Pompano Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Key Largo, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
175 mi
282 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 19m
★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 56m
10 AM
3h 40m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Key Largo, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Key Largo to Port Saint Lucie is 175 miles and takes about 3h 31m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the Keys up the eastern side of the state. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward, relatively quick trip. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this stretch without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.5 miles from Key Largo, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 95.2 mi | 1h 46m |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 47.4 mi | 55m |
| Dixie Highway | 19.4 mi | 26m |
| Overseas Highway | 9.3 mi | 15m |
| Southeast Airoso Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Bayshore Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harbor Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 95.2 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Key Largo, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.
1
Start on Harbor Drive
308 ft
·
15 sec
·
Harbor Drive
2
Turn right onto US 1
9.3 mi
·
15 min
·
Overseas Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 1
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Dixie Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
95 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142
Toward Port Saint Lucie
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
13
Turn right onto FL 716
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 615
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
15
Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue
215 ft
·
9 sec
·
Southwest Carter Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Southwest Carter Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 175-mile drive, leaving Key Largo in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's only about 3.5 hours, you won't need to plan for an overnight stop. Consider making your one planned stop somewhere midway to stretch your legs; however, with such a short duration, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before hitting longer stretches on the Turnpike, as services can sometimes be spaced out.
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 87.5 miles from Key Largo, FL, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.2 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 39 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint Lucie, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Key Largo, 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 Key Largo, FL
This is one driving day of about 175 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Key Largo, 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 95.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Key Largo, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Snapper Creek Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
West Palm Beach Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Port Saint Lucie - Fort Pierce Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Dolphin Life Key Largo
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Key Largo, Florida
Hours: 8:30 am–5 pm
+13054534321
Visit websiteEverglades Alligator Farm
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 25
Homestead, Florida
Hours: 9 am–5:30 pm
+13052472628
Visit websiteEscape Room PSL
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
mile 175
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Hours: 4–10:30 pm
+17726266655
Visit websiteThe Overseas Highway
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Key Largo, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
Dolphins Plus Bayside
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Key Largo, Florida
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+13054514060
Visit websiteJoseph C. Carter Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
mile 87.5
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+19548285411
Visit websiteMorikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
Moderately
mile 112.5
Delray Beach, Florida
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+15614950233
Visit websitePeaceful Waters Sanctuary
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 125
Wellington, Florida
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+15617914005
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 171.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1 / Overseas Highway
Turn right onto US 1 / Overseas Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
28.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
6
42.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
75.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
7
171.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward Port Saint Lucie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 142
Toward Port Saint Lucie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.86 one way
$55.71 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $30.30 | $60.60 |
| premium | $4.72 | $32.54 | $65.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.64 | $77.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.51
Florida's Turnpike
(95.2 mi)
$6.67
Homestead Extension
(47.4 mi)
$2.84
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
$28
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.31 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.50 | $11.20 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Key Largo, FL
Morning in Key Largo on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
E 10 mph
2% chance
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
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 31m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 36.2
Caution: Boater Awareness
Everglades National Park
National Park
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and anima...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$35
near mile 24.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 81% of your time on highways, covering a substantial 95.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike in one continuous segment. Expect a lot of exits and merging as you navigate the Turnpike system. Surface roads, like Dixie Highway, will appear later in the drive, offering a change of pace from the high-speed cruising.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.2 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 Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 1 / Overseas Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 175 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 0.1 miles (US 1 / Overseas Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.3 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): 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.
Between Key Largo, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs point toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
Miami
28.7 mi in
|
~42m
Orlando
28.7 mi in
|
~42m
Florida's Turnpike North
28.7 mi in
|
~42m
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
75.4 mi in
|
~1h 37m
|
via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 175 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.51 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 4 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 Port Saint Lucie, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 1 / Overseas Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.3 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Port Saint Lucie, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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