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

The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Alachua, FL is about 320.6 miles (515.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 286.8 miles (461.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 15m 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
320.55 mi
06h 07m
Flight
286.81 mi
461.58 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Lauderdale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
286.81 mi
Kilometers
461.58 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
320.55 mi
Kilometers
515.87 km
Drive Time
06h 07m

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 06h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alachua
Fri, Apr 17, 10:45 AM EDT
Return by in Fort Lauderdale
Fri, Apr 17, 4:53 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Lauderdale
2026-04-17T04:37
Arrive Alachua
Fri, Apr 17, 10:45 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:08 PM to 1:38 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
11:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Lauderdale
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
Saint Cloud
FL

A city in Osceola County, Florida.

From Fort Lauderdale
160.6 mi
03h 04m
To Alachua
160 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
92°F
Friday

Areas Of Fog then Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Broward Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · East Broward Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Northwest 9th Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Powerline Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Powerline Road

  4. 4

    Continue on South Powerline Road

    2.4 mi · 5 min · South Powerline Road

  5. 5

    Continue on South Pompano Parkway

    1 mi · 2 min · South Pompano Parkway

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard

    2984 ft · 1 min · West Atlantic Boulevard

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Northwest 31st Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando

    610 ft · 17 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

    1761 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

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

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike

    1281 ft · 16 sec · Florida's Turnpike

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    56 mi · 1 hr

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 24: Archer Road, Gainesville, Archer

    1866 ft · 51 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Southwest Archer Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Southwest Archer Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Southwest 34th Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Southwest 34th Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Northwest 34th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Northwest 34th Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Northwest 16th Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Northwest 16th Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Northwest 43rd Street

    4.9 mi · 9 min · Northwest 43rd Street

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto ML King Memorial Highway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · ML King Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Turkey Creek Boulevard

    31 m · 5 sec · Turkey Creek Boulevard

  21. 21

    Continue on Turkey Creek Boulevard

    663 ft · 32 sec · Turkey Creek Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Palmetto Boulevard

    1613 ft · 1 min · Palmetto Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on Palmetto Boulevard

    1813 ft · 1 min · Palmetto Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Creek Drive West

    2013 ft · 1 min · Creek Drive West

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Northwest 105th Avenue

    1429 ft · 1 min · Northwest 105th Avenue

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Palmetto Boulevard

    141 m · 20 sec · Palmetto Boulevard

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Palmetto Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
297 mi · 93%
Northwest 43rd Street
4.9 mi · 2%
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.91 mi · 1%
South Powerline Road
2.41 mi · 1%
ML King Memorial Highway
2.1 mi · 1%
Southwest 34th Street
1.75 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Florida's Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

240 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
06h 07m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.8 mi
286.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint Cloud
03h 04m from Fort Lauderdale
Leave By
11:44 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Lauderdale and Areas Of Fog then Sunny near Alachua.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 320.6 miles (515.9 km) and usually takes 06h 07m 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?

Saint Cloud is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.6 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 160 miles from Alachua.

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

The direct path is about 286.8 miles (461.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.8 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 $46.91 one way or $93.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Lauderdale and Areas Of Fog then Sunny near Alachua.

Stop Ideas Near Saint Cloud

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Saint Cloud, 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 Saint Cloud.

RAIL

Kissimmee

13 mi away
111 East Dakin Ave.
RAIL

Orlando Health/Amtrak

32 mi away
1400 Sligh Blvd.
RAIL

Winter Park

39 mi away
150 West Morse Blvd
RAIL

Winter Haven

52 mi away
1800 7th St SW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Lauderdale and Alachua. Straight-line distance: 286.81 mi (461.58 km).

Fort Lauderdale

#1 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

Population184,245
Coordinates26.1223100, -80.1433800
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Alachua

#2 Alachua

City in Alachua County, Florida, United States

Population9,916
Coordinates29.7516300, -82.4248300
Altitude42
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Lauderdale (-80.14338, 26.12231)
End: Alachua (-82.42483, 29.75163)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 516 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.31 gal
42.82 L · about $46.91
Round trip
$93.83
22.62 gal · 85.64 L
Estimated CO2
100.5 kg one way
Round trip: 201 kg / 443 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $46.91 $93.83
Mid-grade $4.60 $51.98 $103.96
Premium $4.90 $55.37 $110.75
Diesel $4.35 $49.20 $98.40

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Lauderdale and Alachua. The current time is 04:37:24.

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.