Origin
Baird, FL
Late night in Baird on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Baird, FL to Lake Wales, 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
57m
Distance
41.1 mi
66 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Baird, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Lake Wales, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 41.1-mile journey from Baird to Lake Wales in Florida is easily manageable as a day trip, typically taking about 57 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, it's an economical option for a quick drive. The route primarily utilizes FL 60 and FL 37, with a significant 75% highway share, making it a focused drive. You'll be covering the short distance between two points within the same region of Florida. Given its brevity and lack of designated stops in the data, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you want to depart and how you want to spend your time upon arrival.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| FL 60 | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| FL 37 | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| Canal Street | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| Old Highway 37 | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| CR 630 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Central Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Flamingo Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
FL 60
— 14.5 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baird, FL and Lake Wales, 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
11 mi
·
14 min
·
FL 37
5
Turn right onto FL 60
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Canal Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on FL 60
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto Main Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Flamingo Drive
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Flamingo Drive
9
Turn right onto FL 60
10 mi
·
12 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on FL 60
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
FL 60
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
280 ft
·
11 sec
13
Turn left onto US 27
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 27
14
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Central Avenue
15
Turn left onto FL 17
284 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Scenic Highway
16
Turn right onto East Stuart Avenue
113 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Stuart Avenue
17
Turn right
226 ft
·
16 sec
18
Arrive at destination
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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 16.3 and 39.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
FL 60 / Canal Street
Turn right onto FL 60 / Canal Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
25.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
FL 60
Turn right onto FL 60
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
39.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
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.
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
5
39.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.54 one way
$13.08 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.12 | $14.23 |
| premium | $4.72 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.07 | $18.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Wales, FL
Late night in Lake Wales on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°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
57m 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 highway-focused drive for most of this 41.1-mile trip. Approximately 75% of the route is on highways, including FL 60 and FL 37, which means you'll experience some faster-paced driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.5 miles on FL 60, allowing for a consistent pace. The road character is largely defined by these main arteries, offering a direct and efficient connection between Baird and Lake Wales. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state roads designed for smooth transit.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on FL 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and FL 37. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.3 miles in near FL 60 / Canal Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 41.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.3 miles (FL 60 / Canal Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles (FL 60): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Lake Wales, FL
Full guide →Lake Wales is a small city in eastern Polk County, Florida. The city is in the middle of a long, narrow region known as the Lake Wales Ridge. The Lake Wales Ridge was the first part of the Florida Peninsula to rise above sea level, beginning as a series of small sandy islands not unlike the Florida Keys today. It is a unique environment from its surrounding and home to several endemic species, such as the gopher tortoise and scrub jay. The city of Lake Wales lies at the southern foot of Iron Mountain—the second-highest point on the Florida Peninsula at 295 ft (90 m)—and is home to famous Bok Tower Gardens and its Singing Tower. Near the center of town lies Lake Wailes. The city is small, but much of the rural area extending east and southeast of town is considered as part of Lake Wales and included in this guide.
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 57m. Total distance: 41.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on FL 60. 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 Lake Wales, 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 16.3 miles (FL 60 / Canal Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles (FL 60): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake Wales, 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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