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Trip from Brooksville, FL to Gainesville, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

95.2 mi

153 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county seat of Hernando County, Florida, United States

Brooksville, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting Brooksville to Gainesville, this 95.2-mile journey is a straightforward transit through central Florida. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 51 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance, which is primarily facilitated by I-75, Cortez Boulevard, and US 441. Because the entire route stays within the state, you won't encounter major regional transitions, allowing for a consistent driving experience. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, this drive offers a practical way to navigate between these two Florida hubs without unnecessary complexity.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

47.6 miles from Brooksville, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 71.8 mi 1h 16m
Cortez Boulevard 8.2 mi 10m
US 441 8 mi 9m
South Main Street 2.4 mi 4m
Jefferson Street 1.5 mi 2m
Southeast County Road 234 1.3 mi 2m
Southwest Williston Road 0.5 mi 1m
Broad Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 71.8 mi, about 1h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brooksville, FL and Gainesville, FL.

1

Start on US 41; US 98; FL 50A

151 ft · 9 sec · Jefferson Street
2

Turn left onto North Bailey Avenue

275 ft · 17 sec · North Bailey Avenue
3

Turn left onto US 41; US 98; FL 50A

0.5 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
4

Turn right onto US 98; FL 50A

1.5 mi · 2 min · Jefferson Street
5

Continue on US 98; FL 50

8.2 mi · 10 min · Cortez Boulevard
6

Turn left

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
7

Merge onto I 75

72 mi · 1 hr 16 min · I 75
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 374 Toward CR 234: Micanopy Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto CR 234

1.3 mi · 2 min · Southeast County Road 234
10

Turn left

421 ft · 15 sec
Use the left lane.
11

Turn straight onto US 441

8.0 mi · 9 min · US 441
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto FL 331

0.5 mi · 1 min · Southwest Williston Road
Use the right lane.
13

Turn left onto CR 329

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
14

Enter roundabout onto CR 329

92 ft · 1 sec · South Main Street
15

Continue on CR 329

0.2 mi · 32 sec · South Main Street
16

Enter roundabout onto CR 329

177 ft · 3 sec · South Main Street
17

Continue on CR 329

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Arrive at destination

CR 329

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on I-75 is always a smart move. Because the entire journey takes less than two hours, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the interstate, as the 71.8-mile stretch on I-75 limits your immediate access to off-highway services. Use the initial leg on Cortez Boulevard to finalize your navigation settings before the pace picks up on the highway. Being prepared for high-speed traffic flow will help you maintain a stress-free pace throughout the 95.2-mile transit.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.6 miles from Brooksville, FL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 21 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.6 miles or 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Brooksville, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brooksville, FL

This is one driving day of about 95.2 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Brooksville, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 71.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Ocala, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ocala, FL

48 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Ocala, FL to Gainesville, FL

37.8 mi · 48m

Pacing Suggestions

Bushnell, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Belleview, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.6 miles from Brooksville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.8 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ocala, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 61.2

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524219810

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Mountaineer Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brooksville, Florida

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+13525935375

Visit website

Kava Gator Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gainesville, Florida

0.1 mi

Mallie Kylas Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brooksville, Florida

0.6 mi

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 61.2

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524219810

Visit website

Mountaineer Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+13525935375

Visit website

Kava Gator Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13522449942

Visit website

Mallie Kylas Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+13527967174

Visit website

Cafe THCA

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+13522348090

Visit website

Haggard Coffee & Oddities

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+13525847111

Visit website

Brew & Root Kava Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+13527741308

Visit website

lowbar coffee + skateboarding

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

Visit website

Daydreamer Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

EVmatch Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16508228157

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 61.2

Ocala, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 40.8

Oxford, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13527480449

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EvGateway Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 74.8

Reddick, Florida

Hours: 5 am–1 pm

+19499452000

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Depot Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 6:30 am–11:30 pm

+13523938510

Visit website

Citrus & Sage Bookshop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+13527418870

Visit website

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 95.2

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13523718001

Visit website

Good Time

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 1–11 pm

Visit website

Tom Varn Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13525403830

Visit website

Artisan Haven

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Brooksville, Florida

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13523454964

Visit website

Scott Springs Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 61.2

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+13523685517

Visit website

Ocala Downtown Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 61.2

Ocala, Florida

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Bailey Avenue

Turn left onto North Bailey Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
10.9 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
82.7 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Take the exit toward CR 234: Micanopy

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 374 Toward CR 234: Micanopy
5
84.2 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
92.3 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | FL 331 / Southwest Williston Road

Turn right onto FL 331 / Southwest Williston Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.15 one way

$30.31 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $16.48 $32.97
premium $4.72 $17.70 $35.40
diesel $5.61 $21.02 $42.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.6 0 $10.00 $4.57
Efficient EV 23.8 0 $8.33 $3.81
EV Truck/SUV 38.1 0 $13.33 $6.09

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Brooksville, FL

Late night in Brooksville on Sunday

Local time

3:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gainesville, FL

Late night in Gainesville on Sunday

Local time

3:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°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.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

22 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

1h 51m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 heavily highway-focused, with 84% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm once you merge onto the interstate, where you face a significant 71.8-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. The personality of this route is efficient and functional rather than scenic, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. As you progress from the local lanes of Cortez Boulevard onto the high-speed flow of I-75, the driving environment becomes much more uniform. Expect a steady, direct experience that is designed to get you to your destination with minimal navigation hurdles.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.8 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Cortez Boulevard. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Bailey Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Bailey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Brooksville, FL to Gainesville, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 234: Micanopy along the way.

Cr 234: Micanopy

82.7 mi in | ~1h 33m

About the Cities

Starting in Brooksville, FL

Full guide →

Brooksville is the county seat of Hernando County in Florida's Big Bend Coast.

Arriving in Gainesville, FL

Full guide →

Gainesville is in North Central Florida. It is home to the University of Florida, and Santa Fe College.

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 95.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 71.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Bailey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gainesville, FL before heading back.

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.

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