Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Palm City, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
80.2 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Palm City, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fort Lauderdale to Palm City is 80.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 37 minutes via I 95 and South Kanner Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within Florida. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a quick and efficient journey. With a drive time under two hours and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a same-day trip when you need to get from South Florida to the Treasure Coast without much fuss. Consider this your go-to for a direct connection between these two Florida locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 72.5 mi | 1h 22m |
| South Kanner Highway | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| East Broward Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Southwest Martin Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Kanner Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Cornell Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 30th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 72.5 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Palm City, 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
72 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 101
Toward FL 76: Stuart, Indiantown
5
Keep slight right at fork
393 ft
·
9 sec
Toward FL 76 East: Stuart
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn straight onto FL 76
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Kanner Highway
7
Continue on FL 76
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Kanner Highway
8
Turn left onto Southwest Martin Highway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Martin Highway
9
Turn right onto Southwest Cornell Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Cornell Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto Southwest 30th Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Southwest 30th Street
11
Arrive at destination
Southwest 30th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1-hour-and-37-minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will put you in Palm City well before lunch, and an afternoon departure means you'll arrive with plenty of evening hours ahead. With only 80.2 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry about frequent fuel stops. The longest stretch is on I 95, so ensure you have your preferred audio entertainment ready for that segment. Plan for a brief stop if needed, but the drive is easily completed in one day without feeling rushed.
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 40.1 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.5 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 47m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Lauderdale, FL
This is one driving day of about 80.2 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 72.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.1 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 80 — 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.
6
74.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward FL 76: Stuart, Indiantown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 101
Toward FL 76: Stuart, Indiantown
7
74.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 76 East: Stuart
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward FL 76 East: Stuart
6
79.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
Southwest Cornell Avenue
Turn right onto Southwest Cornell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
80 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
Southwest 30th Street
Turn left onto Southwest 30th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.77 one way
$25.53 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $13.89 | $27.77 |
| premium | $4.72 | $14.91 | $29.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.71 | $35.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.42 | $3.85 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.02 | $3.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.23 | $5.13 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Palm City, FL
Morning in Palm City on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
5 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
1h 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with about 90% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 72.5 miles on I 95, which allows for consistent speed and minimal traffic delays. As you approach your destination, the drive transitions to South Kanner Highway, offering a slightly different feel but still maintaining a highway character. Expect a smooth and predictable driving experience for the majority of the 80.2 miles, making it easy to settle into a rhythm.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and South Kanner Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 6 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 74.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Palm City, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Indiantown along the way.
Indiantown
74.4 mi in
|
~1h 26m
About the Cities
Starting in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Full guide →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).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 80.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.5 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Palm City, FL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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