Lehigh Acres, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is 122.6 miles and takes about 2h 34m via Alligator Alley, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the state of Florida, from its southwest region to the southeast. While much of the drive is on a major highway, expect a "turn-heavy local drive" feel as you approach your destination. Given the relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this is an easy day trip. Plan for just one stop along the way.
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
61.3 miles from Lehigh Acres, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Alligator Alley
61 mi
1h 5m
New Harvest Road
19.3 mi
23m
FL 82
12 mi
15m
Port Everglades Expressway
10.1 mi
11m
Homestead Road South
3.9 mi
6m
FL 29
3.1 mi
4m
Richmond Avenue North
2.6 mi
6m
New Market Road West
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Alligator Alley
— 61 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lehigh Acres, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on Richmond Avenue North
2.6 mi·6 min·Richmond Avenue North
2
Turn right onto Sunrise Boulevard
0.4 mi·56 sec·Sunrise Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto Homestead Road South
3.9 mi·6 min·Homestead Road South
4
At end of road, turn left onto FL 82
12 mi·15 min·FL 82
5
Enter roundabout onto FL 29
26 ft·0 sec·FL 29
6
Continue on FL 29
3.1 mi·4 min·FL 29
7
Turn left onto CR 29A
2.2 mi·3 min·New Market Road West
8
At end of road, turn left onto FL 29
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
9
Continue on FL 29
19 mi·23 min·New Harvest Road
10
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South: MiamiUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 75
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·Alligator Alley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
10 mi·11 min·Port Everglades Expressway
Exit 19Toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort LauderdaleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 9CToward SR 84 East: Marina Mile BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto SR 84
0.2 mi·18 sec·SR 84
Toward I 595 East, SR 84 East
15
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 84
2.0 mi·3 min·SR 84
Toward SR 84 East
16
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 84
1.6 mi·3 min·Marina Boulevard
Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile BoulevardUse the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Southwest 4th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 4th Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Southwest 17th Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·Southwest 17th Street
19
Continue on Southeast 17th Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Southeast 17th Street
20
Turn left onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Avenue
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto SR 842
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Broward Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 3 hours, this is a flexible trip best suited for a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive and still enjoy your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 61 miles on Alligator Alley, so plan any necessary stops before or after this segment. Given the $20 fuel cost estimate, you should have ample range to reach Fort Lauderdale without needing to refuel, but it's always wise to have a full tank before departing Lehigh Acres.
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 61.3 miles from Lehigh Acres, FL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61 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 27 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 21m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lauderdale, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lehigh Acres, 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 Lehigh Acres, FL
This is one driving day of about 122.6 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lehigh Acres, 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 Alligator Alley for about 61 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.3 and 120.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
44.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Turn left toward I 75 South: Miami
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Miami
9
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19
Toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Spr...
7
116 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9C
Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard
7
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|SR 84 / Marina Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 84 / Marina Boulevard toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward SR 84 East: Marina Mile Boulevard
6
120.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|Southeast 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.51 one way
$39.03 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$21.23
$42.46
premium
$4.72
$22.80
$45.59
diesel
$5.61
$27.07
$54.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.73
$4.90
EV Truck/SUV
49
0
$17.16
$7.85
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lehigh Acres, FL
Morning
in Lehigh Acres on Sunday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
E 3 to 10 mph6% chanceLive 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
19 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 34m 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?
This route offers a mix of highway and local driving, with only 22% of the journey on major highways. You'll experience a 61-mile stretch on Alligator Alley, providing a good opportunity for steady driving. However, the "turn-heavy local drive" profile suggests that once you leave the main highway, the remainder of your trip will involve more frequent navigation and potentially slower speeds. Be prepared for the character of the road to shift significantly as you get closer to Fort Lauderdale.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61 mi on Alligator Alley.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 44.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 122.6 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 44.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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).
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 122.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61 miles on Alligator Alley. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Fort Lauderdale, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Lauderdale, FL before heading back.
