Traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Bonifay spans 544.7 miles and typically requires about 9 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. Because this is a significant distance, you should plan for at least two days on the road to keep your journey manageable. You will primarily navigate via Florida's Turnpike, I-75, and I-10, making this a high-speed transit route rather than a leisurely backroads cruise. Budget approximately $91 for fuel to cover the trip. While it is technically possible to push through in one long day, splitting the drive is the most practical approach to avoid exhaustion. Moving from the southern tip of the state toward the Florida Panhandle, you will experience the shift from the densely populated urban corridor into the more rural landscapes of the north.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
272.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
240.6 mi
4h 20m
I 10
184.2 mi
3h 17m
I 75
106.9 mi
1h 54m
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
South Waukesha Street
2.1 mi
3m
Powerline Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Pompano Parkway
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.6 mi, about 4h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Bonifay, FL.
1
Start on SR 842
0.6 mi·1 min·East Broward Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi·5 min·Northwest 9th Avenue
3
Continue on SR 845
1.1 mi·2 min·Powerline Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on SR 845
2.4 mi·4 min·South Powerline Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SR 845
1.0 mi·1 min·South Pompano Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto SR 814
0.6 mi·1 min·West Atlantic Boulevard
7
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Northwest 31st Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, OrlandoUse the straight / left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
240 mi·4 hr 20 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10
184 mi·3 hr 17 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 112Toward SR 79: Bonifay, Panama City Beach
17
Turn right onto FL 79
2.1 mi·3 min·South Waukesha Street
18
Arrive at destination
FL 79
Trip Plan
To tackle this 544.7-mile trek, aim for an early morning departure to get ahead of peak traffic near Fort Lauderdale. Since you have two recommended days for the trip, plan for at least two major stops to break up the 9-hour and 57-minute duration effectively. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between major interstates where service plazas may be spaced further apart. Budgeting your $91 fuel cost ahead of time will help you focus on the road rather than the pump. A pro tip for this specific route is to monitor local traffic reports for I-75 and I-10, as these corridors are prone to congestion that can significantly impact your total travel time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 272.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 5h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 120 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 272.3 miles or 5h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 272.3 miles or 5h 3m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bonifay, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Lauderdale, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Lauderdale, FL
Aim for roughly 272 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Bonifay, FL
Aim for roughly 272 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 240.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 542.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
7
250.5 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
8
357.7 mi into trip|~6h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
357.8 mi into trip|~6h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
6
542.3 mi into trip|~9h 52m in
Take the exit toward SR 79: Bonifay, Panama City Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 112
Toward SR 79: Bonifay, Panama City Beach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.70 one way
$173.40 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg191 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$94.31
$188.63
premium
$4.72
$101.28
$202.57
diesel
$5.61
$120.26
$240.53
Estimated Tolls: $16.83
Florida's Turnpike
(240.4 mi)$16.83
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
$87
Tolls
$17
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$234–$344
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 190.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
35 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Hampton Inn Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gainesville, Florida
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Gainesville, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Gainesville, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
Pilot Flying J Charging Station
Midway, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Ocala, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 12
Other: 7
Tesla: 7
Blink: 5
Tesla Destination: 2
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
163.4
2
$57.19
$26.15
Efficient EV
136.2
1
$47.66
$21.79
EV Truck/SUV
217.9
2
$76.26
$34.86
Gas CO2
191 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bonifay, FL
Late night
in Bonifay on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9h 57m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 almost entirely interstate, with 98% of your time spent on high-speed highways. You should prepare for a heavy interstate grind, starting with a 240.6-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, which stands as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The road feels efficient and functional, designed for covering large amounts of ground quickly rather than offering winding, technical curves. As you transition from the Turnpike to I-75 and finally I-10, the traffic patterns change, but the focus remains on steady, long-distance highway driving. Expect a consistent experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic variety.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.6 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 544.7 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 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 357.7 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.
On the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Bonifay, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.
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).
The longest stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 272 miles on day one.
Expect about $16.83 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 Bonifay, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 357.7 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 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 19.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bonifay, FL before the return drive.
