If you are planning to head north from Fort Lauderdale to Buckhead Ridge, you can expect a straightforward 112-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 28 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize a combination of I-95, Southwest Warfield Boulevard, and the Bee Line Highway to navigate the 112-mile distance. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since the drive remains within Florida, the transition from the coastal environment of Fort Lauderdale to the inland area of Buckhead Ridge is relatively seamless. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that gets you from the city to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
47.3 mi
54m
Southwest Warfield Boulevard
27.3 mi
36m
Bee Line Highway
20.1 mi
26m
FL 78
6.5 mi
9m
US 98
6.4 mi
10m
East Broward Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
West Blue Heron Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
Southeast 86th Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 47.3 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Buckhead Ridge, FL.
1
Start on SR 842
1.5 mi·3 min·East Broward Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
3
Merge onto I 95
47 mi·54 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 76Toward FL 708: Blue Heron BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn straight onto FL 708
0.9 mi·1 min·West Blue Heron Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on FL 710
20 mi·26 min·Bee Line Highway
7
Continue on FL 710
27 mi·36 min·Southwest Warfield Boulevard
8
Turn left onto CR 15A
0.9 mi·1 min·Southeast 86th Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 98; US 441
5.0 mi·7 min·US 98; US 441
10
Enter roundabout onto US 98; US 441
130 ft·2 sec·US 98; US 441
11
Continue on US 98; US 441
1.3 mi·2 min·US 98; US 441
12
Continue on FL 78
4.5 mi·6 min·FL 78
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on FL 78
2.1 mi·3 min·FL 78
14
Turn left onto Lake Drive West
0.4 mi·1 min·Lake Drive West
15
Arrive at destination
Lake Drive West
Trip Plan
Because this drive is a manageable 2-hour and 28-minute stretch, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Aim to hit the road outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain your estimated arrival time. Since there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the 112-mile trip in one go, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $19 estimated cost. Be aware that the transition from I-95 to the local highways marks a change in driving pace, so adjust your speed accordingly as you exit the interstate. Planning your departure to avoid the heaviest congestion on the initial highway stretch will make for a much smoother experience behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.3 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 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckhead Ridge, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Lauderdale, FL
This is one driving day of about 112 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 47.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 103.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
49.2 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward FL 708: Blue Heron Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 76
Toward FL 708: Blue Heron Boulevard
6
97.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|CR 15A / Southeast 86th Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 15A / Southeast 86th Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
98.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 98; US 441
At end of road, turn right onto US 98; US 441
Navigation decision point
4
103.8 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|US 98; US 441
Enter roundabout onto US 98; US 441
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.83 one way
$35.65 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$19.39
$38.79
premium
$4.72
$20.83
$41.65
diesel
$5.61
$24.73
$49.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buckhead Ridge, FL
Morning
in Buckhead Ridge on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving experience, beginning with a significant highway portion before transitioning to local roads. About 54% of your journey is spent on major highways, providing a fast start to your travel day. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 47.3 miles on I-95, which helps you make quick progress early on. As you move away from the interstate and onto Southwest Warfield Boulevard and the Bee Line Highway, the character of the road shifts, requiring more attention to local traffic patterns. Expect a blend of high-speed interstate travel followed by more relaxed, lower-speed driving as you approach the final leg of your 112-mile excursion.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 28m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.9 miles (CR 15A / Southeast 86th Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
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 47.3 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.9 miles (CR 15A / Southeast 86th Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buckhead Ridge, FL before heading back.
