Fort Lauderdale to Plant City is 220.6 miles and takes about 4h 29m via Florida's Turnpike and FL 60, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Florida, primarily using the Turnpike before transitioning to state roads. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's ideal for a single-day trip. Consider this if you're looking for an efficient way to get across the state without much fuss.
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
110.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
125.2 mi
2h 16m
FL 60
61.6 mi
1h 19m
Polk Parkway
9.3 mi
10m
Bartow Road
7 mi
9m
New Tampa Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
Powerline Road
1.1 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 Plant City, 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
62 mi·1 hr 19 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.6 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 98
7.0 mi·9 min·Bartow Road
Use the left lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward FL 570 Toll West: Polk Parkway WestUse the right lane.
18
Merge onto FL 570 Toll
9.3 mi·10 min·Polk Parkway
Use the right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 1Toward Clark RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on Clark Road
0.1 mi·28 sec·Clark Road
21
Turn left onto US 92
4.7 mi·6 min·New Tampa Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto North Warnell Street
198 ft·8 sec·North Warnell Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Warnell Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip, leaving Fort Lauderdale in the morning, perhaps around 9 AM, should give you plenty of time to reach Plant City before sunset. Since the drive is under 5 hours, you likely won't need to stop for an overnight stay. You'll encounter one recommended stop, but feel free to adjust based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach the 125.2-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments.
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 110.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale, FL, or about 2h 8m 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.3 miles or 2h 8m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plant 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.
+
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 220.6 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 215.9 — 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
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.
7
215.5 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward Clark Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward Clark Road
6
215.9 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|US 92 / New Tampa Highway
Turn left onto US 92 / New Tampa Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.39 one way
$66.79 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$36.64
$73.28
premium
$4.55
$39.52
$79.03
diesel
$4.80
$41.65
$83.31
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
$33
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.16
$10.59
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.30
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.88
$14.12
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Afternoon
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Partly Sunny
SE 12 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:21PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Plant City, FL
Afternoon
in Plant City on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:21PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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
1 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 29m 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 drive is 89% highway, offering a consistent cruising experience for most of the trip. You'll spend about 125.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which features a dense network of exits. After leaving the Turnpike, you'll transition to surface roads like FL 60, where the pace will likely slow down with more local traffic and fewer exits.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?
7/10
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 9.8 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 220.6 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 135.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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).
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 4h 29m. Total distance: 220.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m 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.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Plant City, 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 13 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 135.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Plant City, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
