How far is Fort Lauderdale, FL from Longboat Key, FL?

The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Longboat Key, FL is about 225.4 miles (362.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 179 miles (288 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 42m 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
225.45 mi
04h 21m
Flight
178.96 mi
288.01 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
178.96 mi
Kilometers
288.01 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
225.45 mi
Kilometers
362.83 km
Drive Time
04h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Longboat Key
Tue, May 12, 11:04 PM EDT
Return by in Fort Lauderdale
Wed, May 13, 3:25 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Lauderdale
2026-05-12T18:43
Arrive Longboat Key
Tue, May 12, 11:04 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 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
8:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Lauderdale
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
Bonita Springs
FL

A city in Lee County, Florida.

From Fort Lauderdale
112.8 mi
02h 10m
To Longboat Key
112.7 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph SE
Destination
Longboat Key Weather
FL
Live fallback forecast
91°F
Tuesday
Using South Bradenton as the closest live forecast in the Manatee County weather hub.

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale and Longboat Key.

  1. 1

    Start on East Broward Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 3 min · East Broward Boulevard

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 95 South: Miami

    885 ft · 24 sec

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 595 West

    1 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Port Everglades Expressway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Port Everglades Expressway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Port Everglades Expressway

    10.1 mi · 12 min · Port Everglades Expressway

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    191.2 mi · 3 hr 25 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 780: Sarasota, St Armads

    1844 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on FL 780 West

    794 ft · 24 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Fruitville Road

    6.2 mi · 11 min · Fruitville Road

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tamiami Trail

    78 m · 5 sec · Tamiami Trail

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Tamiami Trail

    760 ft · 20 sec · Tamiami Trail

  13. 13

    Turn slight right onto sr 789

    756 ft · 25 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto John Ringling Boulevard

    2.2 mi · 5 min · John Ringling Boulevard

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Saint Armands Circle

    32 m · 4 sec · Boulevard of the Presidents

  16. 16

    Exit the rotary onto Boulevard of the Presidents

    2371 ft · 1 min · Boulevard of the Presidents

  17. 17

    Continue on John Ringling Parkway

    3116 ft · 1 min · John Ringling Parkway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on John Ringling Parkway

    1101 ft · 29 sec · John Ringling Parkway

  19. 19

    Continue on Gulf of Mexico Drive

    7.3 mi · 13 min · Gulf of Mexico Drive

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Gulf of Mexico Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Port Everglades Expressway
203 mi · 90%
Gulf of Mexico Drive
7.32 mi · 3%
Fruitville Road
6.24 mi · 3%
I 595
2.18 mi · 1%
John Ringling Boulevard
2.17 mi · 1%
East Broward Boulevard
1.6 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Port Everglades Expressway

Merge slight left

191 mi · 03h 25m

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 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.4 mi
179 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bonita Springs
02h 10m from Fort Lauderdale
Leave By
8:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Lauderdale and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Longboat Key.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Lauderdale to Longboat Key?

The road trip is about 225.4 miles (362.8 km) and usually takes 04h 21m 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?

Bonita Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 112.7 miles from Longboat Key.

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

The direct path is about 179 miles (288 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.4 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 8:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.98 one way or $65.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Lauderdale and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Longboat Key.

Stop Ideas Near Bonita Springs

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Bonita Springs, 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 Bonita Springs.

BUS

Fort Myers, Florida

40 mi away
6050 Plaza Drive
BUS

Port Charlotte, Florida

80 mi away
909 King Highway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Lauderdale and Longboat Key. Straight-line distance: 178.96 mi (288.01 km).

Fort Lauderdale

#1 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

Population184,245
Coordinates26.1223100, -80.1433800
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Longboat Key

#2 Longboat Key

Town in Florida

Population7,303
Coordinates27.4125400, -82.6589900
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Lauderdale (-80.14338, 26.12231)
End: Longboat Key (-82.65899, 27.41254)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 363 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.95 gal
30.11 L · about $32.98
Round trip
$65.95
15.9 gal · 60.22 L
Estimated CO2
70.7 kg one way
Round trip: 141.3 kg / 312 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $32.98 $65.95
Mid-grade $4.60 $36.54 $73.08
Premium $4.90 $38.92 $77.85
Diesel $4.35 $34.58 $69.16

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Lauderdale and Longboat Key. The current time is 18:43:02.

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.