Origin
Coral Gables, FL
Morning in Coral Gables on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Coral Gables, 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
47m
Distance
33.6 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coral Gables, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Coral Gables to Fort Lauderdale, you are looking at a quick 33.7-mile trip that typically takes about 44 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single day, as it is short enough to handle in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel for the trek. You will be navigating through Florida’s urban landscape, utilizing a combination of the South Dixie Highway, I-95 North, and FL-842. Since both cities are located within the same region, the drive feels like a familiar transition between South Florida hubs rather than a long-distance expedition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 26.5 mi | 33m |
| South Dixie Highway | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| West Broward Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East Broward Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 26.5 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coral Gables, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on US 1
302 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Dixie Highway
2
Continue on US 1
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
South Dixie Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 95; US 1
Toward I 95 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
465 ft
·
11 sec
Toward SR 842 East
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto SR 842
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broward Boulevard
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.8 miles from Coral Gables, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1 / South Dixie Highway
Continue onto US 1 / South Dixie Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 95; US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1 toward I 95 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North
6
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
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 SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
7
31.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 842 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward SR 842 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.35 one way
$10.70 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| premium | $4.72 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.42 | $14.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a wide-open highway cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on traditional highways, as the route relies heavily on local roads and city streets to bridge the gap between Coral Gables and Fort Lauderdale. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on the South Dixie Highway, you should be prepared for frequent stops, turns, and the typical stop-and-go rhythm of urban traffic. This is not a route for high-speed cruising; instead, it is a technical, low-mileage drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the local infrastructure.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and South Dixie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 1 / South Dixie Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 7 decision points packed into just 33.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 1 / South Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (I 95; US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Coral Gables, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
30.6 mi in
|
~41m
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 47m. Total distance: 33.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.5 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 1 / South Dixie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (I 95; US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Lauderdale, FL before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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