Origin
Pasadena Hills, FL
Afternoon in Pasadena Hills on Saturday
Local time
3:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pasadena Hills, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 1m
Distance
243.2 mi
391 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 48m
★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 11m
12 PM
5h 8m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 27m
8 PM
4h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pasadena Hills, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 243.2-mile drive from Pasadena Hills, FL, to Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours. With an estimated fuel cost of $39, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion between these two Florida locations. The route primarily utilizes Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, and Paul S Buchman Highway, making it a familiar driving experience for many. Given its manageable duration, this journey is well-suited as a day trip, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads, so prepare for a direct transit between regions within Florida.
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
121.6 miles from Pasadena Hills, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 125.3 mi | 2h 15m |
| FL 60 | 61.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| Paul S Buchman Highway | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Polk Parkway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| I 95 | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Bartow Road | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| I 4 | 4.7 mi | 4m |
| Paul Buchman Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 125.3 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pasadena Hills, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on Cullen Smith Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cullen Smith Road
2
Turn left onto Fairview Heights Road
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Fairview Heights Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 41
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Fort King Road
4
Continue on CR 41
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Fort King Road
5
Turn right onto US 301
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Gall Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Turn straight onto 6th Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
7
Turn left onto South Avenue
337 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 301
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gall Boulevard
9
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 39
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Paul S Buchman Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on FL 39
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Alexander Street
11
Turn left onto FL 39A
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Paul Buchman Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Turn slight right
182 ft
·
6 sec
13
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
14
Merge onto I 4
4.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 27
Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on FL 570 Toll
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 10
Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 98
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
20
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
FL 60
22
Continue on FL 60
11 mi
·
13 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on FL 60
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on FL 60
46 mi
·
59 min
·
FL 60
Use the left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on this road
295 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
125 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft
·
15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
31
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
32
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northwest 16th Avenue
33
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Andrews Avenue
34
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
35
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
36
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
39
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
40
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Fort Lauderdale. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace your journey. The longest stretch is over 125 miles, so plan a break around that point or slightly before if needed. Your fuel cost is estimated at $39, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Pasadena Hills. Given it's a single-day trip, you can afford to be flexible with your departure time and any brief stops you might want to make along the way.
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 121.6 miles from Pasadena Hills, FL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.3 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 54 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.6 miles or 2h 42m 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 6m
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 Pasadena Hills, 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 Pasadena Hills, FL
This is one driving day of about 243.2 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Pasadena Hills, 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 125.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.6 miles from Pasadena Hills, 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 125.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 decision points cluster between mile 24.4 and 240.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
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 FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
8
34.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
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 10
Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
8
104.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
8
230.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 39m 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
240.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.71 one way
$77.42 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $42.11 | $84.22 |
| premium | $4.72 | $45.22 | $90.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.70 | $107.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.77
Florida's Turnpike
(125.3 mi)
$8.77
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
$39
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73 | 0 | $25.54 | $11.67 |
| Efficient EV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.28 | $9.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.3 | 1 | $34.05 | $15.56 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Saturday
Local time
3:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Eagle Lake, FL
122 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
13 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
5h 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 86% highway-focused drive on this route, characterized by predominantly high-speed travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 125.3 miles, which occurs on Florida's Turnpike, offering a significant period of consistent cruising. While the majority of the journey involves familiar highway conditions, the route is designed for efficiency rather than scenic exploration. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for much of the trip, with the transition between main roads providing the primary change in scenery. This highway-centric profile means you'll cover ground quickly and directly.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.3 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 243.2 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 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pasadena Hills, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven, Bartow and Florida's Turnpike South: Miami.
Winter Haven
24.4 mi in
|
~39m
Bartow
34.3 mi in
|
~50m
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
104.7 mi in
|
~2h 23m
About the Cities
Arriving in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Full guide →Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean in the US state of Florida. It is known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive canal system. Situated in Broward County in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area, the city's population is over 180,000 (2021). The city is most famous for its beaches and boats, and while the city of Fort Lauderdale is relatively small in area, the term 'Fort Lauderdale' is often used to refer to the larger metropolis that has grown up around it. It is the county seat for Broward county, and is part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area, which has over 6.1 million people (2019).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 243.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.77 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fort Lauderdale, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Lauderdale, FL before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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