How far is Fort Lauderdale, FL from Mary Esther, FL?

The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Mary Esther, FL is about 617.8 miles (994.3 km), with a travel time of about 11h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 495.1 miles (796.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 22h 56m 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
617.84 mi
11h 28m
Flight
495.08 mi
796.75 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
495.08 mi
Kilometers
796.75 km
Flight Time
00h 59m

Driving Distance

Road route
617.84 mi
Kilometers
994.32 km
Drive Time
11h 28m

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 11h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mary Esther
Sun, Apr 19, 7:07 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Lauderdale
Sun, Apr 19, 7:36 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Lauderdale
2026-04-18T20:39
Arrive Mary Esther
Sun, Apr 19, 8:07 AM EDT
Route Timing
11h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:28 PM to 5:58 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:04 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
West Park
FL

City in Florida, United States of America

From Fort Lauderdale
309.1 mi
05h 44m
To Mary Esther
308.8 mi
05h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph E
Destination
75°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale and Mary Esther.

  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

    106.9 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee

    820 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee

    1569 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    226.4 mi · 4 hr 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 285: Niceville, Eglin AFB

    1694 ft · 42 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left

    17.6 mi · 23 min

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East John Sims Parkway

    1.2 km · 2 min · East John Sims Parkway

  19. 19

    Continue on John Sims Parkway

    1 km · 1 min · John Sims Parkway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    4.5 mi · 7 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Gen Robert W. Bond Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Gen Robert W. Bond Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Lewis Turner Boulevard

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Lewis Turner Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on Beal Parkway Northwest

    2 mi · 4 min · Beal Parkway Northwest

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Mary Esther Cut Off

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Mary Esther Cut Off

  25. 25

    Continue on Mary Esther Boulevard

    1.2 km · 2 min · Mary Esther Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn right onto East Miracle Strip Parkway

    2831 ft · 1 min · East Miracle Strip Parkway

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Doolittle Boulevard

    40 m · 3 sec · Doolittle Boulevard

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Doolittle Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
348 mi · 56%
I 10 West
227 mi · 37%
John Sims Parkway
5.13 mi · 1%
Lewis Turner Boulevard
3.91 mi · 1%
Northwest 9th Avenue
2.91 mi
South Powerline Road
2.41 mi
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
11h 28m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
22h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+122.7 mi
495.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Park
05h 44m from Fort Lauderdale
Leave By
1:04 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Lauderdale and Mostly Sunny near Mary Esther.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Lauderdale to Mary Esther?

The road trip is about 617.8 miles (994.3 km) and usually takes 11h 28m 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?

West Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 309.1 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 308.8 miles from Mary Esther.

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

The direct path is about 495.1 miles (796.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 122.7 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 $90.43 one way or $180.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 193.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Lauderdale and Mary Esther, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near West Park

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

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

BUS

Gainesville, Florida

8 mi away
201 East University Ave.
BUS

Waldo, Florida

26 mi away
14648 NE 147th Avenue
BUS

Ocala, Florida

59 mi away
531 Northeast First Ave
RAIL

Palatka

74 mi away
220 North 11th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Lauderdale and Mary Esther. Straight-line distance: 495.08 mi (796.75 km).

Fort Lauderdale

#1 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

Population184,245
Coordinates26.1223100, -80.1433800
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Mary Esther

#2 Mary Esther

City in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States

Population4,462
Coordinates30.4101500, -86.6650900
Altitude7
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Lauderdale (-80.14338, 26.12231)
End: Mary Esther (-86.66509, 30.41015)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 994 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)20h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)15h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)12h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)10h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)08h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)07h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
21.8 gal
82.53 L · about $90.43
Round trip
$180.85
43.6 gal · 165.06 L
Estimated CO2
193.7 kg one way
Round trip: 387.5 kg / 854 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $90.43 $180.85
Mid-grade $4.60 $100.19 $200.39
Premium $4.90 $106.73 $213.47
Diesel $4.35 $94.83 $189.66

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Mary Esther, FL. The current time in Fort Lauderdale is 20:39:37, although it is 19:39:37 in Mary Esther.

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.