Origin
Mexico Beach, FL
Morning in Mexico Beach on Monday
Local time
11:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
9h 16m
Distance
447.6 mi
720 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$75
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
The drive from Mexico Beach, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL covers 447.6 miles and takes about 9h 16m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, Byron Butler Parkway, Coastal Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $74.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
223.8 miles from Mexico Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 6m into the drive .
This is a 9h 16m highway drive covering 447.6 miles, with most of the trip on Florida's Turnpike and Byron Butler Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 165.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and Byron Butler Parkway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 84.9 miles in near US 98; US 319 / Coastal Highway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 447.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 84.9 miles (US 98; US 319 / Coastal Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 253.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 278.9 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 98; US 319 / Coastal Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Between Mexico Beach, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
Florida's Turnpike South
Orlando
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 165.2 mi | 2h 57m |
| Byron Butler Parkway | 58.3 mi | 1h 14m |
| Coastal Highway | 54.4 mi | 1h 10m |
| US 27 Alternate | 48 mi | 1h 1m |
| Market Street | 43.1 mi | 1h 4m |
| US 98 | 35.2 mi | 52m |
| I 75 | 24.7 mi | 26m |
| US 19 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Mexico Beach, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.
Start on South 32nd Street
Turn right onto US 98
Turn right onto US 98
Continue on US 319
Turn left onto US 98; US 319
Turn right onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate; US 221 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Turn left onto US 27 Alternate
Take the exit
Merge onto I 75
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 716
Turn left onto CR 615
Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 2h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 223.8 miles or 5h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 223.8 miles or 5h 6m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint Lucie, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Mexico 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mexico Beach, FL
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Port Saint Lucie, FL
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 223.8 mi from Mexico Beach, FL · 5h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
224 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Lake City, FLNight 1
224 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Lake City, FL after about 224 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 98 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 223.8 miles from Mexico Beach, 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 165.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 224 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Port Saint Lucie, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Regular Gas
$74.77 one way
$149.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $80.99 | $161.98 |
| premium | $4.90 | $86.28 | $172.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $99.44 | $198.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $11.56
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
$75
Tolls
$12
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 156.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 134.3 | 1 | $47.00 | $21.48 |
| Efficient EV | 111.9 | 1 | $39.17 | $17.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 179 | 2 | $62.66 | $28.65 |
Gas CO2
157 kg
EV CO2
52 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Mexico Beach on Monday
Local time
11:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Port Saint Lucie on Monday
Local time
12:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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