Trip from Sunshine Ranches, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL

Drive Time

2h 2m

Distance

100.9 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 54m ★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m

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

Downtown Sunshine Ranches, FL, FL

Sunshine Ranches, FL

Gerzon Piñata

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Sunshine Ranches to Port Saint Lucie, expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 103.9 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local roads like Stirling Road, South University Drive, and Griffin Road rather than relying on high-speed interstates. Budgeting around $17 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since this route stays entirely within Florida, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the suburban outskirts of Sunshine Ranches toward the coastal landscape of Port Saint Lucie.

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

50.5 miles from Sunshine Ranches, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because 0% of this route involves highway travel, you will be navigating through frequent intersections and local traffic patterns rather than cruising at high speeds. The journey lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you should anticipate a constant pace of stop-and-go driving. This personality makes the trip feel more like a series of connected local segments than a singular open road experience. Staying alert is essential, as the reliance on local roads like Griffin Road keeps the driving dynamic and interactive from start to finish.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 88.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

26 ft -2 ft

Total Climb

51 ft

Total Descent

41 ft

Highest Point

26 ft

~92.5 mi in

Elevation Range

28 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and Stirling Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Stirling Road.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 2m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Stirling Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (SR 818 / Griffin Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 97.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 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 | Stirling Road

Turn left onto Stirling Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
6.3 mi into trip | ~12m in | SR 818 / Griffin Road

Turn right onto SR 818 / Griffin Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
97.6 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in

Take the exit toward Port Saint Lucie

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 142 Toward Port Saint Lucie
6
98.5 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard

Turn right onto FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
99.3 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in | CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard

Turn left onto CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / uturn lanes.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Sunshine Ranches, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando along the way.

Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando

8.6 mi in | ~16m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Florida's Turnpike 88.6 mi 1h 38m
Stirling Road 4.8 mi 9m
Griffin Road 2.3 mi 4m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard 1.6 mi 2m
South University Drive 1.3 mi 2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Southwest 136th Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Florida's Turnpike — 88.6 mi, about 1h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sunshine Ranches, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.

1

Start on Southwest 136th Avenue

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Southwest 136th Avenue
2

Turn left onto Stirling Road

4.8 mi · 9 min · Stirling Road
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto SR 817

1.3 mi · 2 min · South University Drive
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto SR 818

2.3 mi · 4 min · Griffin Road
Use the right lane.
5

Turn left

269 ft · 6 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando Use the straight / left lanes.
7

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

89 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 142 Toward Port Saint Lucie Use the right lane.
9

Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard

483 ft · 15 sec · Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
10

Turn right onto FL 716

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11

Turn left onto CR 615

1.6 mi · 2 min · Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
12

Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue

215 ft · 9 sec · Southwest Carter Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

Southwest Carter Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Given that the entire 103.9-mile route is comprised of local roads, traffic density will be your primary variable; try to avoid peak commuting hours to keep your travel time closer to the 1-hour and 41-minute estimate. You won't need to plan for formal stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Sunshine Ranches to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station mid-route. One concrete tip: because you are sticking to local roads, ensure your GPS is set to avoid highway routes if you want to stick strictly to the intended path. Keeping your focus on navigation is key, as the frequent turns require more vigilance than a standard interstate drive.

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 50.5 miles from Sunshine Ranches, FL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.6 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 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.5 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint Lucie, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sunshine Ranches, 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 Sunshine Ranches, FL

This is one driving day of about 100.9 miles and 2h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sunshine Ranches, 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 88.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.5 mi from Sunshine Ranches, FL · 1h 3m into the drive

Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Lauderdale, FL

50 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

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.5 miles from Sunshine Ranches, 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 88.6 miles.

Arriving in Port Saint Lucie, FL

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.86 one way

$33.71 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $18.26 $36.51
premium $4.90 $19.45 $38.90
diesel $5.64 $22.42 $44.83

Estimated Tolls: $6.20

Florida's Turnpike (88.6 mi) $6.20

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

$17

Tolls

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.3 0 $10.59 $4.84
Efficient EV 25.2 0 $8.83 $4.04
EV Truck/SUV 40.4 0 $14.13 $6.46

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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 21 hours ago

Origin

Sunshine Ranches, FL

Afternoon in Sunshine Ranches on Sunday

Local time

4:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Port Saint Lucie, FL

Afternoon in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday

Local time

4:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

7 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

2h 2m 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 Sunshine Ranches, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL covers 100.9 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, Stirling Road, Griffin Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.5 miles from Sunshine Ranches, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.86 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 2h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Stirling Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (SR 818 / Griffin Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 97.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Sunshine Ranches, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Sunshine Ranches, FL or browse trips ending in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.

Explore maps for Sunshine Ranches, FL or Port Saint Lucie, FL on MapSof.net.