Port Saint Lucie to Starke is 250.9 miles and takes about 4h 44m via Florida's Turnpike and US 301, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Florida, taking you from the Atlantic coast inland toward the heart of the state. With 98% of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a solid option for a single-day drive, especially if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a fuel cost around $43 based on typical pricing.
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
125.5 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
165.1 mi
2h 56m
US 301
50.6 mi
1h 5m
I 75
28.9 mi
31m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Northwest 70th Street
1.5 mi
2m
FL 326
1.1 mi
1m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 165.1 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Saint Lucie, FL and Starke, 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 right at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
165 mi·2 hr 56 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 75
29 mi·31 min·I 75
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 358Toward FL 326Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn slight right
144 ft·4 sec
12
Turn slight right onto FL 326
1.1 mi·1 min·FL 326
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
14
Turn left onto US 301; US 441
5.5 mi·6 min·US 301; US 441
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 301
43 mi·53 min·US 301
Toward North US 301: Starke
16
Continue on US 301
2.5 mi·4 min·US 301
17
Turn right onto FL 230
0.1 mi·18 sec·West Call Street
18
Arrive at destination
FL 230
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 44m estimated drive time, leaving Port Saint Lucie in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Starke with plenty of daylight. You can comfortably complete this trip in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up. The longest stretch is 165.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so plan a fuel or rest stop before you hit that point, or shortly after, to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from the more populated areas, as services might become less frequent on US 301.
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 125.5 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.1 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 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.5 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Starke, 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 250.9 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 165.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 197.4 — 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 right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
5
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
168.2 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
7
197.4 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward FL 326
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 358
Toward FL 326
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.98 one way
$75.96 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.68
$83.35
premium
$4.55
$44.94
$89.89
diesel
$4.80
$47.37
$94.75
Estimated Tolls: $11.54
Florida's Turnpike
(164.8 mi)$11.54
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
$38
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.3
0
$26.34
$12.04
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.04
EV Truck/SUV
100.4
1
$35.13
$16.06
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Afternoon
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 0 to 10 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Starke, FL
Afternoon
in Starke on Sunday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
S 2 to 13 mph9% 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
1 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
4h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 spend nearly all your time on high-speed roads, with 98% of the 250.9 miles being highway driving. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 165.1 miles, which occurs on Florida's Turnpike. After that, you'll transition to US 301 and I-75 for the remainder of the trip, likely experiencing a change in the density of exits and surrounding landscape. Prepare for a driving experience that's mostly cruising on major arteries.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.1 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 301. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard.
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 11 significant decision points across 250.9 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 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 3.4 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Port St. Lucie is a sprawling tropical city on the Treasure Coast of Florida. The population is 202,000 and 438,000 in its metropolitan area (2019). Residents refer to the city by its initials, PSL. The spring training home of the New York Mets, this city has many fun activities if you know where to look; the new downtown area is in its infancy, but once complete will bring more activities for residents and visitors.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 250.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.54 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 27 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 Starke, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.4 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Starke, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
