Brent, FL to San Carlos Park, FL is 596.7 miles and takes about 10h 46m via I 75 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $95 and likely needing an overnight stay. This long-haul drive spans across Florida, connecting the panhandle region to the Gulf Coast. Given the nearly 11-hour driving time, it's best planned as a two-day trip to ensure a comfortable pace. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward, albeit lengthy, transit.
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
298.3 miles from Brent, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
305.2 mi
5h 27m
I 10
282.9 mi
5h 3m
Three Oaks Parkway
1.8 mi
2m
Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
San Carlos Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Brent Lane
0.4 mi
1m
Alico Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Tampa Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 305.2 mi, about 5h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brent, FL and San Carlos 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
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 75
Toward South I 75: NaplesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
70 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Exit 128Toward CR 840: San Carlos Park, Southwest Florida International AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward CR 840: Hertz Arena, San Carlos Park
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·55 sec
Exit 128Toward CR 840: Hertz Arena, San Carlos ParkUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 840
0.2 mi·25 sec·Alico Road
17
Turn left onto Three Oaks Parkway
1.8 mi·2 min·Three Oaks Parkway
18
Turn right onto San Carlos Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·San Carlos Boulevard
19
Turn left onto Tampa Road
0.2 mi·49 sec·Tampa Road
20
Arrive at destination
Tampa Road
Trip Plan
Since this drive is nearly 11 hours, splitting it over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your first day of driving. With 3 planned stops, you can break up the 596.7 miles into manageable segments. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point to avoid fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 305.2-mile stretch on I 75, as services can sometimes be spread out on longer highway segments.
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 298.3 miles from Brent, FL, or about 5h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 305.2 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 131 miles or 2h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 298.3 miles or 5h 22m 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 298.3 miles or 5h 22m
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 9h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos 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 298 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Carlos Park, FL
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 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 75 for about 305.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 593.5 — 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...
7
447.1 mi into trip|~8h 1m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward South I 75: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South I 75: Naples
8
591.8 mi into trip|~10h 36m in
Take the exit toward CR 840: San Carlos Park, Southwest Florida International Airport
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 128
Toward CR 840: San Carlos Park, Southwest Flori...
9
593.5 mi into trip|~10h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 840: Hertz Arena, San Carlos Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 128
Toward CR 840: Hertz Arena, San Carlos Park
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$94.98 one way
$189.96 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg209 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$103.32
$206.64
premium
$4.72
$110.95
$221.91
diesel
$5.61
$131.74
$263.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$225–$335
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 208.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
179
2
$62.65
$28.64
Efficient EV
149.2
1
$52.21
$23.87
EV Truck/SUV
238.7
2
$83.54
$38.19
Gas CO2
209 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Brent, FL
Late night
in Brent on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 10 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Destination
San Carlos Park, FL
Late night
in San Carlos Park on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
8 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
10h 46m 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.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 493.8
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a long-haul drive where 99% of the route is on highways, meaning you'll be on interstates for nearly the entire trip. The longest continuous stretch is 305.2 miles, primarily on I 75. You'll encounter a dense network of exits as you approach your destination. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur near San Carlos Park as you leave the interstate system.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 305.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 596.7 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 447.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 305.2 miles on I 75. 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 298 miles on day one.
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 San Carlos 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 447.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Carlos Park, FL before the return drive.
