How far is Fort Lauderdale, FL from Merritt Island, FL?
The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Merritt Island, FL is about 188.2 miles (302.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 170.1 miles (273.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 03h 45m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The most populous city in St.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Lauderdale and Merritt Island.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale and Merritt Island.
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1
Start on East Broward Boulevard
1 km · 1 min · East Broward Boulevard
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2
Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi · 5 min · Northwest 9th Avenue
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3
Continue on Powerline Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Powerline Road
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4
Continue on South Powerline Road
2.4 mi · 5 min · South Powerline Road
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5
Continue on South Pompano Parkway
1 mi · 2 min · South Pompano Parkway
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6
Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard
2984 ft · 1 min · West Atlantic Boulevard
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7
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Northwest 31st Avenue
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8
Continue on Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
610 ft · 17 sec
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
1761 ft · 43 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
84.6 mi · 1 hr 33 min · Florida's Turnpike
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11
Take the exit slight right toward FL 70: Fort Pierce, Vero Beach
2817 ft · 54 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on FL 70 East: Fort Pierce
65 m · 5 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto Okeechobee Road
1641 ft · 35 sec · Okeechobee Road
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 95
969 ft · 24 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: Daytona Beach
2718 ft · 1 min
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16
Merge slight left
73.5 mi · 1 hr 19 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward FL 524: Cocoa
1148 ft · 28 sec
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18
Keep slight right to continue on FL 524: UCF Cocoa Campus, Cocoa, Eastern Florida State College, Museum
76 m · 8 sec
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19
Turn right
2.8 mi · 4 min
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20
Continue straight
580 ft · 13 sec
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21
Turn left onto East Industry Road
117 m · 15 sec · East Industry Road
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22
Take the ramp slight right toward FL 528 East: Canaveral Cape-Port-AFS
3076 ft · 54 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Beachline Expressway
144 m · 7 sec · Beachline Expressway
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24
Continue on Bennett Causeway
2.7 mi · 4 min · Bennett Causeway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward FL 3: Merritt Island, Kennedy Space Center
1011 ft · 25 sec
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26
Keep slight left
55 m · 7 sec
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27
Turn straight onto North Courtenay Parkway
7 mi · 11 min · North Courtenay Parkway
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28
Continue on Kennedy Parkway North
3.8 mi · 6 min · Kennedy Parkway North
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29
Turn left onto Roberts Road
1.1 km · 4 min · Roberts Road
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Roberts Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Lauderdale and Merritt Island.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Florida's Turnpike
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
84.6 mi · 01h 33m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Lauderdale and Mostly Cloudy near Merritt Island.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Lauderdale to Merritt Island?
The road trip is about 188.2 miles (302.8 km) and usually takes 03h 45m 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?
Fort Pierce is a useful midpoint, sitting about 94.3 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 93.8 miles from Merritt Island.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 170.1 miles (273.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.1 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 9:30 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.54 one way or $55.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Lauderdale and Mostly Cloudy near Merritt Island.
Stop Ideas Near Fort Pierce
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fort Pierce.
Okeechobee
West Palm Beach
Sebring
Delray Beach
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Lauderdale and Merritt Island. Straight-line distance: 170.11 mi (273.77 km).
#1 Fort Lauderdale
The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.
| Population | 184,245 |
| Coordinates | 26.1223100, -80.1433800 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Merritt Island
Census designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States
| Population | 34,743 |
| Coordinates | 28.5391700, -80.6720000 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
End: Merritt Island (-80.672, 28.53917)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 303 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 42m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 45m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 41m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $27.54 | $55.09 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $30.52 | $61.03 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $32.51 | $65.02 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $28.88 | $57.77 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.