Brent, FL to Surfside, FL is 667.4 miles and takes about 12 hours 12 minutes via I 10 and Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $104 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This extensive drive takes you across the state of Florida, moving from the Florida Panhandle down into the southern peninsula. Given the duration, it's best planned as a two-day trip to avoid fatigue. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates and the Turnpike, making it a straightforward, albeit long, haul.
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
333.7 miles from Brent, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
282.9 mi
5h 3m
Florida's Turnpike
264.2 mi
4h 46m
I 75
107.2 mi
1h 54m
Northeast 125th Street
1.7 mi
4m
I 95
1.7 mi
2m
Northeast 123rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
96th Street
1 mi
2m
Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 282.9 mi, about 5h 3m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 108 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,233 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,761
Quietest
2 AM
~150 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Surfside, 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
264 mi·4 hr 46 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95, US 441, SR 826 West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 95, US 441
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95
1.7 mi·2 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 10AToward SR 922: Northwest 125th StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto SR 922
0.7 mi·1 min·Northwest 125th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on SR 922
1.7 mi·4 min·Northeast 125th Street
19
Continue on SR 922
0.1 mi·19 sec·North Miami Boulevard
20
Continue on SR 922
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast 123rd Street
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on SR 922
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Causeway
22
Continue on SR 922
1.0 mi·2 min·96th Street
23
Turn right onto SR A1A
0.5 mi·1 min·Harding Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right onto 92nd Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·92nd Street
25
Turn left onto Carlyle Avenue
459 ft·20 sec·Carlyle Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Carlyle Avenue
Trip Plan
With a 12-hour drive time, this route is best split over two days. Aim to leave early in the morning on your first day to cover a significant portion, perhaps around 6-7 hours of driving. This allows for a relaxed pace and a full night's rest before completing the remaining distance. Plan for your three recommended stops to include meal breaks and stretching opportunities. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 282.9-mile stretch on I 10, as services can be spaced out.
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 333.7 miles from Brent, FL, or about 6h 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 147 miles or 2h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 333.7 miles or 6h 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 333.7 miles or 6h
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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surfside, 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 334 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Surfside, FL
Aim for roughly 334 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 147 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 661 — 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
7
659.1 mi into trip|~11h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 South
7
661 mi into trip|~11h 56m in
Take the exit toward SR 922: Northwest 125th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10A
Toward SR 922: Northwest 125th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$107.31 one way
$214.62 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg234 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.44
$116.72
$233.43
premium
$4.78
$125.54
$251.09
diesel
$6.18
$162.36
$324.71
Estimated Tolls: $18.49
Florida's Turnpike
(264.2 mi)$18.49
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
$107
Tolls
$18
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$256–$366
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 233.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
200.2
2
$70.08
$32.04
Efficient EV
166.9
1
$58.40
$26.70
EV Truck/SUV
267
3
$93.44
$42.71
Gas CO2
234 kg
EV CO2
78 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Brent, FL
Morning
in Brent on Saturday
Local time
10:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 25 to 30 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:40AM EDT until October 20 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:10AM EDT until October 18 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Surfside, FL
Morning
in Surfside on Saturday
Local time
11:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:40AM EDT until October 20 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:10AM EDT until October 18 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
23 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
12h 12m 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...
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 667.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 98% on major roads like I 10, Florida's Turnpike, and I 75. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 282.9 miles on I 10. Expect to transition from highway to local roads only in the final moments of your drive. Given the high highway percentage, you'll likely notice frequent exit and entry ramps as you navigate through various parts of Florida.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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 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 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 667.4 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
220 ft2 ft
Total Climb
242 ft
Total Descent
336 ft
Highest Point
220 ft
~190.7 mi in
Elevation Range
218 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 Surfside, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
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 334 miles on day one.
Expect about $18.49 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 Surfside, 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 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.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore and Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.2 hours each way, a round trip means 24.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Surfside, FL before the return drive.
