Alachua, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL is 329 miles and takes about 6h 11m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Florida for its entirety, primarily utilizing major highways for a straightforward transit. Given the relatively short duration and consistent road profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive. Plan for a smooth, efficient journey with minimal complexity, making it a practical option for getting from North Central Florida down to South Florida.
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
164.5 miles from Alachua, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
258 mi
4h 39m
I 75
55.2 mi
59m
Northwest 43rd Street
4.9 mi
8m
Southwest 34th Street
3.3 mi
6m
ML King Memorial Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Northwest 16th Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Northwest 34th Street
1 mi
2m
Palmetto Boulevard
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 258 mi, about 4h 39m
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 Pembroke Pines, 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
258 mi·4 hr 39 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto SR 820
0.2 mi·36 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·Southwest 8th Street
19
Arrive at destination
Southwest 8th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider departing in the morning to ensure ample daylight for the entire trip. With only one recommended stop and a 258-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, you can easily complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the long highway segment, as services can be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $50, so factor that into your budget. Being a one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient for you.
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 164.5 miles from Alachua, FL, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258 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 72 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.5 miles or 3h 10m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke Pines, 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 329 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 258 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 328.2 — 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.
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
7
327.6 mi into trip|~6h 7m in
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
6
328.2 mi into trip|~6h 8m in|Southwest 64th Way
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.90 one way
$105.80 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$57.70
$115.41
premium
$4.78
$61.94
$123.88
diesel
$6.28
$81.29
$162.58
Estimated Tolls: $18.06
Florida's Turnpike
(258 mi)$18.06
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
$53
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.7
1
$34.55
$15.79
Efficient EV
82.3
0
$28.79
$13.16
EV Truck/SUV
131.6
1
$46.06
$21.06
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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
5:56 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
Pembroke Pines, FL
Late night
in Pembroke Pines on Thursday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 15 mph5% 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the trip on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 258 miles on Florida's Turnpike, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. The final miles will transition from the highway to surface roads like Northwest 43rd Street as you approach your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and interchanges throughout the majority of your travel time.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 258 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. You will hit about 14 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 Effort5/10
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 329 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.6 miles (Northwest 43rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
139 ft6 ft
Total Climb
57 ft
Total Descent
190 ft
Highest Point
139 ft
Elevation Range
133 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 Pembroke Pines, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 11m. Total distance: 329 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 258 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.06 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 Pembroke Pines, 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 69.6 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pembroke Pines, FL before the return drive.
