Alachua to Jacksonville is 75.5 miles and takes about 1h 47m via FL 121 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, making it a straightforward journey between two points in the same state. Expect a drive that is mostly highway, so it's ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from A to B without many detours. With a total duration under two hours, this route is perfect for a same-day trip, allowing you plenty of time to reach your destination and settle in.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.8 miles from Alachua, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 121
38.6 mi
52m
I 10
26.1 mi
29m
CR 237
4 mi
9m
FL 235
1.6 mi
2m
Union Street
0.7 mi
1m
I 95
0.7 mi
1m
Palmetto Boulevard
0.7 mi
2m
ML King Memorial Highway
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
FL 121
— 38.6 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alachua, FL and Jacksonville, 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·37 sec·Turkey Creek Boulevard
6
Turn left onto US 441
0.7 mi·55 sec·ML King Memorial Highway
7
Turn right onto CR 237
4.0 mi·9 min·CR 237
Use the right lane.
8
Turn right onto FL 235
1.6 mi·2 min·FL 235
9
Continue on FL 121; FL 235
39 mi·52 min·FL 121; FL 235
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 10 East: Jacksonville
11
Merge onto I 10
26 mi·29 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, SavannahUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi·1 min·I 95
15
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 17; FL 228
Exit 353BToward Union Street, Beaver Street
16
Turn straight onto US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·Union Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
US 17
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Jacksonville with ample daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a major road change is 38.6 miles on FL 121, so plan for a single fuel stop if your vehicle has a smaller tank, though at 75.5 miles total, most cars won't need it. Keep an eye out for the transition onto I-10, as this is where the character of the drive shifts to a more interstate-style journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.8 miles from Alachua, FL, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.6 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 17 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alachua, FL
This is one driving day of about 75.5 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Alachua, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on FL 121 for about 38.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 74.6 — 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
2.2 mi into trip|~6m in|CR 237
Turn right onto CR 237
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
46.7 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savan...
6
74.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|US 17; FL 228
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228 toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 353B
Toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.02 one way
$24.04 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$13.07
$26.15
premium
$4.72
$14.04
$28.08
diesel
$5.61
$16.67
$33.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.7
0
$7.93
$3.62
Efficient EV
18.9
0
$6.61
$3.02
EV Truck/SUV
30.2
0
$10.57
$4.83
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Alachua, FL
Late night
in Alachua on Tuesday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
Late night
in Jacksonville on Tuesday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll experience a significant portion on FL 121, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 38.6 miles. The journey transitions to I-10, offering a faster pace for the latter part of your drive. Given its highway-centric profile, anticipate a relatively smooth and direct experience with limited opportunities for spontaneous stops off the main path.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.6 mi on FL 121.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 121 and I 10. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Northwest 105th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest 105th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (CR 237): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.7 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
Top landmarks
•Fort Caroline — fort in Florida managed by the National Park Service
•Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville — museum in Jacksonville, Florida
•Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve — wetlands in Florida (U.S.) managed by the National Park Service
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 75.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.6 miles on FL 121. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Jacksonville, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest 105th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (CR 237): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.7 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, FL before heading back.
