Lakeland Highlands to Port Saint Lucie is 125.1 miles and takes about 2h 36m via FL 60 and Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Florida, moving from the Lakeland Highlands area towards the Treasure Coast. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused experience for this 1-day trip. With a relatively short duration and a manageable fuel cost, this route is a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
62.6 miles from Lakeland Highlands, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 60
61.7 mi
1h 19m
Florida's Turnpike
49.8 mi
53m
Boy Scout Ranch Road
4.8 mi
8m
Bartow Road
3.2 mi
4m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
FL 60
— 61.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland Highlands, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.
1
Start on CR 37A
0.5 mi·1 min·Scott Lake Road
2
Turn left onto CR 540A
4.8 mi·8 min·Boy Scout Ranch Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·Bartow Road
4
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi·26 sec·FL 60
7
Continue on FL 60
11 mi·13 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on FL 60
4.3 mi·5 min·FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on FL 60
46 mi·59 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on this road
295 ft·7 sec·this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
50 mi·53 min·Florida's Turnpike
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 142Toward Port Saint Lucie
15
Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
483 ft·15 sec·Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
16
Turn right onto FL 716
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 615
1.6 mi·2 min·Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18
Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue
215 ft·9 sec·Southwest Carter Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Southwest Carter Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 36m travel time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and arrive in Port Saint Lucie with plenty of daylight. There is one designated stop noted, but with this being a shorter drive, you can be flexible with any brief breaks you might need. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading onto longer highway stretches, as the estimated fuel cost is around $20.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Lakeland Highlands, FL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.7 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 23m 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 9m
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 Lakeland Highlands, 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 Lakeland Highlands, FL
This is one driving day of about 125.1 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Lakeland Highlands, 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 FL 60 for about 61.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.4 and 123.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
5
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward Port Saint Lucie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 142
Toward Port Saint Lucie
6
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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
123.5 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
$19.91 one way
$39.83 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$21.66
$43.32
premium
$4.72
$23.26
$46.52
diesel
$5.61
$27.62
$55.24
Estimated Tolls: $3.49
Florida's Turnpike
(49.8 mi)$3.49
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
$20
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.14
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.51
$8.01
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Morning
in Lakeland Highlands on Sunday
Local time
9:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
9:46 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
2 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
2h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of FL 60, covering 61.7 miles without interruption, which sets the tone for much of the trip. The route incorporates Florida's Turnpike, offering a faster pace for a portion of your travel. Overall, anticipate a functional drive that prioritizes direct travel over scenic detours.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.7 mi on FL 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and Florida's Turnpike. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 71.4 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 125.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.6 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 Lakeland Highlands, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
71.6 mi in|~1h 35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 125.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m 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 61.7 miles on FL 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.49 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, 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 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Port Saint Lucie, FL before heading back.
