Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach drive: Best stops, time & distance

The best road trip stops on the Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach drive are Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. The distance from Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach is 123 miles, with a 2h7m driving time.

Planning a Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach road trip itinerary

The Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach drive takes you up Florida’s all-action east coast.

Fort Lauderdale is sleek coastal city of beaches and canals. For Fort Lauderdale experiences, try narrated 90 minute cruises on the Jungle Queen, Everglades airboat adventures and snorkelling tours on the Fort Lauderdale reefs.

Alternatively, try an evening boat cruise, renting a powerboat or parasailing.

Great beachfront Fort Lauderdale accommodation options include the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Hotel Maren. 

With beaches on the Atlantic side of the Indian River Lagoon, Vero Beach can be used as a sun and sand destination. But there’s more to it than that. The Vero Beach Museum of Art provides a culture fix and the McKee Botanical Garden showcases incredible floral diversity.

Fun Vero Beach activities include tiki cabana boat cruises and fat tire electric bike tours.

For Vero Beach accommodation picks, try the Prestige Hotel by the beach or the Hampton Inn downtown.

Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach FL is 123 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and seven minutes. The quickest route is up the I-95.

The best stops to add to a Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach road trip are Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. For more suggestions, read the guides to the individual sections of the journey:

• Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton drive.
• Boca Raton to West Palm Beach drive.
• West Palm Beach to Vero Beach drive.

Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach road trip attractions: Boca Raton

Two coastal parks are the highlights of Boca Raton. Red Reef Park comes with a snorkelling area over a series of artificial reefs, plus the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The latter comes with a boardwalk and sea turtles. Spanish River Park, meanwhile, has plenty of picnic tables and a dog-friendly beach.

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is the top cultural attraction, known for its thoughtful special exhibitions.

Boca Raton is also a popular spot for fishing charters.

Top Boca Raton accommodation choices include the Marriott at Boca Center and the Hyatt Place.

Best stops between Fort Lauderdale and Vero Beach: West Palm Beach

Notoriously wealthy West Palm Beach goes big on art. The Norton Museum of Art and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens are the big hitters, but there are plenty of smaller galleries. Arguably the top attraction is in Palm Beach, however. Here, the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum marries Gilded Age grandeur with Florida history.

Bookable West Palm Beach experiences include snorkelling tours, sunset cruises and photoshoots on Worth Avenue. You can also try jet snorkelling, parasailing and food-tasting market tours.

For West Palm Beach accommodation with superb guest ratings, the Pioneer Inn is excellent value and the Ben brings five star opulence.

Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach drive: Fort Pierce FL

Fort Pierce is an often-overlooked spot on Florida’s Atlantic coast, but there’s plenty to do here. Top Fort Pierce experiences include clear kayak tours through the mangroves, jungle tours and sunset kayak tours.

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum looks at the elite special ops marine troops of the Navy Seals, while the St Lucie County Aquarium shows off other marine life.

The Fort Pierce Inlet State Park offers an excellent half-mile beach, birdwatching, an observation tower and snorkelling off the shore. There’s also a string of beaches on the south side of the Inlet.

Manatees also rock up here during the winter months, with the Fort Pierce Manatee Observation Center the best place to see them.

Well-reviewed Fort Pierce accommodation options include the budget-friendly Hampton Inn and the beachfront Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel.

More Fort Lauderdale road trips

Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton | Fort Lauderdale to Boynton Beach | Buffalo to Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral | Dallas to Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale to Deerfield Beach | Fort Lauderdale to Delray Beach | Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers | Houston to Fort Lauderdale | Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale to Jupiter FL | Fort Lauderdale to Naples | Miami to Fort Lauderdale | Nashville to Fort Lauderdale | Orlando to Fort Lauderdale | Pensacola to Fort Lauderdale | Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale | Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale to Stuart FL | Fort Lauderdale to Washington DC | Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach.

More Vero Beach road trips

Daytona Beach to Vero Beach | Jacksonville to Vero Beach | Miami to Vero Beach | Orlando to Vero Beach | Tampa to Vero Beach | West Palm Beach to Vero Beach.