Origin
Baird, FL
Late night in Baird on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Baird, FL to Lake Alfred, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
42.3 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Baird, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Lake Alfred, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across Florida, the 42.3-mile journey from Baird to Lake Alfred is an efficient choice. Expect to spend about one hour and one minute behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate primarily using FL 37, the Polk Parkway, and US 92 to complete the transit. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, the route is as economical as it is direct. Since the entire drive stays within the state, you can plan this trip with minimal logistical overhead. It is a no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| FL 37 | 17.8 mi | 25m |
| Polk Parkway | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| US 92 | 7.7 mi | 12m |
| Old Highway 37 | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| CR 630 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Haines Boulevard East | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Streamsong Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Haines Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
FL 37
— 17.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baird, FL and Lake Alfred, FL.
1
Start on Streamsong Drive
195 ft
·
14 sec
·
Streamsong Drive
2
Continue on Old Highway 37
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Old Highway 37
3
Turn left onto CR 630
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
CR 630
4
Turn right onto FL 37
18 mi
·
25 min
·
FL 37
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward FL 570 East Toll: Polk Parkway East
6
Merge onto FL 570 Toll
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 570 Toll
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Polk Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 17
Toward US 92: Auburndale, Lakeland
Use the right lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 92
7.7 mi
·
12 min
·
US 92
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Haines Boulevard East
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Haines Boulevard East
11
Arrive at destination
East Haines Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Baird, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 34.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CR 630
Turn left onto CR 630
Navigation decision point
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
FL 37
Turn right onto FL 37
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
23.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
FL 570 Toll / Polk Parkway
Merge onto FL 570 Toll / Polk Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
34 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward US 92: Auburndale, Lakeland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 17
Toward US 92: Auburndale, Lakeland
5
34.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 92
At end of road, turn left onto US 92
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.73 one way
$13.47 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.32 | $14.65 |
| premium | $4.72 | $7.87 | $15.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.34 | $18.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Lake Alfred, FL
Late night in Lake Alfred on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 1m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a consistent pace, as the roads are designed for efficiency rather than leisurely cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 17.8-mile segment on FL 37, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm. Because the route relies so heavily on major roads like the Polk Parkway, the experience is more about utility than scenic variety. You will find that the transitions between these highways are smooth, keeping you moving steadily toward Lake Alfred.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on FL 37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 37 and Polk Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near CR 630.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 42.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 4.1 miles (CR 630): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (FL 37): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (FL 570 Toll / Polk Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
171 ft
122 ft
Total Climb
145 ft
Total Descent
107 ft
Highest Point
171 ft
~42.3 mi in
Elevation Range
49 ft
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.
On the drive from Baird, FL to Lake Alfred, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Lakeland along the way.
Lakeland
34 mi in
|
~47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 42.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on FL 37. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 4.1 miles (CR 630): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (FL 37): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (FL 570 Toll / Polk Parkway): 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 Lake Alfred, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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