How far is Fort Walton Beach, FL from Fort Lauderdale, FL?
The driving distance from Fort Walton Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is about 622.2 miles (1001.3 km), with a travel time of about 09h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 493.2 miles (793.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 09h 27m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 third most populous city in Florida.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Walton Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Walton Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
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1
Start on Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
47 m · 9 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
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2
Turn right onto Williams Street Northwest
1153 ft · 56 sec · Williams Street Northwest
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Beal Parkway Northwest
806 ft · 28 sec · Beal Parkway Northwest
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4
Turn sharp right onto Yacht Club Drive
1687 ft · 41 sec · Yacht Club Drive
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5
Turn left onto Eglin Parkway Northeast
7 mi · 12 min · Eglin Parkway Northeast
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6
Continue on Eglin Parkway
2.9 mi · 4 min · Eglin Parkway
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7
Continue on Government Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min · Government Avenue
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8
Turn left onto West John Sims Parkway
1.4 mi · 3 min · West John Sims Parkway
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9
Turn left onto North Partin Drive
17.4 mi · 23 min · North Partin Drive
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10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
2289 ft · 56 sec
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11
Merge slight left
226.1 mi · 4 hr 2 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
1959 ft · 37 sec
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13
Merge slight left
107.2 mi · 1 hr 55 min
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14
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
240.6 mi · 4 hr 20 min · Florida's Turnpike
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
1 km · 2 min
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16
Keep slight left to continue on East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
77 m · 15 sec
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17
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.4 mi · 3 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
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18
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
696 ft · 25 sec · Northwest 16th Avenue
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19
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
3159 ft · 1 min · North Andrews Avenue
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20
Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard
151 m · 17 sec · West Atlantic Boulevard
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21
Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Miami
2315 ft · 58 sec
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22
Merge slight left
7.2 mi · 8 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown
2709 ft · 1 min
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24
Turn left onto West Broward Boulevard
1.8 mi · 4 min · West Broward Boulevard
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25
Continue on East Broward Boulevard
988 ft · 35 sec · East Broward Boulevard
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Broward Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Walton Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
241 mi · 04h 20m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Walton Beach and Sunny near Fort Lauderdale.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Walton Beach to Fort Lauderdale?
The road trip is about 622.2 miles (1001.3 km) and usually takes 09h 27m 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?
Gainesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 309.1 miles from Fort Walton Beach and 313 miles from Fort Lauderdale.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 493.2 miles (793.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 129 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 CDT. 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 $91.05 one way or $182.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 195.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Walton Beach and Fort Lauderdale, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Walton Beach and Sunny near Fort Lauderdale.
Stop Ideas Near Gainesville
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 Gainesville.
Gainesville, Florida
Waldo, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Palatka
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Walton Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Straight-line distance: 493.16 mi (793.67 km).
#1 Fort Walton Beach
City in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
| Population | 22,396 |
| Coordinates | 30.4205900, -86.6170700 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fort Lauderdale
The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.
| Population | 184,245 |
| Coordinates | 26.1223100, -80.1433800 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Broward Boulevard (-80.143382, 26.122355)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1001 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 20h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 15h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 12h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 45m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $91.05 | $182.10 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $100.88 | $201.76 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $107.47 | $214.93 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $95.48 | $190.96 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.