Spanning 464.6 miles across Florida, this drive connects Bithlo to Brent in approximately 8 hours and 26 minutes of pure road time. Because of the significant distance, you should plan for at least two days on the road to keep the journey manageable. Your path primarily utilizes Florida's Turnpike, I-75, and I-10, making it a highly efficient highway-focused trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $78, it is a straightforward trek that requires minimal navigation through local streets. While you could technically push through in one long day, splitting the trip allows you to maintain a safer, more relaxed pace as you cross from the central part of the state toward the western panhandle.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
232.3 miles from Bithlo, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
283.4 mi
5h 3m
I 75
106.9 mi
1h 54m
Florida's Turnpike
42.6 mi
45m
East-West Expressway
20.5 mi
23m
East Colonial Drive
5.7 mi
9m
Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway
0.8 mi
<1m
Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
Brent Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 283.4 mi, about 5h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bithlo, FL and Brent, FL.
1
Start on 5th Avenue
252 ft·9 sec·5th Avenue
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
503 ft·18 sec·6th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto FL 50
5.5 mi·8 min·East Colonial Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on FL 50
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Colonial Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward FL 408 Toll West: Orlando, Ocoee
6
Merge onto FL 408 Toll
21 mi·23 min·East-West Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on FL 408 Toll
0.8 mi·53 sec·Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Ocala
9
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
42 mi·45 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
11
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 10
283 mi·5 hr 3 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 110
0.4 mi·29 sec·Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 5Toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward FL 296: Brent LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto FL 296
0.3 mi·52 sec·Brent Lane
20
Continue on East Brent Lane
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Brent Lane
21
Turn left onto Sycamore Drive
218 ft·12 sec·Sycamore Drive
22
Turn left onto East Brent Lane
34 ft·1 sec·East Brent Lane
23
Arrive at destination
East Brent Lane
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 464.6-mile trek, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are facing a longest stretch of 283.4 miles on I-10, try to time your breaks strategically to avoid fatigue during that segment. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to beat potential traffic congestion on the busier sections of I-75 and the Turnpike. Keep your $78 fuel budget in mind, and consider filling up before hitting the more remote stretches of the interstate to avoid premium highway pricing. By pacing yourself and respecting the length of the journey, you can comfortably transition from Bithlo to Brent.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 232.3 miles from Bithlo, FL, or about 4h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 102 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 232.3 miles or 4h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 232.3 miles or 4h 15m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brent, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bithlo, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bithlo, FL
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brent, FL
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Bithlo, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 283.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 462.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|FL 50 / East Colonial Drive
At end of road, turn right onto FL 50 / East Colonial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
177.6 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
177.8 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
8
461.5 mi into trip|~8h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola 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 12
Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
8
462.8 mi into trip|~8h 23m in
Take the exit toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent Lane
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 5
Toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.95 one way
$147.90 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg163 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$80.45
$160.89
premium
$4.72
$86.39
$172.78
diesel
$5.61
$102.58
$205.16
Estimated Tolls: $2.96
Florida's Turnpike
(42.3 mi)$2.96
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
$74
Tolls
$3
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 162.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
139.4
1
$48.78
$22.30
Efficient EV
116.2
1
$40.65
$18.58
EV Truck/SUV
185.8
2
$65.04
$29.73
Gas CO2
163 kg
EV CO2
54 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bithlo, FL
Late night
in Bithlo on Tuesday
Local time
4:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brent, FL
Late night
in Brent on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
S 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:40AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:00AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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
8h 26m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$25
near mile 464.6
Park Closure: Fort Pickens Campground Restroom A Loop Closure
Discover a dynamic barrier island shaped by dunes, coastal hammocks, and Mosquito Lagoon. Walk among ancient Timucua shell mounds and connect with thousands of years of human history. Immerse yourself...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 98% of this journey takes place on major highways. The road maintains a consistent, efficient flow, though you should prepare for the monotony of long-distance cruising. The most significant portion of your drive will be a 283.4-mile stretch along I-10, which dominates the latter half of the trip. You won't encounter many technical or winding local roads, as the route is designed for speed and directness rather than scenic bypasses. Behind the wheel, this means you will spend the vast majority of your time focused on steady highway travel rather than navigating complex intersections.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 283.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near FL 50 / East Colonial Drive.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 464.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (FL 50 / East Colonial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 177.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bithlo, FL and Brent, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike North, Ocala and Tallahassee.
Florida's Turnpike North
27.5 mi in|~35m
Ocala
27.5 mi in|~35m
Tallahassee
177.6 mi in|~3h 16m
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 283.4 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 232 miles on day one.
Expect about $2.96 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Brent, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (FL 50 / East Colonial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 177.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore and Canaveral National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brent, FL before the return drive.
