Origin
Wellington, FL
Morning in Wellington on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wellington, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to head south from Wellington to Fort Lauderdale, you are looking at a quick 45.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. This route is best suited as a simple day trip, allowing you to reach your destination easily without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Florida's Turnpike, I-95, and Forest Hill Boulevard, making it a very straightforward transition between these two Florida locations. Budgeting roughly $8 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the convenience of this short drive makes it a highly manageable trek for any traveler.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 24.6 mi | 27m |
| I 95 | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Forest Hill Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| State Road 7 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lake Worth Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Broward Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Andrews Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Wellington, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Start on Montauk Drive
Turn right onto Westhampton Circle
Turn right onto Forest Hill Boulevard
Turn right onto US 441; FL 7
Turn left onto FL 802
Take the ramp
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
Turn left onto SR 814
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 842
Continue on SR 842
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Wellington, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 42.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Westhampton Circle
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 441; FL 7 / State Road 7
Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.81 | $15.62 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.39 | $16.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.72
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Wellington on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 71% of this drive is spent on major thoroughfares. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the road, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 24.6 miles along Florida's Turnpike. The transition from the local streets of Wellington onto the high-speed lanes of the Turnpike and I-95 defines the character of the trip. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. You will find that the road surface remains consistent as you move through the suburban landscape toward the coast.
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 Westhampton Circle.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 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 (Westhampton Circle): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (US 441; FL 7 / State Road 7): Lane positioning matters here; at 32 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
27 ft
Total Descent
44 ft
Highest Point
40 ft
~12.9 mi in
Elevation Range
38 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wellington, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami and Downtown.
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Downtown
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 45.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Wellington, FL or browse trips ending in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.