Fort Lauderdale to Oakland is 216.1 miles and takes about 4h 4m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, beginning in the South Florida region and heading north. It's a straightforward drive predominantly on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. With a recommended one-day duration, you can expect a relatively efficient transit between these two points.
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
108.1 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
204.3 mi
3h 41m
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
Powerline Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Pompano Parkway
1 mi
1m
Northwest 31st Avenue
1 mi
1m
East Broward Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
West Colonial Drive
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 204.3 mi, about 3h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Oakland, 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
204 mi·3 hr 41 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 272Toward FL 50: Winter Garden, ClermontUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
398 ft·9 sec
Toward FL 50 East: Clermont, Winter GardenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward FL 50 East: Winter GardenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·21 sec·this road
Toward FL 50 East: Winter Garden
15
Merge onto FL 50
0.6 mi·53 sec·West Colonial Drive
16
Turn left onto Tubb Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·Tubb Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
17
Turn left onto CR 438
0.3 mi·44 sec·Oakland Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
CR 438
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 4m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning will allow you to arrive well before evening. Since this is a one-day drive covering 216.1 miles, you won't need to plan for overnight stays. The longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike is over 200 miles, so plan for one fuel stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Oakland, as the final surface road portion is relatively short.
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 108.1 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204.3 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 48 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.1 miles or 2h 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 3h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, 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 216.1 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 204.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 215.5 — 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
214.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward FL 50: Winter Garden, Clermont
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 272
Toward FL 50: Winter Garden, Clermont
9
214.6 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 50 East: Clermont, Winter Garden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 50 East: Clermont, Winter Garden
8
214.7 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 50 East: Winter Garden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 50 East: Winter Garden
6
215.5 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|Tubb Street
Turn left onto Tubb Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.71 one way
$65.43 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$35.89
$71.79
premium
$4.55
$38.71
$77.42
diesel
$4.80
$40.80
$81.61
Estimated Tolls: $14.30
Florida's Turnpike
(204.3 mi)$14.30
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
$33
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.8
0
$22.69
$10.37
Efficient EV
54
0
$18.91
$8.64
EV Truck/SUV
86.4
1
$30.25
$13.83
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Afternoon
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 2:35AM EDT until July 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Oakland, FL
Afternoon
in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 2:35AM EDT until July 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami 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
3 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 4m 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 95% highway, so expect to spend most of your time on limited-access roads. You'll encounter 204.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which means a long stretch of uninterrupted driving. The transition to surface roads will occur for the final 11.8 miles. Given the high highway percentage, be prepared for frequent exits and entrances as you approach your destination.
95% 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: 204.3 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 Northwest 9th Avenue. 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 216.1 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 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Winter Garden is a small town in Orange County, Florida, located just west of Orlando. It is a quickly expanding community that is becoming a hub for shopping and is also home to the West Orange Trail. It is known for being an upscale suburb of Orlando and is frequented by locals for its attractive downtown area on Plant Street.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 216.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $14.30 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 14 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 Oakland, 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 14 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 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Oakland, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
