Embarking on a 200.1-mile journey from Fort Lauderdale to Inwood, Florida, will take you approximately 4 hours and 7 minutes. This drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll primarily travel on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60, with a brief stint on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. Expect the total fuel cost to be around $32, making it a budget-friendly trip within the state. The overall feel is a straightforward highway-focused drive across Florida, perfect for when you want to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
100 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
125.2 mi
2h 16m
FL 60
46.4 mi
59m
Cypress Gardens Boulevard
7.2 mi
11m
US 27
5.9 mi
8m
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
West Lake Howard Drive
1.3 mi
2m
3rd Street Southwest
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 125.2 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Inwood, 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
125 mi·2 hr 16 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 193Toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
12
Keep slight right at fork
245 ft·6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto FL 60
46 mi·59 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
15
Keep slight right at fork
201 ft·7 sec
16
Merge onto US 27
4.5 mi·6 min·US 27
17
Continue on US 27
1.4 mi·1 min·US 27
18
Turn left onto FL 540
7.2 mi·11 min·Cypress Gardens Boulevard
19
Turn right onto US 17
1.3 mi·2 min·3rd Street Southwest
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on US 17
0.2 mi·39 sec·6th Street Northwest
21
Turn left onto CR 542
508 ft·10 sec·Avenue D Northwest
22
Continue on CR 542
1.3 mi·2 min·West Lake Howard Drive
23
Turn right onto CR 542
0.5 mi·59 sec·Avenue G Northwest
24
Turn right onto 26th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·1 min·26th Street Northwest
25
Turn left onto Avenue M Northwest
298 ft·15 sec·Avenue M Northwest
26
Turn right onto 28th Street Northwest
170 ft·10 sec·28th Street Northwest
27
Turn left onto Avenue M Northwest
0.2 mi·53 sec·Avenue M Northwest
28
Arrive at destination
Avenue M Northwest
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, an early morning departure from Fort Lauderdale is recommended to maximize your day in Inwood. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the drive. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 125 miles on the Turnpike, so plan for a fuel stop before or during that segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $32 estimated cost is based on current prices and your vehicle's efficiency.
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 100 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.2 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 44 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100 miles or 1h 57m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Inwood, 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 200.1 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Fort Lauderdale, 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 125.2 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 8.7 and 195.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.7 mi into trip|~16m in|Northwest 31st Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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
6
135.3 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 193
Toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
6
136 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
195.8 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|US 17 / 3rd Street Southwest
Turn right onto US 17 / 3rd Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.85 one way
$63.70 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$34.65
$69.29
premium
$4.72
$37.21
$74.42
diesel
$5.61
$44.18
$88.36
Estimated Tolls: $8.76
Florida's Turnpike
(125.2 mi)$8.76
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
$32
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
E 7 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Inwood, FL
Morning
in Inwood on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
18 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
4h 7m 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 125.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike, offering a consistent, high-speed experience. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of FL 60 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard suggests a transition to slightly more varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained highways.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.2 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 FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near Northwest 31st Avenue.
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 19 significant decision points across 200.1 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 8.7 miles (Northwest 31st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Inwood, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Avon Park 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).
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.76 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 Inwood, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (Northwest 31st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Inwood, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
