Fern Park to Fort Lauderdale is 221.2 miles and takes about 4h 13m via Florida's Turnpike and I-95, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, connecting two distinct regions of the state. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single-day excursion, especially if you're looking to get to your destination efficiently. The bulk of the mileage is on major highways, making it a predictable and generally quick transit.
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
110.6 miles from Fern Park, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
191.2 mi
3h 26m
I 4
11.3 mi
14m
I 95
7.2 mi
8m
US 17 Truck
2.2 mi
3m
West Broward Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
US 17
0.7 mi
1m
North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 191.2 mi, about 3h 26m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,148 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,164
Quietest
2 AM
~297 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fern Park, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on Garden Edge Point
37 ft·3 sec·Garden Edge Point
2
Turn right onto US 17; US 92
0.6 mi·1 min·US 17; US 92
3
Continue on US 17; US 92
217 ft·4 sec·US 17; US 92
4
Turn slight right onto US 17 Truck; US 92 Truck
2.2 mi·3 min·US 17 Truck; US 92 Truck
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 4 West: Orlando, TampaUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 4
4.6 mi·6 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 84BToward Ivanhoe BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
9
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·34 sec·this road
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
10
Merge onto I 4
6.7 mi·8 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 77Toward Miami, OcalaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
191 mi·3 hr 26 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft·15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Northwest 16th Avenue
19
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Andrews Avenue
20
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft·16 sec·West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
22
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi·8 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 27Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi·3 min·West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to take a break when needed, but a single stop should suffice given the duration. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 191.2-mile segment on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be more spread out on longer highway stretches. Planning your fuel stops in advance can save you time and ensure a smooth arrival in Fort Lauderdale.
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 110.6 miles from Fern Park, FL, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191.2 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 49 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.6 miles or 2h 6m 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 23m
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 Fern Park, 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 Fern Park, FL
This is one driving day of about 221.2 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Fern Park, 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 191.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 218.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 4 West: Orlando, Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 4 West: Orlando, Tampa
8
15.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Ocala
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 77
Toward Miami, Ocala
8
16.4 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South, Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Miami
8
208.1 mi into trip|~3h 52m 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...
8
218.7 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.57 one way
$71.13 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$38.80
$77.59
premium
$4.78
$41.64
$83.29
diesel
$6.28
$54.66
$109.31
Estimated Tolls: $13.39
Florida's Turnpike
(191.2 mi)$13.39
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
$36
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.36
$8.85
EV Truck/SUV
88.5
1
$30.97
$14.16
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Fern Park, FL
Morning
in Fern Park on Friday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNE 10 to 15 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Friday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 17 to 22 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
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
6 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 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 96% of the total distance covered on major roads. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 191.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike, meaning extended periods of high-speed cruising. Expect frequent exits and potential for urban merging as you approach the Fort Lauderdale area. The transition from the highway to surface roads will happen very late in your drive.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 191.2 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 221.2 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
107 ft2 ft
Total Climb
18 ft
Total Descent
115 ft
Highest Point
107 ft
~15.8 mi in
Elevation Range
105 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fern Park, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Miami, Ocala and Florida's Turnpike South.
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).
Top landmarks
•Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale — art museum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
•Bryan Building — building in Florida, United States
•North Woodlawn Cemetery — cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 221.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 191.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.39 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.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Lauderdale, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
