Origin
Wesley Chapel, FL
Morning in Wesley Chapel on Monday
Local time
11:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wesley Chapel, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Drive Time
4h 15m
Distance
279.9 mi
451 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wesley Chapel, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Wesley Chapel, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 279.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Shelley Drive, Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Morris Bridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.76 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
140 miles from Wesley Chapel, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 15m drive with frequent turns across 279.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Shelley Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wesley Chapel, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shelley Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wesley Chapel Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Morris Bridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chancey Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Paul S Buchman Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alexander Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Paul Buchman Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 4 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Shelley Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wesley Chapel, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on Benjamin Drive
197 ft
·
14 sec
·
Benjamin Drive
2
Turn left onto Shelley Drive
463 ft
·
22 sec
·
Shelley Drive
3
Turn right onto Wesley Chapel Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Wesley Chapel Boulevard
4
Continue on Wesley Chapel Boulevard
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Wesley Chapel Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Morris Bridge Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Morris Bridge Road
6
Turn left onto Chancey Road
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Chancey Road
7
Turn right onto Paul S Buchman Highway
9.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Paul S Buchman Highway
8
Continue on Alexander Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Alexander Street
9
Turn left onto Paul Buchman Highway
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Paul Buchman Highway
10
Turn slight right
184 ft
·
7 sec
11
Take the ramp straight toward I 4 East: Orlando
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 4 East: Orlando
12
Merge slight left
4.7 mi
·
4 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
14
Continue on Polk Parkway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Polk Parkway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
16
Turn right onto Bartow Road
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Bartow Road
17
Continue on Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
18
Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
19
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
20
Continue straight
11 mi
·
13 min
21
Continue straight
4.3 mi
·
5 min
22
Continue straight
46 mi
·
59 min
23
Take the exit left
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
24
Continue straight
295 ft
·
7 sec
25
Keep slight right to continue on Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
26
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
125 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
27
Take the exit slight right toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
28
Keep slight left to continue on East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
253 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
29
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
30
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northwest 16th Avenue
31
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Andrews Avenue
32
Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard
495 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Atlantic Boulevard
33
Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Miami
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 95 South: Miami
34
Merge slight left
7.2 mi
·
8 min
35
Take the exit slight right toward FL 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
FL 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
36
Turn left onto West Broward Boulevard
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Broward Boulevard
37
Continue on East Broward Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Broward Boulevard
38
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 140 miles from Wesley Chapel, FL, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
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 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140 miles or 2h 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 3h 29m
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 Wesley Chapel, 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 Wesley Chapel, FL
This is one driving day of about 279.9 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wesley Chapel, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140 mi from Wesley Chapel, FL · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140 miles from Wesley Chapel, 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
$46.76 one way
$93.51 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $50.65 | $101.29 |
| premium | $4.90 | $53.95 | $107.90 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.18 | $124.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84 | 1 | $29.39 | $13.44 |
| Efficient EV | 70 | 0 | $24.49 | $11.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112 | 1 | $39.19 | $17.91 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Monday
Local time
11:33 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
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 15m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Wesley Chapel, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL covers 279.9 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Shelley Drive, Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Morris Bridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140 miles from Wesley Chapel, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wesley Chapel, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wesley Chapel, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Wesley Chapel, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
244.8 mi
5h 4m
Continue From Fort Lauderdale, FL
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