How far is Dade City, FL from Fort Lauderdale, FL?

The driving distance from Dade City, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is about 251.2 miles (404.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 199.8 miles (321.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
251.24 mi
04h 18m
Flight
199.75 mi
321.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dade City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
199.75 mi
Kilometers
321.46 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
251.24 mi
Kilometers
404.33 km
Drive Time
04h 18m

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 04h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Lauderdale
Tue, Jun 2, 1:29 PM EDT
Return by in Dade City
Tue, Jun 2, 5:48 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dade City
2026-06-02T09:11
Arrive Fort Lauderdale
Tue, Jun 2, 1:29 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:18 AM to 12:18 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:24 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dade City
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
West Vero Corridor
FL

Census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida

From Dade City
121.2 mi
02h 09m
To Fort Lauderdale
130 mi
02h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph W
Destination
90°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dade City and Fort Lauderdale.

  1. 1

    Start on 14th Street

    16 m · 9 sec · 14th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Meridian Avenue

    2155 ft · 1 min · Meridian Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 7th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · 7th Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    37 m · 2 sec

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout

    1.5 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Turn left

    25.5 mi · 36 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    11.9 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Broadway Avenue

    3183 ft · 1 min · Broadway Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive

    2787 ft · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    1427 ft · 27 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    10.8 mi · 14 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    4.3 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    46.4 mi · 59 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit left

    784 ft · 19 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    90 m · 7 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Florida's Turnpike South: Miami

    926 ft · 23 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

    125.3 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Florida's Turnpike

  19. 19

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

    1 km · 2 min

  20. 20

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

    77 m · 15 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

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

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue

    696 ft · 25 sec · Northwest 16th Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue

    3159 ft · 1 min · North Andrews Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard

    151 m · 17 sec · West Atlantic Boulevard

  25. 25

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Miami

    2315 ft · 58 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 8 min

  27. 27

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

    2709 ft · 1 min

  28. 28

    Turn left onto West Broward Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 4 min · West Broward Boulevard

  29. 29

    Continue on East Broward Boulevard

    988 ft · 35 sec · East Broward Boulevard

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Broward Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
30 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
125 mi · 50%
Van Fleet Drive
62.5 mi · 25%
I 95 South
7.69 mi · 3%
7th Street
2.82 mi · 1%
West Broward Boulevard
1.78 mi · 1%
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.36 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Florida's Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

125 mi · 02h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.4 mi
199.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Vero Corridor
02h 09m from Dade City
Leave By
8:24 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Dade City and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fort Lauderdale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dade City to Fort Lauderdale?

The road trip is about 251.2 miles (404.3 km) and usually takes 04h 18m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

West Vero Corridor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 121.2 miles from Dade City and 130 miles from Fort Lauderdale.

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

The direct path is about 199.8 miles (321.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.4 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:24 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.79 one way or $73.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Dade City and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fort Lauderdale.

Stop Ideas Near West Vero Corridor

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around West Vero Corridor, 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 West Vero Corridor.

RAIL

Okeechobee

55 mi away
801 North Parrott Avenue
RAIL

Sebring

95 mi away
601 East Center St
RAIL

West Palm Beach

111 mi away
201 South Tamarind Ave
RAIL

Kissimmee

116 mi away
111 East Dakin Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dade City and Fort Lauderdale. Straight-line distance: 199.75 mi (321.46 km).

Dade City

#1 Dade City

County seat of Pasco County, Florida, United States

Population7,338
Coordinates28.3647200, -82.1959200
Altitude36
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: 14th Street (-82.195785, 28.364719)
End: East Broward Boulevard (-80.143382, 26.122355)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 404 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.87 gal
33.56 L · about $36.79
Round trip
$73.59
17.74 gal · 67.12 L
Estimated CO2
78.8 kg one way
Round trip: 157.7 kg / 348 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $36.79 $73.59
Mid-grade $4.60 $40.77 $81.53
Premium $4.90 $43.43 $86.86
Diesel $4.35 $38.58 $77.17

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Dade City and Fort Lauderdale. The current time is 09:11:36.

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.