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Trip from Hendry County, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 11m

Distance

87.5 mi

141 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 2m ★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m

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

county in Florida, United States of America

Hendry County, FL

Wikimedia Commons

city ​​in Broward County, Florida, United States

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Hendry County, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 87.5 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Alligator Alley, Sam Jones Trail, Josie Billie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.5 miles on Alligator Alley. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.93 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

43.8 miles from Hendry County, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 87.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 11m drive with frequent turns across 87.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alligator Alley is the longest continuous segment at about 30.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 87.5 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 39.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 70.8 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.9 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.

6
39.9 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

At end of road, turn left toward I 75 South: Miami

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 75 South: Miami
9
70.8 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 19 Toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Spr...
7
80.9 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in

Take the exit toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 9C Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard
7
83.3 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in | SR 84 / Marina Boulevard

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 84 / Marina Boulevard toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard
6
85.9 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in | Southeast 3rd Avenue

Turn left onto Southeast 3rd Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Alligator Alley 30.5 mi 32m
Sam Jones Trail 20.6 mi 35m
Josie Billie Highway 13 mi 21m
Port Everglades Expressway 10.1 mi 11m
Snake Road 6.3 mi 15m
SR 84 2.2 mi 3m
Marina Boulevard 1.6 mi 3m
Southeast 3rd Avenue 1.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Alligator Alley — 30.5 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hendry County, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.

1

Start on CR 833

21 mi · 35 min · Sam Jones Trail
2

Continue on CR 833; BIA 1281

13 mi · 21 min · Josie Billie Highway
3

Continue on CR 833

6.3 mi · 15 min · Snake Road
4

At end of road, turn left

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 75 South: Miami
5

Merge onto I 75

30 mi · 32 min · Alligator Alley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 595

10 mi · 11 min · Port Everglades Expressway
Exit 19 Toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 9C Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn straight onto SR 84

0.2 mi · 18 sec · SR 84
Toward I 595 East, SR 84 East
9

Keep slight left at fork onto SR 84

2.0 mi · 3 min · SR 84
Toward SR 84 East
10

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 84

1.6 mi · 3 min · Marina Boulevard
Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard Use the right lane.
11

Turn left onto Southwest 4th Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Southwest 4th Avenue
Use the left lane.
12

Turn right onto Southwest 17th Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Southwest 17th Street
13

Continue on Southeast 17th Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Southeast 17th Street
14

Turn left onto Southeast 3rd Avenue

1.5 mi · 3 min · Southeast 3rd Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn left onto SR 842

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East Broward Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16

Arrive at destination

SR 842

Trip Plan

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 43.8 miles from Hendry County, FL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.5 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 19 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.8 miles or 1h 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 1h 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lauderdale, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hendry County, 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 Hendry County, FL

This is one driving day of about 87.5 miles and 2h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hendry County, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Alligator Alley for about 30.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.8 mi from Hendry County, FL · 1h 17m into the drive

city in Broward County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Weston, FL

44 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

Weston, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

22.3 mi · 37m

Pacing Suggestions

Harlem, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Weston, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.8 miles from Hendry County, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale, FL

The final approach into Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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

$13.93 one way

$27.86 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $15.15 $30.30
premium $4.72 $16.27 $32.54
diesel $5.61 $19.32 $38.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.3 0 $9.19 $4.20
Efficient EV 21.9 0 $7.66 $3.50
EV Truck/SUV 35 0 $12.25 $5.60

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Hendry County, FL

Late night in Hendry County on Friday

Local time

3:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Late night in Fort Lauderdale on Friday

Local time

3:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 11m 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 Hendry County, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 87.5 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alligator Alley, Sam Jones Trail, Josie Billie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 43.8 miles from Hendry County, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.93 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 11 significant decision points across 87.5 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 39.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 70.8 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Hendry County, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Data sources

The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.

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