Alachua to Hialeah is 341.6 miles and takes about 6h 30m via Northwest 105th Avenue, Creek Drive, and Palmetto Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, connecting two distinct regions of the state primarily on surface roads. Expect a steady drive with a consistent pace, suitable for a single-day excursion. Given the 6.5-hour estimate, it's manageable without an overnight stay, though planning for traffic, especially as you approach South Florida, is wise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
170.8 miles from Alachua, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
262 mi
4h 44m
I 75
55.2 mi
59m
Northwest 43rd Street
4.9 mi
8m
Southwest 34th Street
3.3 mi
6m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
2.8 mi
4m
Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
ML King Memorial Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 262 mi, about 4h 44m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
11 AM
~2,799 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,759
Quietest
2 AM
~427 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 100 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alachua, FL and Hialeah, FL.
1
Start on Palmetto Boulevard
461 ft·22 sec·Palmetto Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Northwest 105th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Northwest 105th Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Creek Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Creek Drive
4
Turn right onto Palmetto Boulevard
0.6 mi·2 min·Palmetto Boulevard
5
Turn left onto Turkey Creek Boulevard
0.1 mi·39 sec·Turkey Creek Boulevard
6
Turn right onto US 441
2.1 mi·2 min·ML King Memorial Highway
7
Turn right onto Northwest 43rd Street
4.9 mi·8 min·Northwest 43rd Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Boulevard
1.1 mi·2 min·Northwest 16th Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto FL 121
1.0 mi·2 min·Northwest 34th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on FL 121
3.3 mi·6 min·Southwest 34th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto FL 121
0.3 mi·30 sec·Southwest Williston Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
13
Merge onto I 75
55 mi·59 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
262 mi·4 hr 44 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 2XToward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock StadiumUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·21 sec·this road
17
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi·2 min·Northwest 199th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi·4 min·Northwest 37th Avenue
19
Continue on Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
For this 341.6-mile trip, leaving in the morning is best to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon congestion in South Florida. Since the drive is estimated at 6.5 hours and consists solely of surface roads, plan for one stop for a break and to refuel, which should be manageable within your $54 fuel budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Hialeah, as services can become more spread out in certain stretches. The flexibility of a surface road route means you can adjust your timing slightly if needed, but aim to pass through populated areas outside of peak commute times.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.8 miles from Alachua, FL, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 75 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.8 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hialeah, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alachua, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alachua, FL
This is one driving day of about 341.6 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Alachua, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 262 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 331.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Northwest 105th Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest 105th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.6 mi into trip|~8m in|Northwest 43rd Street
Turn right onto Northwest 43rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
9.6 mi into trip|~19m in|FL 121 / Northwest 34th Street
Turn right onto FL 121 / Northwest 34th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
8
331.6 mi into trip|~6h 12m in
Take the exit toward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock Stadium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2X
Toward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock Stadiu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.92 one way
$109.85 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$59.91
$119.83
premium
$4.78
$64.31
$128.62
diesel
$6.28
$84.40
$168.81
Estimated Tolls: $18.34
Florida's Turnpike
(262 mi)$18.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.5
1
$35.87
$16.40
Efficient EV
85.4
0
$29.89
$13.66
EV Truck/SUV
136.6
1
$47.82
$21.86
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Alachua, FL
Late night
in Alachua on Thursday
Local time
5:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 13 to 17 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Hialeah, FL
Late night
in Hialeah on Thursday
Local time
5:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 15 to 21 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 30m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 341.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any highway cruising. The route covers 341.6 miles with a 0% highway share, so be prepared for consistent traffic signals and varying speed limits throughout. You'll notice a shift in the driving environment as you transition from the areas around Alachua to the more built-up sections leading into Hialeah. The longest stretch without a specific marker is not provided, but the profile indicates a continuous surface road experience.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Northwest 105th Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 30m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest 105th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (Northwest 43rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (FL 121 / Northwest 34th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
212 ft7 ft
Total Climb
184 ft
Total Descent
316 ft
Highest Point
212 ft
~101.8 mi in
Elevation Range
206 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alachua, FL and Hialeah, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
The longest stretch is about 262 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.34 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hialeah, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest 105th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (Northwest 43rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (FL 121 / Northwest 34th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hialeah, FL before the return drive.
