This 646.6-mile journey from Brent, FL to Melrose Park, FL is a substantial long-distance drive, estimated to take about 11 hours and 42 minutes. Given the duration, it's definitely a trip best split over two days rather than attempted as a single-day push. You'll be spending nearly all your time on major highways, with a 99% highway share, making for efficient travel. Expect a fuel cost of around $103 for this extensive drive within Florida. Planning for at least three stops will help break up the long hours and make the trip more manageable.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
323.3 miles from Brent, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
282.9 mi
5h 3m
Florida's Turnpike
249.3 mi
4h 29m
I 75
107.2 mi
1h 54m
State Road 7
1 mi
2m
Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
West Sunrise Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Brent Lane
0.4 mi
1m
Iowa Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 282.9 mi, about 5h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brent, FL and Melrose Park, FL.
1
Start on East Brent Lane
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Brent Lane
2
Continue on FL 296
0.4 mi·1 min·Brent Lane
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·54 sec
Toward I 110 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 110
0.9 mi·1 min·Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 6Toward I 10 East, FL 291: Tallahassee, Davis HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
8
Merge onto I 10
283 mi·5 hr 3 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
10
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
249 mi·4 hr 29 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 58Toward SR 838: Sunrise BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto SR 838
0.6 mi·1 min·West Sunrise Boulevard
14
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·33 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
85 ft·3 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
160 ft·6 sec
17
Turn right onto US 441
1.0 mi·2 min·State Road 7
18
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·19 sec·South State Road 7
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on South State Road 7
109 ft·4 sec·South State Road 7
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Southwest 2nd Court
0.2 mi·27 sec·Southwest 2nd Court
21
Continue on Iowa Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Iowa Avenue
22
Continue on East Campus Circle
484 ft·16 sec·East Campus Circle
23
Continue on East Campus Circle
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Campus Circle
24
Turn right onto Capri Drive
193 ft·6 sec·Capri Drive
25
Arrive at destination
Capri Drive
Trip Plan
For this 11-hour, 42-minute drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize daylight driving and reach your overnight stop at a reasonable hour. Plan your three stops strategically, ensuring they are spaced out to provide regular breaks. Given the long stretches on I-10, be mindful of fuel levels, as services can sometimes be farther apart than you might expect. A good mid-point for an overnight stay would be around the halfway mark of your 646.6-mile journey.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 323.3 miles from Brent, FL, or about 5h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 282.9 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 142 miles or 2h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 323.3 miles or 5h 49m 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 323.3 miles or 5h 49m
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 10h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Melrose Park, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brent, 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 Brent, FL
Aim for roughly 323 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Melrose Park, FL
Aim for roughly 323 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 142 miles from Brent, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 282.9 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 0.9 and 643.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 110 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North
9
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East, FL 291: Tallahassee, Davis Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward I 10 East, FL 291: Tallahassee, Davis Hi...
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
8
393.8 mi into trip|~7h 4m 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
643.1 mi into trip|~11h 34m in
Take the exit toward SR 838: Sunrise Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 58
Toward SR 838: Sunrise Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$102.92 one way
$205.84 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg226 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$111.96
$223.92
premium
$4.72
$120.23
$240.46
diesel
$5.61
$142.76
$285.52
Estimated Tolls: $17.45
Florida's Turnpike
(249.3 mi)$17.45
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
$103
Tolls
$17
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$250–$360
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 226.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $68 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
194
2
$67.89
$31.04
Efficient EV
161.7
1
$56.58
$25.86
EV Truck/SUV
258.6
3
$90.52
$41.38
Gas CO2
226 kg
EV CO2
76 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Brent, FL
Evening
in Brent on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Melrose Park, FL
Night
in Melrose Park on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
12 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
11h 42m 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
Park Closure: Fort Pickens Campground Restroom A Loop Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a predominantly interstate experience on this route, with 99% of the travel occurring on major highways like I-10, Florida's Turnpike, and I-75. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 282.9 miles along I-10. This means you'll be covering a lot of ground quickly, with minimal detours from high-speed cruising. While the highway focus ensures steady progress, be ready for sustained periods of driving on these main arteries as you traverse the state.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 282.9 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Florida's Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 646.6 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 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brent, FL and Melrose Park, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
Florida's Turnpike South
393.8 mi in|~7h 4m|via Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
393.8 mi in|~7h 4m|via Florida's Turnpike
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 282.9 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 323 miles on day one.
Expect about $17.45 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 Melrose Park, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.7 hours each way, a round trip means 23.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Melrose Park, FL before the return drive.
