Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
85.1 mi
137 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harlem, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Miami Gardens, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Harlem to Miami Gardens is 85.1 miles and takes about 1h 49m via US 27, Sugarland Highway, and Port Everglades Expressway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, moving from one region to another as you head south. Expect a straightforward trip primarily on major roadways. With a relatively short duration and a low fuel cost, this route is convenient for a quick transit between points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Harlem, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 40.5 mi | 48m |
| Sugarland Highway | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| Port Everglades Expressway | 9 mi | 10m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| I 75 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| Francisco Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Northwest 27th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Sonora Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,233 veh/hr typical · worst 3,766
Quietest
2 AM
~163 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Harlem, FL and Miami Gardens, FL.
Start on 10th Street
Turn left onto Harlem Academy Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto 7th Street
Continue on Georgia Avenue
Turn left onto South WC Owen Avenue
Turn right onto Sonora Avenue
Turn left onto Francisco Street
Turn right onto US 27; FL 80
Continue on US 27; FL 80
Continue on US 27
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
Take the exit
Turn straight onto SR 84
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
Turn left onto SR 817
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 1h 49m duration, this is a comfortable same-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic congestion. You likely won't need extensive stops, but if you need to refuel, keep in mind the estimated fuel cost of $13. The longest stretch on US 27 is a good opportunity for focused driving before you start seeing more local exits.
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.
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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 55m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miami Gardens, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Harlem, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harlem, FL
This is one driving day of about 85.1 miles and 1h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.6 miles from Harlem, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.1 and 82.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 441: Orlando, Miami, Florida's Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock Stadium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$13.16 one way
$26.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.30 | $14.41 | $28.83 |
| premium | $4.63 | $15.50 | $31.00 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.76 | $37.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.57
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.94 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.45 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Harlem on Tuesday
Local time
10:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Miami Gardens on Tuesday
Local time
10:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route features a significant highway component, with 74% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 40.5 miles on US 27 before transitioning to other highways. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exit ramps as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and Sugarland Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.1 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.8 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
32 ft
Total Descent
44 ft
Highest Point
29 ft
~79.1 mi in
Elevation Range
22 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harlem, FL and Miami Gardens, FL, road signs point toward Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Miami, Florida's Turnpike, Orlando and Miami South - among others.
Fort Lauderdale
Naples
Miami
Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
Miami South
Orlando North
Florida's Turnpike South
Founded 2003
Miami Gardens is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, 16 miles north of downtown Miami and with a population in 2019 of 110,000.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 85.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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