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Trip from Brent, FL to Melrose Park, FL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

11h 42m

Distance

646.6 mi

1,041 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$103

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
11h 32m ★
6 AM
11h 42m
8 AM
12h 3m
10 AM
11h 50m
12 PM
11h 48m
3 PM
11h 51m
5 PM
12h 2m
8 PM
11h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Brent, FL, FL

Brent, FL

DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ

Downtown Melrose Park, FL, FL

Melrose Park, FL

DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ

Trip Overview

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

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,226 veh/hr typical · worst 1,701

Quietest

2 AM

~148 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

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 North Use 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 6 Toward I 10 East, FL 291: Tallahassee, Davis Highway Use 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 296A Toward 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 328 Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 58 Toward SR 838: Sunrise Boulevard Use 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.

city in Thomas County, Georgia, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Boston, GA

213 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

city in Florida, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Belle Isle, FL

427 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Belle Isle, FL

Overnight Options

Night 1

Gainesville, FL

323 mi · about 5.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Gainesville, FL after about 323 miles or 5.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Bonifay, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 142 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gainesville, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 323.3 miles from Brent, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 282.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 323 miles or 5.9 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocala, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 6h 41m in / 5h 1m to go 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524219810

Visit website

Best coffee break · around the midpoint

Doxa Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Alachua, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 5h 51m in / 5h 51m to go 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

The Kookaburra Alachua

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Alachua, Florida

2.5 mi

Brick & Iron Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocala, Florida

3 mi

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524219810

Visit website

Starbucks

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+18505621373

Visit website

Harvest Thyme Alachua

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Halfway reset 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Alachua, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+13865883188

Visit website

Maple Street Biscuit Company

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18503919512

Visit website

Krispy Kreme

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+18503856038

Visit website

Starbucks Coffee Company

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+18504252641

Visit website

WestEnd Square

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+15168691240

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Live Oak, Florida

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+13862194646

Visit website

Doxa Coffee Co.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Alachua, Florida

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

Mug Shots Coffee & Energy

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Crestview, Florida

Hours: 8 am–3:30 pm

Visit website

The Kookaburra Alachua

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Alachua, Florida

Hours: 6:30 am–7 pm

+19042099391

Visit website

Little Haven Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Crestview, Florida

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+18506967037

Visit website

Brick & Iron Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+13525812650

Visit website

7 Brew Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 5:30 am–10 pm

+14793589274

Visit website

Sipping Grounds Midtown

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13522991294

Visit website

The Juniper General Store

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Halfway reset 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+13525094006

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.1 mi from route

Crestview, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Crestview, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Ocala, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Pensacola, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

FPL EVolution Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Crestview, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Alachua, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Crestview, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Pensacola, Florida

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)

0 mi from route

Turkey Lake Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

West Palm Beach Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Canoe Creek Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Leon County Rest Area Westbound

0.1 mi from route

Leon County Rest Area Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)

0.1 mi from route

Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound

0.1 mi from route

Gadsden County Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Fort Drum Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Pompano Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Okaloosa County Rest Area Westbound

0.1 mi from route

Okaloosa County Rest Area Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Jackson County Rest Area Westbound

0.1 mi from route

Jackson County Rest Area Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Madison County Rest Area Westbound

0.1 mi from route

Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)

0.1 mi from route

Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)

0.1 mi from route

Marion County Rest Area Northbound

0.1 mi from route

Okahumpka Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Port Saint Lucie - Fort Pierce Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound

0.2 mi from route

Madison County Rest Area Eastbound

0.2 mi from route

Suwannee County Rest Area Eastbound

0.2 mi from route

Columbia County Rest Area Westbound

0.2 mi from route

Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)

0.2 mi from route

Marion County Rest Area Southbound

0.2 mi from route

Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Northbound

0.2 mi from route

Ponce de Leon Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Busy Bee Truck Stop

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

Santa Rosa County Rest Area Eastbound

0.3 mi from route

Santa Rosa County Rest Area Westbound

0.3 mi from route

Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Southbound

0.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Holmes County Rest Area

0.4 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.4 mi from route

40392

0.8 mi from route

40391

1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.6 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1.7 mi from route

Scott Springs Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+13523685517

Visit website

Joseph C. Carter Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19548285411

Visit website

Ocala Downtown Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Ocala, Florida

Go Retro

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Pensacola, Florida

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+18504665220

Visit website

Tuscawilla Art Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+13526298447

Visit website

Tuscawilla Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Ocala, Florida

+13523685517

Visit website

Lake Jackson Mounds State Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+18509226007

Visit website

Pensacola MESS Hall

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

Pensacola, Florida

Hours: 12–5 pm

+18779376377

Visit website

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/gal 25.4 MPG avg 226 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.41 $112.19 $224.38
premium $4.74 $120.74 $241.48
diesel $5.35 $136.19 $272.39

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, 2026-06-01.

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 Jun 1, 2026

Origin

Brent, FL

Afternoon in Brent on Wednesday

Local time

2:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 5 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued May 31 at 11:16AM EDT until June 2 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Destination

Melrose Park, FL

Afternoon in Melrose Park on Wednesday

Local time

3:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 3 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued May 31 at 11:16AM EDT until June 2 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

90°F

Boston, GA

213 mi in

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

3 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

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

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
Caution: Road workers on Park Road in Davis Bayou
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

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 Effort 9/10

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

157 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

165 ft

Total Descent

255 ft

Highest Point

157 ft

~277.1 mi in

Elevation Range

150 ft

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

About the Cities

Arriving in Melrose Park, FL

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

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.

Yes — we found about 61 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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. There are 61 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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