Manatee Road, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is 331.5 miles and takes about 6h 20m via Florida's Turnpike and I 75, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, connecting two distinct regions of the state. Given its predominantly highway profile, you can expect a fairly direct and efficient drive. It’s a solid choice if you need to cover ground quickly between these two points in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
165.7 miles from Manatee Road, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
240.6 mi
4h 19m
US 27 Alternate
48 mi
1h 1m
I 75
24.7 mi
26m
I 95
7.2 mi
8m
Manatee Springs Road
2.2 mi
3m
West Broward Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Young Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.6 mi, about 4h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manatee Road, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on Northwest 85th Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·Northwest 85th Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 120th Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Northwest 120th Street
3
Turn right onto Northwest 83 Court
0.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 83 Court
4
Turn left onto FL 320
2.2 mi·3 min·Manatee Springs Road
5
Continue on FL 320
0.4 mi·56 sec·Northwest 19th Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
0.8 mi·1 min·Young Boulevard
7
Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
521 ft·20 sec·Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 27 Alternate
48 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 27 Alternate
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
10
Merge onto I 75
25 mi·26 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
241 mi·4 hr 19 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft·15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Northwest 16th Avenue
16
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Andrews Avenue
17
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft·16 sec·West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
19
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi·8 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 27Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi·3 min·West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
This 6-hour, 20-minute drive is easily doable in one day. To make the most of it, consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Fort Lauderdale. With a longest stretch of 240.6 miles, plan for a mid-drive stop around the halfway point to refuel and stretch your legs. The $53 fuel cost is an estimate, so keeping an eye on your gauge is always wise, particularly on such a highway-intensive route.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.7 miles from Manatee Road, FL, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 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 73 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.7 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 8m
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 Manatee Road, 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 Manatee Road, FL
This is one driving day of about 331.5 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Manatee Road, 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 240.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 329 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|Northwest 120th Street
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 120th Street
Navigation decision point
8
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
8
318.4 mi into trip|~5h 58m in
Take the exit toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther Kin...
6
319.1 mi into trip|~6h in
Keep slight left at fork toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlan...
8
329 mi into trip|~6h 14m in
Take the exit toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.77 one way
$105.53 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$57.40
$114.80
premium
$4.72
$61.64
$123.28
diesel
$5.61
$73.19
$146.38
Estimated Tolls: $16.84
Florida's Turnpike
(240.6 mi)$16.84
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
$53
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.5
1
$34.81
$15.91
Efficient EV
82.9
0
$29.01
$13.26
EV Truck/SUV
132.6
1
$46.41
$21.22
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Manatee Road, FL
Morning
in Manatee Road on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
14 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
6h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 be on highways for 97% of this 331.5-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. After this extensive highway cruising, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your drive. Expect numerous exits and potential for urban merging as you approach your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.6 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 US 27 Alternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Northwest 120th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 331.5 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 0.6 miles (Northwest 120th Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 318.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manatee Road, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
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 6h 20m. Total distance: 331.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.84 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 24 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 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. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Northwest 120th Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 318.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Lauderdale, FL before the return drive.
