Port Saint Lucie to Three Lakes is 130.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, primarily utilizing the Turnpike system. Expect a highway-focused journey with minimal deviations, making it a straightforward trip. With a single recommended day, this route is well-suited for a day trip or a quick transit, offering a direct path between your starting and ending points.
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
65.1 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
95.5 mi
1h 45m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
28.9 mi
32m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest 127th Avenue
1 mi
2m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Southwest 120th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Southwest Carter Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 95.5 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Saint Lucie, FL and Three Lakes, 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
96 mi·1 hr 45 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·20 sec·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, HomesteadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
29 mi·32 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward HomesteadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 19Toward Southwest 120th StreetUse the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto Southwest 120th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest 120th Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Southwest 127th Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Southwest 127th Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Southwest 127th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 30 minute duration, leaving Port Saint Lucie in the morning allows ample time to reach Three Lakes comfortably. With only one recommended day and a relatively short drive, you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 95.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spaced out on major highways.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.1 miles from Port Saint Lucie, FL, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.5 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.1 miles or 1h 15m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Three Lakes, 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 130.2 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 95.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 128.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
99.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
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.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
7
99.3 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Homestead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Homestead
7
128 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward Southwest 120th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 19
Toward Southwest 120th Street
6
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|Southwest 120th Street
Turn right onto Southwest 120th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.72 one way
$41.45 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$22.54
$45.09
premium
$4.72
$24.21
$48.42
diesel
$5.61
$28.75
$57.49
Estimated Tolls: $8.42
Florida's Turnpike
(95.5 mi)$6.69
Homestead Extension
(28.9 mi)$1.73
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
$21
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.1
0
$13.67
$6.25
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.39
$5.21
EV Truck/SUV
52.1
0
$18.23
$8.33
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Morning
in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Three Lakes, FL
Morning
in Three Lakes on Sunday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
2h 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 130.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 96% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on Florida's Turnpike and its Homestead Extension, experiencing a fast-paced transit. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 95.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. The profile is consistently highway-focused, meaning you'll encounter limited changes in road type, emphasizing efficiency over varied scenery.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.5 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 130.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.3 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Port Saint Lucie, FL and Three Lakes, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South and Homestead.
Florida's Turnpike Toll South
99.1 mi in|~1h 52m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Homestead
99.1 mi in|~1h 52m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 130.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.42 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.
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 Three Lakes, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.3 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Three Lakes, FL before heading back.
