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

The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Apalachicola, FL is about 494.4 miles (795.6 km), with a travel time of about 09h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 386.4 miles (621.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 58m 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
494.34 mi
09h 59m
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 Fort Lauderdale.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
494.34 mi
Kilometers
795.56 km
Drive Time
09h 59m

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 09h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Apalachicola
Wed, Apr 15, 5:49 PM EDT
Return by in Fort Lauderdale
Thu, Apr 16, 3:49 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Lauderdale
2026-04-15T07:50
Arrive Apalachicola
Wed, Apr 15, 5:49 PM EDT
Route Timing
09h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:59 PM to 5:29 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
4:02 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
Wildwood
FL

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

From Fort Lauderdale
247.4 mi
04h 59m
To Apalachicola
246.9 mi
04h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph E
Destination
74°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    24.6 mi · 26 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Ocala, Williston

    1342 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 27 North: Williston

    90 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    48 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Main Street

    540 ft · 15 sec · Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Young Boulevard

    66.5 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Young Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Hampton Springs Avenue

    54.4 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Hampton Springs Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Sopchoppy Highway

    6.5 mi · 9 min · Sopchoppy Highway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Sopchoppy Highway

    10.5 mi · 15 min · Sopchoppy Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    32.5 mi · 49 min

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Avenue C

    139 m · 22 sec · Avenue C

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    563 ft · 25 sec · 5th Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
3 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
265 mi · 54%
Young Boulevard
66.5 mi · 13%
Hampton Springs Avenue
54.4 mi · 11%
Sopchoppy Highway
49.5 mi · 10%
US 27 North
48.1 mi · 10%
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.91 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
09h 59m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
19h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+108 mi
386.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wildwood
04h 59m from Fort Lauderdale
Leave By
4:02 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Lauderdale and Sunny near Apalachicola.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 494.4 miles (795.6 km) and usually takes 09h 59m 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 247.4 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 246.9 miles from Apalachicola.

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 108 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 $72.34 one way or $144.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 155 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Lauderdale and Sunny near Apalachicola.

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 Fort Lauderdale and Apalachicola. Straight-line distance: 386.42 mi (621.88 km).

Fort Lauderdale

#1 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

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

#2 Apalachicola

County seat of Franklin County, Florida, United States

Population2,372
Coordinates29.7260000, -84.9856000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Lauderdale (-80.14338, 26.12231)
End: Apalachicola (-84.9856, 29.726)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 796 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.44 gal
66.03 L · about $72.34
Round trip
$144.68
34.88 gal · 132.06 L
Estimated CO2
155 kg one way
Round trip: 310 kg / 683 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $72.34 $144.68
Mid-grade $4.60 $80.15 $160.31
Premium $4.90 $85.39 $170.77
Diesel $4.35 $75.86 $151.73

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Lauderdale and Apalachicola. The current time is 07:50:28.

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.