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Trip from Royal Palm Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 7m

Distance

49.2 mi

79 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Royal Palm Beach, FL, FL

Royal Palm Beach, FL

DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ

city ​​in Broward County, Florida, United States

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 49.2-mile drive from Royal Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes. You'll be spending about 78% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing Florida's Turnpike and I-95. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $8, making it an economical option. This highway-focused route is straightforward and efficient, perfect for getting you from point A to point B without extensive detours. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's ideal for a quick day trip within the state of Florida.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Florida's Turnpike 29.9 mi 33m
I 95 7.2 mi 8m
Belvedere Road 2.2 mi 3m
Okeechobee Boulevard 1.8 mi 3m
West Broward Boulevard 1.8 mi 3m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard 1.4 mi 2m
FL 7 1.2 mi 2m
North Andrews Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Florida's Turnpike — 29.9 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Royal Palm Beach, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.

1

Start on this road

469 ft · 36 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto Royal Palm Beach Boulevard

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Royal Palm Beach Boulevard
3

Turn left onto Okeechobee Boulevard

1.8 mi · 3 min · Okeechobee Boulevard
4

Turn right onto FL 7

1.2 mi · 2 min · FL 7
5

Turn left onto Belvedere Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvedere Road
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn right onto Pike Road

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Pike Road
7

Take the ramp

247 ft · 6 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South
8

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 27 sec · this road
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South
9

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

30 mi · 33 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 67 Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

251 ft · 15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
12

Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

1.4 mi · 2 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Northwest 16th Avenue
14

Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Andrews Avenue
15

Turn left onto SR 814

497 ft · 16 sec · West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
16

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
17

Merge onto I 95

7.2 mi · 8 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 27 Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn left onto SR 842

1.8 mi · 3 min · West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on SR 842

0.2 mi · 35 sec · East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21

Arrive at destination

SR 842

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city ​​in Broward County, Florida, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pompano Beach, FL

25 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Royal Palm Estates, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kings Point, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Royal Palm Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 46.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Royal Palm Beach Boulevard

At end of road, turn right onto Royal Palm Beach Boulevard

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
6 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South

Navigation decision point

Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South
8
36.1 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 67 Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther Kin...
6
36.8 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlan...
8
46.7 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Take the exit toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown

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. Exit 27 Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.83 one way

$15.66 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $8.52 $17.04
premium $4.72 $9.15 $18.30
diesel $5.61 $10.86 $21.73

Estimated Tolls: $2.09

Florida's Turnpike (29.9 mi) $2.09

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$2

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.8 0 $5.17 $2.36
Efficient EV 12.3 0 $4.31 $1.97
EV Truck/SUV 19.7 0 $6.89 $3.15

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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

Royal Palm Beach, FL

Afternoon in Royal Palm Beach on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Afternoon in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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 7m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this journey, with 78% of the drive taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike. This means a significant portion of your travel will involve higher speeds and consistent driving. While the primary roads are interstates, you'll also navigate sections of Belvedere Road. The character of the drive is predominantly about efficient travel, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads.

78% 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: 29.9 mi on Florida's Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Royal Palm Beach Boulevard.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (Royal Palm Beach Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Royal Palm Beach, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South and Downtown.

Florida's Turnpike Toll South

6 mi in | ~11m

Downtown

46.7 mi in | ~1h 1m

About the Cities

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Full guide →

Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean in the US state of Florida. It is known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive canal system. Situated in Broward County in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area, the city's population is over 180,000 (2021). The city is most famous for its beaches and boats, and while the city of Fort Lauderdale is relatively small in area, the term 'Fort Lauderdale' is often used to refer to the larger metropolis that has grown up around it. It is the county seat for Broward county, and is part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area, which has over 6.1 million people (2019).

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 29.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.09 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 0.1 miles (Royal Palm Beach Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Lauderdale, FL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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