Traveling from Silver Springs to Fort Lauderdale covers 278.5 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 33 minutes of drive time. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you should plan on this being a full one-day commitment. Expect to budget roughly $47 for fuel to complete the journey. While you remain within Florida for the duration, the transition from the springs region to the coastal south is significant. Whether you are heading south for a vacation or a change of scenery, this trip is manageable as a single-day excursion if you stay focused on the road.
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
138.6 miles from Silver Springs, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
236.9 mi
4h 15m
Northeast 58th Avenue
10.5 mi
17m
Nathan Mayo Highway
9.2 mi
13m
I 95
7.2 mi
8m
US 301
6.3 mi
10m
West Broward Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 236.9 mi, about 4h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Springs, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on FL 40
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Silver Springs Boulevard
2
Continue on FL 40
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Silver Springs Boulevard
3
Turn slight left onto FL 35
0.3 mi·36 sec·Northeast 55th Avenue
4
Continue on FL 35
10 mi·17 min·Northeast 58th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on Baseline Road
0.1 mi·13 sec·Baseline Road
6
Turn right onto Southeast Babb Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Southeast Babb Road
7
Turn left onto US 301
9.2 mi·13 min·Nathan Mayo Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on US 301
6.3 mi·10 min·US 301
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
237 mi·4 hr 15 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft·15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Northwest 16th Avenue
15
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Andrews Avenue
16
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft·16 sec·West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
18
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi·8 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 27Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi·3 min·West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 278.5-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local driving segments. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy, as navigating local turns and intersections is significantly easier in daylight hours. Since you are not utilizing highways, your travel time can be unpredictable, so build in a buffer for potential congestion. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the trip, keeping that $47 estimate in mind as your baseline budget. Specifically, verify your GPS navigation before departure to ensure you are comfortable with the series of turns required on Northeast 55th and 58th Avenues.
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 138.6 miles from Silver Springs, FL, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.9 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 61 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.6 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lauderdale, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Silver Springs, 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 Silver Springs, FL
This is one driving day of about 277.2 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Silver Springs, 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 236.9 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 11.5 and 274.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.5 mi into trip|~20m in|US 301 / Nathan Mayo Highway
Turn left onto US 301 / Nathan Mayo Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
27.3 mi into trip|~45m in|Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
264.2 mi into trip|~5h 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
264.8 mi into trip|~5h 2m 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
274.7 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
$44.12 one way
$88.25 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$48.00
$95.99
premium
$4.72
$51.54
$103.09
diesel
$5.61
$61.20
$122.40
Estimated Tolls: $16.58
Florida's Turnpike
(236.9 mi)$16.58
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
$44
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.2
1
$29.11
$13.31
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
EV Truck/SUV
110.9
1
$38.81
$17.74
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Silver Springs, FL
Morning
in Silver Springs on Sunday
Local time
10:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
10:37 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
12 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
5h 21m 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?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route features zero highway miles, relying instead on local roads like East Silver Springs Boulevard and Northeast 55th and 58th Avenues. Because the entire journey consists of turn-heavy local driving, you will need to stay alert and ready for frequent navigation adjustments. There are no long, monotonous stretches of interstate here to zone out on, making it a more engaging and active time behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by these technical, lower-speed segments that guide you through the Florida landscape at a more deliberate pace.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.9 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 Northeast 58th Avenue. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.5 miles in near US 301 / Nathan Mayo Highway.
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 277.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 11.5 miles (US 301 / Nathan Mayo Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 264.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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).
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 277.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.58 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.
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.
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.
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 11.5 miles (US 301 / Nathan Mayo Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 264.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Lauderdale, FL before the return drive.
