If you are planning to head inland from Port Saint Lucie to Avon Park, expect a straightforward 95.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes. This trip is ideally suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is manageable without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize Florida’s Turnpike to bridge the gap between the coast and the interior. Budgeting roughly $16 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the route remains entirely within Florida, you will notice a transition from the coastal environment of Port Saint Lucie to the inland landscape surrounding Avon Park.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
87.7 mi
1h 36m
Griffin Road
2.5 mi
4m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Southwest 27th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Southwest Carter Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 87.7 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Saint Lucie, FL and Avon Park, FL.
1
Start on Southwest Carter Avenue
215 ft·11 sec·Southwest Carter Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 615
1.6 mi·2 min·Southeast Airoso Boulevard
3
Turn right onto FL 716
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike SouthUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
88 mi·1 hr 36 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Exit 53Toward SR 818: Griffin RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto SR 818
2.5 mi·4 min·Griffin Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight left
107 ft·4 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Southwest 27th Avenue
0.2 mi·49 sec·Southwest 27th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Southwest 27th Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this drive is under two hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for long breaks. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on the Turnpike means you should have your toll payment method ready before you head out. Prioritize fueling up before hitting the highway to ensure you stay within your $16 fuel budget throughout the 95.5-mile trek. Checking local traffic reports for the Turnpike before you leave Port Saint Lucie will help ensure your travel time stays as close to the 1-hour and 52-minute estimate as possible.
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 47.7 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 55m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avon Park, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Port Saint Lucie, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Port Saint Lucie, FL
This is one driving day of about 95.5 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Port Saint Lucie, 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 87.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 92.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m 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.
7
91.3 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward SR 818: Griffin Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53
Toward SR 818: Griffin Road
4
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|SR 818 / Griffin Road
Turn left onto SR 818 / Griffin Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.20 one way
$30.40 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$16.54
$33.07
premium
$4.72
$17.76
$35.52
diesel
$5.61
$21.09
$42.17
Estimated Tolls: $6.14
Florida's Turnpike
(87.7 mi)$6.14
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
$15
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.03
$4.58
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
EV Truck/SUV
38.2
0
$13.37
$6.11
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 16, 2026
Origin
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
10:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:40AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:00AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Avon Park, FL
Morning
in Avon Park on Sunday
Local time
10:58 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
13 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 52m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 92% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. Your journey is dominated by an 87.7-mile stretch on Florida’s Turnpike, which keeps the pace consistent and efficient. While you will utilize Southeast Airoso Boulevard and Griffin Road to navigate to and from the main arteries, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent cruising on the Turnpike. This makes for a predictable, steady drive rather than a winding or technical back-road adventure. You can anticipate a reliable, high-speed transit that gets you to your destination with minimal interruption.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.7 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and Griffin Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
36 ft4 ft
Total Climb
25 ft
Total Descent
38 ft
Highest Point
36 ft
~75 mi in
Elevation Range
32 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 95.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 87.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.14 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 1.6 miles (FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Avon Park, FL before heading back.
