How far is Melbourne Beach, FL from Fort Lauderdale, FL?

The driving distance from Melbourne Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is about 162.4 miles (261.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.9 miles (220.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
162.36 mi
02h 41m
Flight
136.88 mi
220.29 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Melbourne Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
136.88 mi
Kilometers
220.29 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
162.36 mi
Kilometers
261.3 km
Drive Time
02h 41m

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 02h 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Lauderdale
Sat, Aug 29, 4:17 AM EDT
Return by in Melbourne Beach
Sat, Aug 29, 6:59 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Melbourne Beach
2026-08-29T01:36
Arrive Fort Lauderdale
Sat, Aug 29, 4:17 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:41 AM to 12:41 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Melbourne Beach
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Stuart
FL

City in Florida

From Melbourne Beach
77.6 mi
01h 20m
To Fort Lauderdale
84.8 mi
01h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87ยฐF
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Aug 29 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph ESE
Destination
91ยฐF
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Aug 29 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Melbourne Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    5 m ยท 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Ocean Avenue

    44 m ยท 8 sec ยท Ocean Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    1.1 km ยท 1 min ยท Oak Street

  4. 4

    Continue on South Miramar Avenue

    1.6 km ยท 2 min ยท South Miramar Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Fifth Avenue

    1 km ยท 2 min ยท Fifth Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Melbourne Causeway

    1.2 mi ยท 2 min ยท Melbourne Causeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Strawbridge Avenue

    1.3 mi ยท 3 min ยท Strawbridge Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on New Haven Avenue

    1589 ft ยท 39 sec ยท New Haven Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto South Babcock Street

    2.5 mi ยท 5 min ยท South Babcock Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Babcock Street Northeast

    3 mi ยท 5 min ยท Babcock Street Northeast

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Malabar Road

    2127 ft ยท 40 sec ยท Malabar Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 95 South: Miami

    892 ft ยท 27 sec

  13. 13

    Turn sharp left onto I 95 South: Miami

    2299 ft ยท 59 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    43.4 mi ยท 47 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce

    2396 ft ยท 58 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on FL 70 West: Okeechobee

    150 m ยท 12 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Okeechobee Road

    2745 ft ยท 58 sec ยท Okeechobee Road

  18. 18

    Take the ramp left

    1090 ft ยท 35 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Miami, Florida's Turnpike South

    2588 ft ยท 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

    84.9 mi ยท 1 hr 33 min ยท Florida's Turnpike

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1 km ยท 2 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard

    77 m ยท 15 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1.4 mi ยท 3 min ยท Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue

    696 ft ยท 25 sec ยท Northwest 16th Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue

    3159 ft ยท 1 min ยท North Andrews Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard

    151 m ยท 17 sec ยท West Atlantic Boulevard

  27. 27

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: Miami

    2315 ft ยท 58 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi ยท 8 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 842: Broward Boulevard, Downtown

    2709 ft ยท 1 min

  30. 30

    Turn left onto West Broward Boulevard

    1.8 mi ยท 4 min ยท West Broward Boulevard

  31. 31

    Continue on East Broward Boulevard

    988 ft ยท 35 sec ยท East Broward Boulevard

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m ยท 1 sec ยท East Broward Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
84.9 mi ยท 52%
I 95 South
51.7 mi ยท 32%
Babcock Street Northeast
3.01 mi ยท 2%
South Babcock Street
2.52 mi ยท 2%
West Broward Boulevard
1.78 mi ยท 1%
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.36 mi ยท 1%
Longest Stretch

Florida's Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

84.9 mi ยท 01h 33m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 41m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.5 mi
136.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuart
01h 20m from Melbourne Beach
Leave By
1:08 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Melbourne Beach and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Fort Lauderdale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Melbourne Beach to Fort Lauderdale?

The road trip is about 162.4 miles (261.3 km) and usually takes 02h 41m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Stuart is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.6 miles from Melbourne Beach and 84.8 miles from Fort Lauderdale.

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

The direct path is about 136.9 miles (220.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.77 one way or $47.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Melbourne Beach and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Fort Lauderdale.

Stop Ideas Near Stuart

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

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

RAIL

West Palm Beach

57 mi away
201 South Tamarind Ave
RAIL

Okeechobee

57 mi away
801 North Parrott Avenue
RAIL

Delray Beach

84 mi away
345 South Congress Ave
RAIL

Deerfield Beach

99 mi away
1300 W. Hillsboro Blvd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Melbourne Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Straight-line distance: 136.88 mi (220.29 km).

Melbourne Beach

#1 Melbourne Beach

Town in Florida

Population3,298
Coordinates28.0683500, -80.5603300
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Fort Lauderdale

#2 Fort Lauderdale

The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.

Population184,245
Coordinates26.1223100, -80.1433800
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: (-80.560334, 28.06835)
End: East Broward Boulevard (-80.143384, 26.122355)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 261 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.73 gal
21.69 L ยท about $23.77
Round trip
$47.54
11.46 gal ยท 43.38 L
Estimated CO2
50.9 kg one way
Round trip: 101.8 kg / 224 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $23.77 $47.54
Mid-grade $4.60 $26.34 $52.67
Premium $4.90 $28.05 $56.11
Diesel $4.35 $24.93 $49.85

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 ยท Aug 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Melbourne Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The current time is 01:36:22.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh โ€” 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.