Williston to Fort Lauderdale is 300 miles and takes about 5h 35m via Florida's Turnpike and I 75, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Florida, taking you from the state's interior toward the bustling South Florida coast. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. Given the relatively short duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination with ample time. It’s a straightforward route for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
150 miles from Williston, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
240.6 mi
4h 19m
I 75
24.7 mi
26m
East Noble Avenue
21.3 mi
27m
I 95
7.2 mi
8m
West Broward Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
East Broward Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.6 mi, about 4h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williston, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
1
Start on US 27
21 mi·27 min·East Noble Avenue
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
3
Merge onto I 75
25 mi·26 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
241 mi·4 hr 19 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft·15 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
7
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Northwest 16th Avenue
9
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Andrews Avenue
10
Turn left onto SR 814
497 ft·16 sec·West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
12
Merge onto I 95
7.2 mi·8 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 27Toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto SR 842
1.8 mi·3 min·West Broward Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on SR 842
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Broward Boulevard
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
SR 842
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 35-minute drive, starting in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic in the Fort Lauderdale area. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $48, you can easily manage this trip in a single day. Consider fueling up before you leave Williston to ensure you have plenty of gas for the 240.6-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, as services might be less frequent on certain segments. This route is straightforward, so enjoy the efficiency and arrive in Fort Lauderdale ready for your plans.
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 150 miles from Williston, FL, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 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 66 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150 miles or 2h 46m 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 29m
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 Williston, 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 Williston, FL
This is one driving day of about 300 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Williston, 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 240.6 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 21.3 and 297.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
8
46.3 mi into trip|~54m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
8
286.9 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
287.6 mi into trip|~5h 15m 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
297.5 mi into trip|~5h 29m 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
$47.75 one way
$95.50 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$51.94
$103.89
premium
$4.72
$55.78
$111.57
diesel
$5.61
$66.24
$132.47
Estimated Tolls: $16.84
Florida's Turnpike
(240.6 mi)$16.84
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
$48
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90
1
$31.50
$14.40
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.25
$12.00
EV Truck/SUV
120
1
$42.00
$19.20
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 20, 2026
Origin
Williston, FL
Morning
in Williston on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Morning
in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
3 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
5h 35m 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?
This route is characterized by its high highway share, with 91% of the drive on major roadways like Florida's Turnpike and I 75. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike, making it a very direct and efficient path. The profile is largely highway-focused, meaning you'll encounter consistent speeds and limited local road detours for the majority of the 300 miles. While not overly technical, it’s a journey that prioritizes covering ground swiftly on well-maintained expressways.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.6 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.3 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 300 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 46.3 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.9 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 Williston, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
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).
Top landmarks
•Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale — art museum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
•Bryan Building — building in Florida, United States
•North Woodlawn Cemetery — cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 300 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.84 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.
Yes — we found about 24 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 46.3 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.9 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 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.
