Skip to main content

Trip from Plantation, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

15m

Distance

7.6 mi

12 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 14m ★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Broward County, Florida, United States

Plantation, FL

Wikimedia Commons

city ​​in Broward County, Florida, United States

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 7.6-mile drive from Plantation, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 15 minutes. With no highway driving, expect a local feel throughout. The estimated fuel cost is around $1, making it very budget-friendly. This route is best suited for a quick, straightforward transit between these two South Florida locations, offering a direct connection without the need for an overnight stay. Consider this a simple urban hop rather than an extended road trip.

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

3.8 miles from Plantation, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating numerous intersections and city streets. With 0% highway share, anticipate a consistent pace dictated by traffic signals and local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.1 miles along West Sunrise Boulevard. You'll primarily be on West Sunrise Boulevard, Northwest 9th Avenue, and West Broward Boulevard, so be prepared for a driving experience that requires constant attention to turns and surrounding traffic.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Sunrise Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 5.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8 Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8 Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Northwest 65th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 838 / West Sunrise Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 8 Street

Turn right onto 8 Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Northwest 65th Avenue

Turn right onto Northwest 65th Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | SR 838 / West Sunrise Boulevard

Turn right onto SR 838 / West Sunrise Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
5.6 mi into trip | ~10m in | Northwest 9th Avenue

Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
7.4 mi into trip | ~14m in | SR 842 / East Broward Boulevard

Continue onto SR 842 / East Broward Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Sunrise Boulevard 5.1 mi 9m
Northwest 9th Avenue 1 mi 1m
West Broward Boulevard 0.8 mi 2m
8 Street 0.2 mi <1m
Northwest 65th Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
East Broward Boulevard 0.2 mi <1m
Garden Court 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: West Sunrise Boulevard — 5.1 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plantation, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.

1

Start on Garden Court

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Garden Court
2

Turn right onto 8 Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · 8 Street
3

Turn right onto Northwest 65th Avenue

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Northwest 65th Avenue
4

Turn right onto SR 838

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Sunrise Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on SR 838

4.0 mi · 7 min · West Sunrise Boulevard
6

Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Northwest 9th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Turn left onto SR 842

0.8 mi · 2 min · West Broward Boulevard
8

Continue on SR 842

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9

Arrive at destination

SR 842

Trip Plan

Given the brief 15-minute duration, this drive is incredibly flexible. You can depart at any time, but leaving outside of peak rush hours will ensure the smoothest experience. With only 7.6 miles and a minimal fuel cost of $1, extensive planning isn't necessary. The 'turn-heavy' nature of the route means paying close attention to your navigation is key; a good tip is to familiarize yourself with the sequence of turns on West Sunrise Boulevard, Northwest 9th Avenue, and West Broward Boulevard before you set off to minimize any unexpected delays.

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 3.8 miles from Plantation, FL, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.1 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 7.6 miles or 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 3.8 miles or 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 12m

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 Plantation, 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 Plantation, FL

This is one driving day of about 7.6 miles and 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plantation, 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 West Sunrise Boulevard for about 5.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 3.8 mi from Plantation, FL · 7m into the drive

city ​​in Broward County, Florida, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pompano Beach, FL

4 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

Hollywood, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 7.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pompano Beach, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 3.8 miles from Plantation, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.21 one way

$2.42 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $1.32 $2.63
premium $4.72 $1.41 $2.83
diesel $5.61 $1.68 $3.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.3 0 $0.80 $0.36
Efficient EV 1.9 0 $0.66 $0.30
EV Truck/SUV 3 0 $1.06 $0.49

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (67% 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

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Plantation, FL

Late night in Plantation on Wednesday

Local time

2:58 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Late night in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday

Local time

2:58 AM

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

1 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

15m 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.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Plantation, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 7.6 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Sunrise Boulevard, Northwest 9th Avenue, West Broward Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.8 miles from Plantation, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.21 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 straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8 Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Northwest 65th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 838 / West Sunrise Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Plantation, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Plantation, FL or browse trips ending in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.

Explore maps for Plantation, FL or Fort Lauderdale, FL on MapSof.net.