How far is Apalachicola, FL from Fort Lauderdale, FL?

The driving distance from Apalachicola, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is about 497.3 miles (800.3 km), with a travel time of about 10h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 386.4 miles (621.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
497.3 mi
10h 00m
Flight
386.42 mi
621.88 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Apalachicola.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
386.42 mi
Kilometers
621.88 km
Flight Time
00h 46m

Driving Distance

Road route
497.3 mi
Kilometers
800.33 km
Drive Time
10h 00m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 10h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Lauderdale
Thu, Apr 30, 8:06 PM EDT
Return by in Apalachicola
Fri, May 1, 6:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Apalachicola
2026-04-30T10:06
Arrive Fort Lauderdale
Thu, Apr 30, 8:06 PM EDT
Route Timing
10h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
4:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Apalachicola
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Wildwood
FL

Human settlement in Sumter County, Florida, United States of America

From Apalachicola
248.9 mi
05h 00m
To Fort Lauderdale
248.4 mi
05h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
88°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Apalachicola and Fort Lauderdale.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Apalachicola and Fort Lauderdale.

  1. 1

    Start on 5th Street

    563 ft · 30 sec · 5th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Avenue C

    139 m · 24 sec · Avenue C

  3. 3

    Turn right

    42.9 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  4. 4

    Continue on Sopchoppy Highway

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Sopchoppy Highway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Coastal Highway

    54.4 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Coastal Highway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Byron Butler Parkway

    58.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Byron Butler Parkway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    8.3 mi · 12 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    48 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit right toward I 75 South: Tampa

    1926 ft · 47 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    24.7 mi · 26 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando

    240.6 mi · 4 hr 20 min · Florida's Turnpike

  12. 12

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

    1 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard

    77 m · 15 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue

    696 ft · 25 sec · Northwest 16th Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue

    3159 ft · 1 min · North Andrews Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard

    151 m · 17 sec · West Atlantic Boulevard

  18. 18

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Miami

    2315 ft · 58 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 8 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown

    2709 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Broward Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 4 min · West Broward Boulevard

  22. 22

    Continue on East Broward Boulevard

    988 ft · 35 sec · East Broward Boulevard

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Broward Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Apalachicola and Fort Lauderdale.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
120 mi · 24%
Florida's Turnpike South
120 mi · 24%
Byron Butler Parkway
66.6 mi · 13%
Coastal Highway
54.4 mi · 11%
I 75 South
25 mi · 5%
I 95 South
7.69 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Florida's Turnpike

Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando

241 mi · 04h 20m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
10h 00m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
20h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+110.9 mi
386.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wildwood
05h 00m from Apalachicola
Leave By
4:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Apalachicola and Sunny near Fort Lauderdale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Apalachicola to Fort Lauderdale?

The road trip is about 497.3 miles (800.3 km) and usually takes 10h 00m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wildwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 248.9 miles from Apalachicola and 248.4 miles from Fort Lauderdale.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 386.4 miles (621.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 110.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $72.80 one way or $145.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 156 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Apalachicola and Sunny near Fort Lauderdale.

Stop Ideas Near Wildwood

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wildwood, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wildwood.

OTHER

Wildwood, Florida

601 North Main Street
BUS

The Villages-Lady Lake, FL

13 mi away
401 North US Highway 441
BUS

Ocala, Florida

38 mi away
531 Northeast First Ave
OTHER

Dade City, Florida

57 mi away
14218 US Highway 98

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Apalachicola and Fort Lauderdale. Straight-line distance: 386.42 mi (621.88 km).

Apalachicola

#1 Apalachicola

County seat of Franklin County, Florida, United States

Population2,372
Coordinates29.7260000, -84.9856000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Fort Lauderdale

#2 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

Population184,245
Coordinates26.1223100, -80.1433800
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Apalachicola (-84.9856, 29.726)
End: Fort Lauderdale (-80.14338, 26.12231)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 800 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.55 gal
66.43 L · about $72.80
Round trip
$145.59
35.1 gal · 132.86 L
Estimated CO2
156 kg one way
Round trip: 311.9 kg / 688 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $72.80 $145.59
Mid-grade $4.60 $80.66 $161.32
Premium $4.90 $85.92 $171.85
Diesel $4.35 $76.34 $152.69

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Apalachicola and Fort Lauderdale. The current time is 10:06:25.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.