Origin
Brent, FL
Late night in Brent on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brent, FL to Merritt Island, 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
9h 9m
Distance
494.1 mi
795 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$79
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 2m
★
6 AM
9h 10m
8 AM
9h 26m
10 AM
9h 16m
12 PM
9h 14m
3 PM
9h 16m
5 PM
9h 25m
8 PM
9h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brent, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Merritt Island, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brent, FL to Merritt Island, FL is 494.1 miles and takes about 9h 9m via I 10, I 75, and Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $79 and an overnight stay recommended. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the western part of the state across to the Atlantic coast. Given the duration and distance, planning for an overnight stop is wise to avoid an excessively long day of driving. The route is primarily highway, making it a straightforward transit across the state.
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
247 miles from Brent, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 282.9 mi | 5h 3m |
| I 75 | 107.2 mi | 1h 54m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 42.3 mi | 45m |
| East-West Expressway | 20.5 mi | 23m |
| East Colonial Drive | 16.1 mi | 21m |
| Cheney Highway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| NASA Parkway West | 5 mi | 7m |
| Columbia Boulevard | 4.1 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 282.9 mi, about 5h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brent, FL and Merritt Island, 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
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit onto FL 408 Toll
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway
Exit 265
Toward FL 408 Toll East: Orlando, Titusville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on FL 408 Toll
20 mi
·
23 min
·
East-West Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 23
Toward FL 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward FL 50 East: Titusville
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto FL 50
16 mi
·
21 min
·
East Colonial Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on FL 50
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Cheney Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto FL 405
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Columbia Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on FL 405
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
NASA Causeway
20
Continue on FL 405
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
NASA Parkway West
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
141 ft
·
8 sec
23
Turn left onto Kennedy Parkway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennedy Parkway
24
Turn left onto Roberts Road
0.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Roberts Road
25
Arrive at destination
Roberts Road
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 9m estimated drive time, this route is best split over two days. Aim to leave Brent, FL early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours for the first leg. You'll want to plan for at least one overnight stop along the way; consider breaking the drive roughly in half. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on I 10, as services can be spaced out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $79, so budget accordingly.
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 247 miles from Brent, FL, or about 4h 27m 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 109 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247 miles or 4h 27m 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 247 miles or 4h 27m
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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merritt Island, 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 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Merritt Island, FL
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Brent, 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 282.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
247 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 Lake City, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
247 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Lake City, FL after about 247 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 247 miles from Brent, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 282.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 247 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 458.4 — 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...
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
8
436.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 50m in
|
FL 408 Toll / Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway
Take the exit onto FL 408 Toll / Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway toward FL 408 Toll East: Orlando, Titusville
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 265
Toward FL 408 Toll East: Orlando, Titusville
7
458.4 mi into trip
|
~8h 16m in
Take the exit toward FL 50
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward FL 50
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.65 one way
$157.29 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
173 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $85.55 | $171.11 |
| premium | $4.72 | $91.88 | $183.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $109.09 | $218.18 |
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
$79
Tolls
$3
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$212–$322
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 148.2 | 1 | $51.88 | $23.72 |
| Efficient EV | 123.5 | 1 | $43.23 | $19.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 197.6 | 2 | $69.17 | $31.62 |
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Merritt Island, FL
Morning in Merritt Island on Tuesday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
15 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
9h 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway driving, with 93% of the 494.1 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 282.9 miles on I 10, which will feel like continuous cruising. The transition to surface roads will likely occur near your destination after extensive highway travel.
93% 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?
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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 16 significant decision points across 494.1 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 393.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Brent, FL and Merritt Island, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando and Titusville.
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
Titusville
436.1 mi in
|
~7h 50m
|
via FL 408 Toll
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 247 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 Merritt Island, 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 0.9 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 393.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Merritt Island, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Merritt Island, FL
More trips to Merritt Island, FL
Explore more options from Brent, FL or browse trips ending in Merritt Island, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.