The drive from Pembroke Pines, FL to Fort Walton Beach, FL covers 624.4 miles and takes about 11h 30m 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, I 10, I 75 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 258.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $99.39 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
312.2 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 41m into the drive
.
Drive Character
At 624.4 miles and 11h 30m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Florida's Turnpike and I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Florida's Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 258.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 624.4 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 259.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
7
259.7 mi into trip|~4h 44m in|Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
8
366.9 mi into trip|~6h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
367.1 mi into trip|~6h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pembroke Pines, FL to Fort Walton Beach, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.
Tallahassee
366.9 mi in|~6h 39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
258.5 mi
4h 41m
I 10
226.4 mi
4h 2m
I 75
106.9 mi
1h 54m
FL 285
17.6 mi
23m
FL 85
10.6 mi
17m
East John Sims Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
John Sims Parkway
0.6 mi
1m
Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 258.5 mi, about 4h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pembroke Pines, FL and Fort Walton Beach, FL.
1
Start on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·58 sec·Southwest 8th Street
2
Continue on Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
3
Turn right onto SR 820
0.2 mi·31 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, OrlandoUse the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
6
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
258 mi·4 hr 40 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 10
226 mi·4 hr 2 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 70Toward FL 285: Niceville, Eglin AFB
13
Turn left onto FL 285
18 mi·23 min·FL 285
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto FL 20
0.8 mi·1 min·East John Sims Parkway
15
Continue on FL 20
0.6 mi·1 min·John Sims Parkway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 85
11 mi·17 min·FL 85
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto Yacht Club Drive
0.3 mi·43 sec·Yacht Club Drive
18
Turn sharp left onto FL 189
0.2 mi·22 sec·Beal Parkway Northwest
19
Turn right onto Williams Street Northwest
0.2 mi·55 sec·Williams Street Northwest
20
At end of road, turn left onto Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
153 ft·6 sec·Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
21
Arrive at destination
Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
Trip Plan
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 312.2 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL, or about 5h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258.5 miles.
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 137 miles or 2h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 312.2 miles or 5h 41m 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 312.2 miles or 5h 41m
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 10h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Walton Beach, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pembroke Pines, 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 Pembroke Pines, FL
Aim for roughly 312 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fort Walton Beach, FL
Aim for roughly 312 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 137 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 258.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 312.2 mi from Pembroke Pines, FL
· 5h 41m into the drive
The midpoint is around 312.2 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 258.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 312 miles or 5.8 hours on the road.
Arriving in Fort Walton Beach, FL
The final approach into Fort Walton Beach, 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 Walton Beach, FL.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Fort Walton Beach, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Coffee Stop
Prairie House Coffee Co
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Oakland, Florida
Around the midpoint, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 223
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$99.39 one way
$198.78 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg219 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$108.11
$216.23
premium
$4.72
$116.10
$232.21
diesel
$5.61
$137.86
$275.72
Estimated Tolls: $18.08
Florida's Turnpike
(258.3 mi)$18.08
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
$99
Tolls
$18
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$247–$357
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 218.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
25 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
Blink
1 DCFC
Hampton Inn Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Gainesville, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Gainesville, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Clermont, Florida
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Oxford, Florida
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Lake City, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
Other: 7
ChargePoint: 5
Tesla: 5
Blink: 3
Tesla Destination: 2
Electrify America: 2
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $66 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
187.3
2
$65.56
$29.97
Efficient EV
156.1
1
$54.64
$24.98
EV Truck/SUV
249.8
3
$87.42
$39.96
Gas CO2
218 kg
EV CO2
73 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Pembroke Pines, FL
Night
in Pembroke Pines on Thursday
Local time
10:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Night
in Fort Walton Beach on Thursday
Local time
9:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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.
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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
11h 30m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pembroke Pines, FL to Fort Walton Beach, FL covers 624.4 miles and takes about 11h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, I 10, I 75. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 312 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 312.2 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $99.39 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 3 meaningful breaks 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 17 significant decision points across 624.4 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 259.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Pembroke Pines, FL to Fort Walton Beach, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.
