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Trip from De Leon Springs, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 5m

Distance

160.7 mi

259 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 54m ★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 59m

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

Downtown De Leon Springs, FL, FL

De Leon Springs, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Trip Overview

De Leon Springs to Port Saint Lucie is 160.7 miles and takes about 3h 5m via I 95 and State Road 44, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Florida, making it a convenient option for those looking to travel between these two points efficiently. The majority of your journey will be on the interstate, offering a consistent pace. If you're seeking a no-fuss trip with minimal navigation challenges, this route fits the bill. Plan for a single day, as the relatively short duration and direct path make an overnight stay unnecessary.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.3 miles from De Leon Springs, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 128.3 mi 2h 17m
East New York Avenue 9.8 mi 13m
State Road 44 8.3 mi 9m
North US Highway 17 6.4 mi 9m
Crosstown Parkway 4.3 mi 7m
East Plymouth Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Blue Lake Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 128.3 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between De Leon Springs, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.

1

Start on Wheeler Street

318 ft · 15 sec · Wheeler Street
2

Turn right onto US 17

6.4 mi · 9 min · North US Highway 17
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto East Plymouth Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Plymouth Avenue
4

Continue on Blue Lake Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Blue Lake Avenue
5

Turn left onto FL 44

0.9 mi · 1 min · East New York Avenue
6

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 44

194 ft · 4 sec · East New York Avenue
7

Continue on FL 44

125 ft · 4 sec · East New York Avenue
8

Keep slight right at fork onto FL 44

8.8 mi · 11 min · East New York Avenue
9

Continue on FL 44

8.3 mi · 9 min · State Road 44
10

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
11

Merge onto I 95

128 mi · 2 hr 17 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 120 Toward Crosstown Parkway Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn left onto Crosstown Parkway

4.3 mi · 7 min · Crosstown Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn right onto CR 615

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Southeast Airoso Boulevard
15

Turn right onto Southwest Carter Avenue

215 ft · 9 sec · Southwest Carter Avenue
16

Arrive at destination

Southwest Carter Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 3h 5m duration, departing in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Port Saint Lucie with ample time to settle in. With only one recommended stop and a total of 160.7 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. The longest uninterrupted stretch on I 95 is 128.3 miles, so plan your fuel needs accordingly before you get too far down that highway. Consider leaving early to avoid any potential midday traffic delays, especially as you approach the Port Saint Lucie area.

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 80.3 miles from De Leon Springs, FL, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.3 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 35 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 80.3 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 30m

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 De Leon Springs, 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 De Leon Springs, FL

This is one driving day of about 160.7 miles and 3h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from De Leon Springs, 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 I 95 for about 128.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Volusia County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New Smyrna Beach, FL

80 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.

Popular next leg

New Smyrna Beach, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL

137.8 mi · 2h 35m

Pacing Suggestions

Mims, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cocoa Beach, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.3 miles from De Leon Springs, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.3 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 160.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 17 / North US Highway 17

Turn right onto US 17 / North US Highway 17

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
27.6 mi into trip | ~39m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
155.8 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in

Take the exit toward Crosstown Parkway

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 120 Toward Crosstown Parkway
5
156.2 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in | Crosstown Parkway

Turn left onto Crosstown Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
160.6 mi into trip | ~3h 5m in | Southwest Carter Avenue

Turn right onto Southwest Carter Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.58 one way

$51.16 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $27.83 $55.65
premium $4.72 $29.88 $59.76
diesel $5.61 $35.48 $70.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.2 0 $16.87 $7.71
Efficient EV 40.2 0 $14.06 $6.43
EV Truck/SUV 64.3 0 $22.50 $10.28

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

De Leon Springs, FL

Morning in De Leon Springs on Sunday

Local time

10:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Port Saint Lucie, FL

Morning in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday

Local time

10:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Mostly Sunny

E 5 to 10 mph 0% chance 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

23 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

3h 5m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Canaveral National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore

National Seashore

Discover a dynamic barrier island shaped by dunes, coastal hammocks, and Mosquito Lagoon. Walk among ancient Timucua shell mounds and connect with thousands of years of human history. Immerse yourself...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour $25 near mile 44.7
Caution: Pavement Project- Playalinda District
Park Closure: Limited Access to Apollo District Parking Lots 2 and 3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 86% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 95. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 128.3 miles on I 95, providing a continuous, high-speed segment. The initial part of the drive involves East New York Avenue and State Road 44 before merging onto the interstate. Expect a consistent feel for most of the trip, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel. It’s a route designed for covering ground rather than exploring winding backroads.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.3 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and East New York Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 17 / North US Highway 17.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 160.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 17 / North US Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 160.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 128.3 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 17 / North US Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Canaveral National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Port Saint Lucie, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore more options from De Leon Springs, FL or browse trips ending in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

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