Lady Lake to Port Saint Lucie is 168 miles and takes about 3h 14m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Florida, taking you from the central part of the state down towards the southeast coast. Expect a fairly direct drive with a high percentage of highway travel, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Given the relatively short duration, you'll likely find it easy to plan around potential traffic or desired stopping times.
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
84 miles from Lady Lake, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
142.1 mi
2h 32m
14th Street
14.8 mi
22m
Citrus Boulevard
6.7 mi
10m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Southwest Carter Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
CR 466
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 142.1 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lady Lake, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.
1
Start on CR 466
55 ft·3 sec·CR 466
2
Turn right onto US 27; US 441
6.7 mi·10 min·Citrus Boulevard
3
Continue on US 27; US 441
15 mi·22 min·14th Street
4
Turn left
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Orlando
5
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
142 mi·2 hr 32 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 142Toward Port Saint Lucie
7
Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
483 ft·15 sec·Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
8
Turn right onto FL 716
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto CR 615
1.6 mi·2 min·Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
10
Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue
215 ft·9 sec·Southwest Carter Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Southwest Carter Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3h 14m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only 168 miles, you can easily complete this in one day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider stopping once to break up the longest stretch of 142.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $27, and plan your fill-up accordingly before heading out or on the Turnpike itself.
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 84 miles from Lady Lake, FL, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.1 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 37 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 41m 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 38m
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 Lady Lake, 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 Lady Lake, FL
This is one driving day of about 168 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Lady Lake, 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 142.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.5 and 166.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21.5 mi into trip|~33m in
Turn left toward Florida's Turnpike South: Orlando
Navigation decision point
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Orlando
5
22.4 mi into trip|~35m in|Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
164.4 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward Port Saint Lucie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 142
Toward Port Saint Lucie
6
165.5 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
166.3 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.74 one way
$53.48 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$29.09
$58.18
premium
$4.72
$31.24
$62.48
diesel
$5.61
$37.09
$74.18
Estimated Tolls: $9.94
Florida's Turnpike
(142.1 mi)$9.94
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
$27
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: 58.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.4
0
$17.64
$8.06
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.70
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.52
$10.75
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lady Lake, FL
Morning
in Lady Lake on Sunday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
E 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:06PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 18 at 2:06PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM 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
26 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 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 85% of this 168-mile trip on highways, with a significant 142.1-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike. The highway portion means consistent speeds and a predictable pace for most of the drive. Expect the transition to surface roads, like 14th Street and Citrus Boulevard, to happen closer to your destination. The frequent exits on the Turnpike might feel dense as you approach urban areas.
85% 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: 142.1 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and 14th Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 21.5 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lady Lake, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL is easy. At 3h 14m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Lady Lake, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Orlando along the way.
Florida's Turnpike South: Orlando
21.5 mi in|~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 168 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 142.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.94 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 12 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Port Saint Lucie, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
