Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Afternoon in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Drive Time
6h 1m
Distance
321.6 mi
518 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
Jacksonville, FL
Mike Jones
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale covers 326.8 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 43 minutes. This journey is best tackled as a single-day trip, as it is manageable for most drivers to complete in one go. You should budget approximately $53 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Florida cities. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you will spend your time navigating through city streets rather than cruising on major freeways. Planning for a single stop will help break up the journey and keep you refreshed behind the wheel. It is a straightforward route that moves you from Northeast Florida down into the southern region of the state.
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
160.8 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a very different experience than a typical highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. Instead, you will be navigating via local thoroughfares like Newnan Street, East Forsyth Street, and Main Street. Because the drive is turn-heavy, you will need to stay alert and ready for frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, monotonous stretch. In fact, your longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Newnan Street, highlighting the stop-and-go nature of this local transit. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that demands your full attention as you transition between these urban corridors.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 226.7 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 2.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 321.6 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 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 221.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Daytona Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 95 South: Daytona Beach
8
221.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce
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 129
Toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce
8
223.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
8
308.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 40m in
Take the exit toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
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 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther Kin...
8
319.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 55m in
Take the exit toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
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 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Towns Along This Route
Between Jacksonville, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Fort Pierce, Miami and Florida's Turnpike South.
Fort Pierce
221.9 mi in
|
~4h 3m
Miami
223.2 mi in
|
~4h 6m
Florida's Turnpike South
223.2 mi in
|
~4h 6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 226.7 mi | 4h 5m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 84.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| West Broward Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 1 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Andrews Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Okeechobee Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 226.7 mi, about 4h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on US 17
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Union Street
2
Turn right onto Newnan Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Newnan Street
3
Turn right onto FL 228
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Forsyth Street
4
Turn left onto US 1; US 90
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Take the ramp onto US 1; US 90
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 90
Toward I 95 South
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 1
Toward I 95, US 1 South, FL 5 South: Daytona Beach, Philips Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 95 South: Daytona Beach
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 95
219 mi
·
3 hr 57 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 129
Toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
492 ft
·
12 sec
Toward FL 70 West: Okeechobee
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto FL 70
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Okeechobee Road
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Use the left / uturn lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
85 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft
·
15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northwest 16th Avenue
19
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Andrews Avenue
20
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
22
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
Since this is a technical, turn-heavy drive, plan to depart early in the day to avoid peak congestion on local streets. While the 4-hour and 43-minute duration is manageable, remember that the lack of highway miles means your average speed will be lower than expected. Use your one planned stop to stretch your legs and reset, as the constant navigation requires more focus than a standard interstate commute. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $53 estimate assumes consistent movement through city traffic. A pro tip for this specific route is to preload your navigation system with the exact street sequence of Newnan, Forsyth, and Main, as the heavy turn density can make manual navigation challenging.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.8 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.7 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.8 miles or 2h 57m 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 51m
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 Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 321.6 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jacksonville, 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 I 95 for about 226.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.8 mi from Jacksonville, FL · 2h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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 160.8 miles from Jacksonville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 226.7 miles.
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.
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
$53.72 one way
$107.44 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $58.19 | $116.38 |
| premium | $4.90 | $61.99 | $123.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.45 | $142.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.94
Florida's Turnpike
(84.9 mi)
$5.94
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
$54
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.5 | 1 | $33.77 | $15.44 |
| Efficient EV | 80.4 | 0 | $28.14 | $12.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.6 | 1 | $45.02 | $20.58 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Afternoon in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
4 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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jacksonville, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 321.6 miles and takes about 6h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Florida's Turnpike, West 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 160.8 miles from Jacksonville, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 23 significant decision points across 321.6 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 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 221.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jacksonville, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Fort Pierce, Miami and Florida's Turnpike South.
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Return Trip
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Jacksonville, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
318.5 mi
5h 59m
Continue From Fort Lauderdale, FL
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