Embark on a straightforward 148.7-mile journey from Port Saint Lucie to South Sarasota, Florida, designed for a single day of travel. This 3-hour and 23-minute drive is primarily highway-focused, making it an efficient option for those looking to cover ground without significant detours. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this route offers a budget-friendly way to connect two points within the Sunshine State. The profile suggests a drive where you'll spend a significant portion of your time on main roads, with 74% of the trip on highways. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential for a brief stop.
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
74.3 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 70
67.3 mi
1h 29m
FL 72
33.6 mi
43m
Okeechobee Road
21.1 mi
25m
Proctor Road
7.3 mi
13m
I 95
4.9 mi
5m
West Midway Road
4.9 mi
8m
Crosstown Parkway
4.1 mi
7m
East Hickory Street
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
FL 70
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Saint Lucie, FL and South Sarasota, FL.
1
Start on Southwest Carter Avenue
215 ft·15 sec·Southwest Carter Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 615
0.2 mi·20 sec·Southeast Airoso Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Crosstown Parkway
4.1 mi·7 min·Crosstown Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 95 North: Daytona BeachUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
4.9 mi·5 min·I 95
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 126Toward CR 712: Midway Road
7
Keep slight left at fork
407 ft·12 sec
Toward CR 712: Midway Road
8
Turn straight onto CR 712
4.9 mi·8 min·West Midway Road
9
Turn left onto FL 70
21 mi·25 min·Okeechobee Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 70
67 mi·1 hr 29 min·FL 70
11
Turn straight onto FL 70
2.6 mi·4 min·East Hickory Street
12
Turn left onto FL 72
34 mi·43 min·FL 72
13
Enter roundabout onto FL 72
103 ft·1 sec·State Road 72
14
Continue on FL 72
1.3 mi·1 min·State Road 72
15
Continue on FL 72
513 ft·11 sec·Clark Road
16
Enter roundabout onto CR 72A
15 ft·0 sec·Proctor Road
17
Continue on CR 72A
7.3 mi·13 min·Proctor Road
18
Turn right onto US 41
0.2 mi·29 sec·South Tamiami Trail
19
Continue on US 41
0.1 mi·23 sec·South Tamiami Trail
20
Turn right onto Fiesta Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Fiesta Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Fiesta Drive
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 23-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Port Saint Lucie to maximize your daylight and minimize potential traffic. With only one suggested stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the longest stretch of 67.3 miles on FL 70, as services might be less frequent in certain areas. The estimated $24 fuel cost is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Since this is a day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning plans.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.3 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 33 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 40m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Sarasota, 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.
+
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 Port Saint Lucie, FL
This is one driving day of about 148.7 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Port Saint Lucie, 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 70 for about 67.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 140.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
5
9.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward CR 712: Midway Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126
Toward CR 712: Midway Road
5
10 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 712: Midway Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CR 712: Midway Road
5
140.9 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|CR 72A / Proctor Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 72A / Proctor Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.67 one way
$47.34 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$25.75
$51.49
premium
$4.72
$27.65
$55.30
diesel
$5.61
$32.83
$65.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.61
$7.14
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.01
$5.95
EV Truck/SUV
59.5
0
$20.82
$9.52
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
South Sarasota, FL
Morning
in South Sarasota on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
15 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
3h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 148.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 74% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 67.3 miles along FL 70, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway-focused, expect some transitions as you navigate through different segments of Okeechobee Road and FL 72. This blend means you'll get a good feel for Florida's main thoroughfares, with opportunities to observe the changing landscape as you move across the state.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.3 mi on FL 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 70 and FL 72. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 615 / Southeast Airoso 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 3h 23m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 148.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 67.3 miles on FL 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at South Sarasota, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
