Trip from Highland Beach, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL

Drive Time

1h 29m

Distance

71.7 mi

115 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Downtown Port Saint Lucie, FL, FL

Photo: Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

The drive from Highland Beach, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL covers 71.7 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, Florida's Turnpike, South Ocean Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.4 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.98 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

35.8 miles from Highland Beach, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 29m highway drive covering 71.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Florida's Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.4 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 35.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Florida's Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near East Linton Boulevard.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 71.7 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 2.8 miles (East Linton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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
2.8 mi into trip | ~6m in | East Linton Boulevard

Turn left onto East Linton Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
40.1 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward FL 706 West: Okeechobee

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

Use the right lane. Exit 87B Toward FL 706 West: Okeechobee
8
41.2 mi into trip | ~52m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
7
68.3 mi into trip | ~1h 22m 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
69.2 mi into trip | ~1h 24m 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.

Towns Along This Route

Between Highland Beach, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs point toward Orlando and Florida's Turnpike North.

Orlando

41.2 mi in | ~52m

Florida's Turnpike North

41.2 mi in | ~52m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 35.4 mi 40m
Florida's Turnpike 26.6 mi 28m
South Ocean Boulevard 2.8 mi 6m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard 1.6 mi 2m
East Linton Boulevard 1.5 mi 2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Indiantown Road 0.5 mi <1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 35.4 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Highland Beach, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.

1

Start on SR A1A

2.8 mi · 6 min · South Ocean Boulevard
2

Turn left onto East Linton Boulevard

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Linton Boulevard
Use the none lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
4

Merge onto I 95

35 mi · 40 min · I 95
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 87B Toward FL 706 West: Okeechobee Use the right lane.
6

Turn straight onto FL 706

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Indiantown Road
7

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Use the right lane.
8

Continue on this road

482 ft · 11 sec · this road
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

27 mi · 28 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 142 Toward Port Saint Lucie Use 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

1.6 mi · 2 min · Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
15

Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue

215 ft · 9 sec · Southwest Carter Avenue
16

Arrive at destination

Southwest Carter Avenue

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 35.8 miles from Highland Beach, FL, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 71.7 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 35.8 miles or 45m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint Lucie, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Highland Beach, 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 Highland Beach, FL

This is one driving day of about 71.7 miles and 1h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Highland Beach, 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 35.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 35.8 mi from Highland Beach, FL · 45m into the drive

Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Lauderdale, FL

36 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

Palm Bay, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Highland Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Port Saint Lucie, FL

The final approach into Port Saint Lucie, 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 Port Saint Lucie, 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

$11.98 one way

$23.95 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $12.97 $25.95
premium $4.90 $13.82 $27.64
diesel $5.64 $15.93 $31.86

Estimated Tolls: $1.86

Florida's Turnpike (26.6 mi) $1.86

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

$12

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.5 0 $7.53 $3.44
Efficient EV 17.9 0 $6.27 $2.87
EV Truck/SUV 28.7 0 $10.04 $4.59

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Highland Beach, FL

Night in Highland Beach on Saturday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live forecast

Destination

Port Saint Lucie, FL

Night in Port Saint Lucie on Saturday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live forecast

Along the Route

70°F

Fort Lauderdale, FL

36 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

16 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 29m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Highland Beach, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL covers 71.7 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Florida's Turnpike, South Ocean 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 35.8 miles from Highland Beach, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.98 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 71.7 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 2.8 miles (East Linton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Highland Beach, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs point toward Orlando and Florida's Turnpike North.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Port Saint Lucie, FL to Highland Beach, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

71.3 mi 1h 28m

Explore more options from Highland Beach, FL or browse trips ending in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

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