Fort Lauderdale to Middleburg is 321.7 miles and takes about 6h 11m via I 95 and Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the southern part of the state up towards the Jacksonville area. The majority of this drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Consider this route if you prioritize reaching your destination efficiently with minimal navigation hassles.
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
160.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
188.4 mi
3h 22m
Florida's Turnpike
84.6 mi
1h 33m
First Coast Expressway
11.7 mi
13m
FL 16
10.3 mi
14m
CR 218
5.3 mi
9m
FL 13
4 mi
5m
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 188.4 mi, about 3h 22m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 59 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,188 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,953
Quietest
2 AM
~255 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL and Middleburg, 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
85 mi·1 hr 33 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·53 sec
Exit 152Toward FL 70: Fort Pierce, Vero BeachUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
214 ft·5 sec
Toward FL 70 East: Fort Pierce
13
Merge onto FL 70
0.3 mi·35 sec·Okeechobee Road
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: Daytona BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 95
188 mi·3 hr 22 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 318Toward FL 16: Saint Augustine, Green Cove Springs
18
Merge onto FL 16
319 ft·6 sec·Charles Usinas Memorial Highway
19
Continue on FL 16
2.0 mi·3 min·Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on FL 16
5.2 mi·7 min·FL 16
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn straight onto CR 16A
0.2 mi·18 sec·CR 16A
22
Turn left onto Silverleaf Parkway
106 ft·4 sec·Silverleaf Parkway
23
Continue on FL 16
1.7 mi·2 min·FL 16
24
At end of road, turn right onto FL 13; FL 16
4.0 mi·5 min·FL 13; FL 16
25
Turn slight left onto FL 16
0.3 mi·28 sec·FL 16
26
At end of road, turn left onto FL 16
3.2 mi·4 min·FL 16
27
Turn left onto SR-23
12 mi·13 min·First Coast Expressway
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 23Toward CR 216
29
Keep slight left at fork
325 ft·7 sec
Toward CR 216 WestUse the left lane.
30
Turn straight onto CR 216
1.7 mi·3 min·Cathedral Oak Parkway
31
Enter roundabout onto CR 218
22 ft·0 sec·CR 218
32
Continue on CR 218
5.3 mi·9 min·CR 218
33
Turn right onto FL 21
0.5 mi·1 min·Blanding Boulevard
34
Turn slight right onto Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
35
Turn right onto Wharf Street
119 ft·5 sec·Wharf Street
36
Arrive at destination
Wharf Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, leaving Fort Lauderdale in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive in Middleburg well before dark. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing your break points, but plan for a longer pause around the halfway mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 188.4-mile stretch on I 95, as services can be spaced out. The fuel cost estimate of $50 should help you budget accordingly, but always account for potential price fluctuations.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.4 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 71 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.8 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middleburg, 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 321.7 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 I 95 for about 188.4 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 313.6 — 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
8
94.7 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward FL 70: Fort Pierce, Vero Beach
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 152
Toward FL 70: Fort Pierce, Vero Beach
7
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
6
284.7 mi into trip|~5h 18m in
Take the exit toward FL 16: Saint Augustine, Green Cove Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 318
Toward FL 16: Saint Augustine, Green Cove Sprin...
7
313.6 mi into trip|~5h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 216 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 216 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.70 one way
$97.40 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$53.44
$106.87
premium
$4.55
$57.63
$115.25
diesel
$4.80
$60.74
$121.49
Estimated Tolls: $5.92
Florida's Turnpike
(84.6 mi)$5.92
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
$49
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.5
1
$33.78
$15.44
Efficient EV
80.4
0
$28.15
$12.87
EV Truck/SUV
128.7
1
$45.04
$20.59
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Late night
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
5:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 12 mph49% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Middleburg, FL
Late night
in Middleburg on Sunday
Local time
5:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Titusville, FL
161 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 266.2
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$15
near mile 277.3
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 199.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 95% of the 321.7 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 188.4 miles on I 95, indicating extended periods of high-speed cruising. Expect frequent exits and potential for merging traffic as you pass through populated areas. The route transitions to surface roads for the final portion as you approach Middleburg.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Florida's Turnpike. 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 Effort10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 321.7 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 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
42 ft2 ft
Total Climb
88 ft
Total Descent
57 ft
Highest Point
42 ft
~252.8 mi in
Elevation Range
40 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Middleburg, FL, road signs point toward Vero Beach and Green Cove Springs.
Vero Beach
94.7 mi in|~1h 52m
Green Cove Springs
284.7 mi in|~5h 18m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 6h 11m. Total distance: 321.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.92 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 24 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 Middleburg, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Matanzas National Monument, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Canaveral National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Middleburg, FL before the return drive.
