Fort Walton Beach, FL Road Trips
Sitting in Florida, Fort Walton Beach, FL is a local road trip base with 8 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 455 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Fort Walton Beach, FL head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
8
Longest Drive
625.5 mi
Miramar, FL
Quickest Drive
5h 54m
Gainesville, FL
Plan Around Fort Walton Beach, FL
Continue From Fort Walton Beach, FL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Fort Walton Beach, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Miramar, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Palm Bay, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Tampa, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Lakeland, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Orlando, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Jacksonville, FL
Fort Walton Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL
Driving from Fort Walton Beach, FL
On average, trips departing from Fort Walton Beach, FL run 455 miles with a drive time of roughly 8h 30m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 626 miles (11h 32m), while the shortest is just 310 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Fort Walton Beach, FL most often head toward Miramar, FL (625.5 mi, 11h 32m), Fort Lauderdale, FL (618 mi, 11h 25m), Palm Bay, FL (481.8 mi, 9h 5m), Tampa, FL (435.1 mi, 8h 4m), and Lakeland, FL (426.9 mi, 8h 11m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in FL currently averages around $4.15 per gallon. For the typical 455-mile trip from Fort Walton Beach, FL, budget about $74 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 8 mapped routes leaving Fort Walton Beach, FL and 0 routes heading into Fort Walton Beach, FL, covering 8 total connections. Distances range from 310 to 626 miles.
The longest mapped route from Fort Walton Beach, FL covers 626 miles and takes approximately 11h 32m. Shorter options start at just 310 miles.
The average route from Fort Walton Beach, FL runs about 455 miles with a drive time of roughly 8h 30m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.15/gallon for regular), the average 455-mile trip from Fort Walton Beach, FL costs roughly $74 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Fort Walton Beach, FL include Miramar, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Palm Bay, FL and Tampa, FL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Fort Walton Beach, FL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
20,956
Median Income
$66,556
Median Home Value
$296,000
Median Age
39.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Fort Walton Beach, FL at a Glance
Founded
1941
Elevation
7 ft
Area
8 mi²
Notable People from Fort Walton Beach, FL
A sampling of people born in Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Brian Marshall
1973
American bassist
Alexa Guarachi
1990
Chilean tennis player
Aric Almirola
1984
racecar driver
Jason Elam
1970
player of American football
Tom Hammonds
1967
American basketball player
Demetria McKinney
1979
American actress and singer (born 1979)
Matt Moore
1989
American baseball player
Ray Sansom
1962
American politician
Danny Wuerffel
1974
American football player (born 1974)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Santa Rosa Island Range Complex
City data from Wikidata (Q984368), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Fort Walton Beach, FL
Fort Walton Beach is a small city in the Emerald Coast region of Florida, 40 miles east of Pensacola.
1 The Gulfarium, 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway, ☏ +1 850-243-9046, toll-free: +1-800-247-8575. Admissions are open from 9AM until 4PM. Park closes at 6PM. 2 Indian Temple Mound and Museum, 139 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE. Aug-May M-F 10AM-4:30PM; Jun-Jul M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM, Su noon-4:30PM. 3 Air Force Armament Museum, 100 Museum Dr (Eglin Air Force Base), ☏ +1 850 882-4062, [email protected]. M-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM. Free. (updated Jul 2018)
Visit the beach. Billy Bowlegs Festival. Pirate-themed street party early each June. (updated Jun 2020)
Ft. Walton Beach has many restaurants, including: Anglers, 1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy (by the base of the pier on Okaloosa Island), ☏ +1 850 796-0260. (updated Jun 2020)
1 Beal House Fort Walton Beachfront, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, 380 Santa Rosa Boulevard, ☏ +1 850 243-9444, toll-free: +1-877-243-9444, fax: +1 850 243-5445. Comfort Inn & Suites, 137 Miracle Strip Pkwy, ☏ +1 850 362-6700. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 2 Hampton Inn, 1112 Santa Rosa Blvd, ☏ +1 850 301-0906. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. The Island, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy, toll-free: +1-800-874-8962, [email protected]. Super 8, 333 Miracle Strip Pkwy, ☏ +1 850 344-9944. Some rooms with jacuzzi tubs. (updated Jun 2020)
1 Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS IATA). Serves Fort Walton Beach and nearby Valparaiso. American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, United Express serve the airport. US 98 connects Fort Walton Beach with Pensacola and Panama City. It also connects with nearby Destin. Florida 85 connects the area with I-10.
Fort Walton Beach has two main arterials. The Miracle Strip Parkway (US 98) travels along the seacoast and through Eglin Air Force Base, and the Eglin Parkway (Florida SR 85) links the city with Okaloosa Regional Airport.
Travel tips adapted from Fort Walton Beach on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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