Origin
Alafaya, FL
Morning in Alafaya on Tuesday
Local time
6:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
66.3 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alafaya, FL
Arian Fernandez
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 66.3-mile drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with about 87% of the journey on them, making it a straightforward, highway-focused experience. You can expect to spend around $11 on fuel for this journey. Passing through the heart of Florida, this drive is a practical option for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these two locations. Given its short duration, you won't need to consider overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 47.6 mi | 54m |
| East-West Expressway | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Lakeland Hills Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| North Massachusetts Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Alafaya Trail | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Socrum Loop Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Alafaya Trail | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Colonial Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 47.6 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alafaya, FL and Lakeland, FL.
1
Start on O'Berry Hoover Road
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
O'Berry Hoover Road
2
Turn right onto FL 50
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Colonial Drive
3
Turn right onto Alafaya Trail
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Alafaya Trail
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on North Alafaya Trail
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Alafaya Trail
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward FL 408 Toll West: Orlando, Ocoee
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto FL 408 Toll
10 mi
·
11 min
·
East-West Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
171 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 10A
Toward I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
Exit 10
Toward I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 4
48 mi
·
54 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 33
Toward CR 582: Lakeland
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto CR 582
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Socrum Loop Road
13
Turn right onto FL 33
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Lakeland Hills Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on North Massachusetts Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Massachusetts Avenue
15
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Morton Drive
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lake Morton Drive
16
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
422 ft
·
18 sec
·
East Walnut Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Walnut Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Alafaya, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 61.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FL 50 / East Colonial Drive
Turn right onto FL 50 / East Colonial Drive
Navigation decision point
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward FL 408 Toll West: Orlando, Ocoee
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward FL 408 Toll West: Orlando, Ocoee
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10A
Toward I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 4 West: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
7
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward CR 582: Lakeland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
Toward CR 582: Lakeland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.55 one way
$21.11 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
| premium | $4.72 | $12.33 | $24.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.64 | $29.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Lakeland, FL
Morning in Lakeland on Tuesday
Local time
6:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 87% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I-4 and the East-West Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.6 miles on I-4, allowing for consistent travel speeds. While the majority of the drive is on expressways, you'll transition to Lakeland Hills Boulevard closer to your destination. This road profile suggests a focus on reaching your destination efficiently rather than experiencing diverse scenery.
87% 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: 47.6 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and East-West Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near FL 50 / East Colonial Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (FL 50 / East Colonial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alafaya, FL and Lakeland, FL, road signs point toward Daytona Beach and Cr 582: Lakeland.
Daytona Beach
12.1 mi in
|
~15m
Cr 582: Lakeland
61.1 mi in
|
~1h 13m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lakeland, FL
Full guide →Founded 1875
Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.
Top landmarks
- • Child of the Sun — Florida
- • Polk Theatre — movie theater and theater in Lakeland, Florida
- • Beacon Hill-Alta Vista Residential District — historic district in Florida, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.6 miles on I 4. 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 Lakeland, 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 0.2 miles (FL 50 / East Colonial Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakeland, FL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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