Origin
West Palm Beach, FL
Morning in West Palm Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West 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
59m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Palm Beach, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning just 45.7 miles, the trip from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale is a quick, straightforward journey that takes roughly 59 minutes under normal conditions. Because of the short distance, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-95, though the final approach incorporates North Dixie Highway and West Broward Boulevard to reach your destination. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $8, this route remains highly budget-friendly for solo travelers and families alike. Both cities are situated within the Florida region, ensuring a consistent tropical climate and familiar road infrastructure throughout your transit. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the ease of this connection makes it an exceptionally practical choice.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 39.7 mi | 45m |
| North Dixie Highway | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| West Broward Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Belvedere Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Broward Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 39.7 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Palm Beach, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on North Dixie Highway
282 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Dixie Highway
2
Continue on North Dixie Highway
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Dixie Highway
3
Turn right onto Belvedere Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Belvedere Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South: Miami
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
21 mi
·
23 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from West 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 43.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Belvedere Road
Turn right onto Belvedere Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 95 South: Miami
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 South: Miami
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.3 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
$7.27 one way
$14.55 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 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 | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
E 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 2:00AM EDT until April 14 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
2 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
59m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 87% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. The core of your journey features a long, uninterrupted 39.7-mile stretch on I-95, allowing for steady, consistent speeds. While the interstate provides the bulk of the efficiency, the character of the drive shifts as you transition onto North Dixie Highway and West Broward Boulevard near your arrival. This combination creates a predictable, albeit functional, flow that favors speed and directness over scenic detours. You should prepare for typical high-traffic patterns common on major Florida arteries, but the overall lack of required stops makes for a very streamlined experience.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.7 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and North Dixie Highway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near Belvedere Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 45.7 miles you will encounter 7 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 1.8 miles (Belvedere Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
34 ft
2 ft
Total Climb
53 ft
Total Descent
64 ft
Highest Point
34 ft
~6.5 mi in
Elevation Range
32 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Palm Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
43.3 mi in
|
~53m
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 59m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.8 miles (Belvedere Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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