Traveling from Margate to Port Saint Lucie covers 81.6 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes of drive time. This trip works perfectly as a simple day trip, as the route is straightforward enough that you won't need to plan for overnight stays. You should budget about $13 for fuel to complete the journey. The path stays entirely within Florida, transitioning through local corridors rather than cross-country stretches. It is a practical route for those looking to connect these two South Florida hubs without the complexity of a long-haul expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Margate, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
75.1 mi
1h 22m
Coconut Creek Parkway
2.1 mi
4m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
East River Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
State Road 7
0.1 mi
<1m
Northwest 15th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 75.1 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Margate, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.
1
Start on East River Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·East River Drive
2
Continue on Northwest 15th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Northwest 15th Street
3
Turn right onto US 441; FL 7
0.1 mi·22 sec·State Road 7
4
Turn left onto Coconut Creek Parkway
2.1 mi·4 min·Coconut Creek Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.1 mi·17 sec·Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·25 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, OrlandoUse the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
8
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
75 mi·1 hr 22 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 142Toward Port Saint LucieUse the right lane.
10
Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
483 ft·15 sec·Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
11
Turn right onto FL 716
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto CR 615
1.6 mi·2 min·Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
13
Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue
215 ft·9 sec·Southwest Carter Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Southwest Carter Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak congestion. With 0 planned stops along the 1 hour and 18-minute route, ensure you are fueled up and ready to go before leaving Margate to keep your $13 fuel budget on track. Because you will be navigating local streets rather than major highways, check your GPS frequently to stay on the correct path through the various turns. Taking advantage of the lack of mandatory stops allows you to reach your destination efficiently. Plan to depart outside of rush hour to make the most of the local road network.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.8 miles from Margate, FL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.1 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
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 Margate, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Margate, FL
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Margate, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 75.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 80 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
6
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
7
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
6
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 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
80 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
$12.99 one way
$25.98 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$14.13
$28.26
premium
$4.72
$15.17
$30.35
diesel
$5.61
$18.02
$36.03
Estimated Tolls: $5.26
Florida's Turnpike
(75.1 mi)$5.26
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
$13
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.14
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Margate, FL
Morning
in Margate on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
6:22 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 37m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than drifting on an interstate. You will navigate a series of local roads, including Northwest 15th Street, State Road 7, and Coconut Creek Parkway, rather than relying on highway miles. In fact, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be dealing with intersections and local traffic patterns throughout the entire 81.6-mile distance. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on Northwest 15th Street, you can anticipate constant changes in direction. This is a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention compared to a monotonous, high-speed cruise.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.1 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and Coconut Creek Parkway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 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 81.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.26 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. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 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 Port Saint Lucie, FL before heading back.
