Origin
Carrollwood, FL
Morning in Carrollwood on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carrollwood, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
250.2 mi
403 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carrollwood, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Carrollwood to Fort Lauderdale is 250.2 miles and takes about 5h 6m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the Tampa Bay area to the South Florida coast. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. Expect a relatively quick commute with most of your time spent on major roadways. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without much fuss.
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
125.1 miles from Carrollwood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 125.3 mi | 2h 15m |
| FL 60 | 61.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 4 | 17.4 mi | 18m |
| Polk Parkway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| I 95 | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Bartow Road | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| East Fowler Avenue | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| I 75 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 125.3 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrollwood, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on Carrollwood Drive
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Carrollwood Drive
2
Turn right onto Lipsey Road
354 ft
·
14 sec
·
Lipsey Road
3
Turn right onto Mc Farland Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mc Farland Road
4
Continue on Lake Ridge Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lake Ridge Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Ellen Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Ellen Drive
6
Turn right onto North Armenia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Armenia Avenue
7
Continue on North Armenia Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Armenia Avenue
8
Turn left onto West Country Club Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Country Club Drive
9
Turn right onto North Forest Hills Drive
176 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Forest Hills Drive
10
Turn left onto Braeside Place
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Braeside Place
11
Turn right onto Country Club Drive
494 ft
·
13 sec
·
Country Club Drive
12
Enter roundabout onto Country Club Drive
68 ft
·
4 sec
·
Country Club Drive
13
Continue on Country Club Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Country Club Drive
14
Continue on East Fowler Avenue
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
East Fowler Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South: Naples
16
Merge onto I 75
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 75
17
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 261
Toward I 4: Tampa, Orlando
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 4
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 27
Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on FL 570 Toll
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 10
Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto US 98
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
25
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
FL 60
27
Continue on FL 60
11 mi
·
13 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on FL 60
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on FL 60
46 mi
·
59 min
·
FL 60
Use the left lane.
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on this road
295 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
125 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
35
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft
·
15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
36
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
37
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northwest 16th Avenue
38
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Andrews Avenue
39
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
40
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
41
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
44
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
45
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive from Carrollwood in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive in Fort Lauderdale with ample daylight. While the drive is manageable in one day, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch without a break is over 125 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so be mindful of that. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $40, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway segments.
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 125.1 miles from Carrollwood, FL, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.3 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 55 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.1 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
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 Carrollwood, 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 Carrollwood, FL
This is one driving day of about 250.2 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Carrollwood, 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.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 125.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.1 miles from Carrollwood, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 315 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 237.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 4: Tampa, Orlando
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 261
Toward I 4: Tampa, Orlando
8
31.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
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 27
Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
8
41.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
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 10
Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
8
111.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
8
237.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther Kin...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.83 one way
$79.65 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $43.32 | $86.64 |
| premium | $4.72 | $46.52 | $93.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.24 | $110.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.77
Florida's Turnpike
(125.3 mi)
$8.77
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
$40
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.1 | 0 | $26.27 | $12.01 |
| Efficient EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.89 | $10.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.1 | 1 | $35.03 | $16.01 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Eagle Lake, FL
125 mi in
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
5 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
5h 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on Florida's Turnpike, including a continuous stretch of 125.3 miles. The primary roads also include FL 60 and I 4, indicating a mix of toll roads and interstates. The overall feel is one of consistent forward motion, designed for efficiency rather than leisurely sightseeing. Be prepared for a steady pace as you navigate these well-traveled corridors.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.3 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 31 significant decision points across 250.2 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 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Carrollwood, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven, Bartow and Florida's Turnpike South: Miami.
Winter Haven
31.5 mi in
|
~44m
Bartow
41.3 mi in
|
~56m
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
111.7 mi in
|
~2h 28m
About the Cities
Arriving in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Full guide →Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean in the US state of Florida. It is known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive canal system. Situated in Broward County in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area, the city's population is over 180,000 (2021). The city is most famous for its beaches and boats, and while the city of Fort Lauderdale is relatively small in area, the term 'Fort Lauderdale' is often used to refer to the larger metropolis that has grown up around it. It is the county seat for Broward county, and is part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area, which has over 6.1 million people (2019).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 250.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.77 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fort Lauderdale, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Lauderdale, FL before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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