hr 41 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 272
Toward FL 50: Winter Garden, Clermont
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
398 ft
·
9 sec
Toward FL 50 East: Clermont, Winter Garden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward FL 50 West: Clermont
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto FL 50
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
West Colonial Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on FL 50
42 mi
·
59 min
·
FL 50
16
Turn left onto FL 50
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Cortez Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Clinton Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Clinton Boulevard
18
Turn right onto Mobley Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Mobley Road
19
Turn left onto FL 50
13 mi
·
21 min
·
Cortez Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn sharp left onto CR 597
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Shoal Line Boulevard
21
Turn right onto Alpaca Drive
372 ft
·
18 sec
·
Alpaca Drive
22
Turn right onto Westwind Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Westwind Street
23
Continue on Tuscawilla Drive
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Tuscawilla Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Tuscawilla Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 141.2 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204.3 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.2 miles or 2h 41m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weeki Wachee Gardens, 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 282.4 miles and 5h 47m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 204.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 141.2 mi from Fort Lauderdale, FL · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.2 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 204.3 miles.
Arriving in Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
The final approach into Weeki Wachee Gardens, 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 Weeki Wachee Gardens, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.17 one way
$94.35 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $51.10 | $102.20 |
| premium | $4.90 | $54.43 | $108.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.74 | $125.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $14.30
Florida's Turnpike
(204.3 mi)
$14.30
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
$47
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale - Tesla Supercharger
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Tesla
16 DCFC
Fort Lauderdale Hub, Miami Rd, FL
Ft Lauderdale, FL
BP_PULSE
16 DCFC
606 N Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL
US_SUPERCHARGE
4 DCFC
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Fort Lauderdale (Holman Motorcars)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
ABM
3 DCFC
Grieco Chevrolet Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL
EV Connect
2 DCFC
Sonesta Ft. Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale, FL
US_SUPERCHARGE
2 DCFC
Fort Lauderdale Nissan
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Non-Networked
1 DCFC
FPL EVOLUTION BRIGHTLINE 11
Fort Lauderdale, FL
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 5
US_SUPERCHARGE: 2
EV Connect: 1
Tesla: 1
BP_PULSE: 1
ABM: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.65 | $13.56 |
| Efficient EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.71 | $11.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113 | 1 | $39.54 | $18.07 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
Morning in Weeki Wachee Gardens on Monday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
11 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
5h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL covers 282.4 miles and takes about 5h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, FL 50, Cortez 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 141.2 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 $47.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
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.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 282.4 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 282.4 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 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL, road signs point toward Clermont and Winter Garden.
Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL, road signs point toward Clermont and Winter Garden.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Return Trip
Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
285.3 mi
5h 47m
Continue From Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
More trips to Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
Explore more options from Fort Lauderdale, FL or browse trips ending in Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.
Explore maps for Fort Lauderdale, FL or Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL on MapSof.net.