This 274.5-mile drive from Bunnell, FL to Hialeah, FL is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 11 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-95 and Florida's Turnpike, with a portion on US Highway 1, making it a heavily highway-focused journey. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $44. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward road profile, it's a manageable day trip for most travelers looking to get from the northern part of Florida to the southern part efficiently. You'll experience a consistent driving environment throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
137.2 miles from Bunnell, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
144.1 mi
2h 35m
Florida's Turnpike
106.2 mi
1h 57m
US Highway 1
6.3 mi
7m
State Street
5.8 mi
8m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
2.8 mi
4m
Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi
2m
East 8th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 144.1 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bunnell, FL and Hialeah, FL.
1
Start on US 1; FL 100
0.1 mi·19 sec·State Street
2
Continue on US 1; FL 100
5.7 mi·7 min·State Street
3
Enter roundabout onto US 1
115 ft·2 sec·US Highway 1
4
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi·7 min·US Highway 1
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
6
Merge onto I 95
144 mi·2 hr 35 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 129Toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort PierceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
492 ft·12 sec
Toward FL 70 West: OkeechobeeUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto FL 70
0.5 mi·57 sec·Okeechobee Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·35 sec
Use the left / uturn lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike SouthUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
106 mi·1 hr 57 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 2XToward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock StadiumUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·21 sec·this road
15
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi·2 min·Northwest 199th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi·4 min·Northwest 37th Avenue
17
Continue on Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
To make the most of this 5-hour, 11-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic as you approach South Florida. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 144.1 miles, you can plan your breaks strategically. Aim to refuel before leaving Bunnell or after your first significant leg to manage the $44 fuel cost effectively. Given the highway-centric nature, staying alert on I-95 and Florida's Turnpike is key. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 137.2 miles from Bunnell, FL, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.1 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 60 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.2 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hialeah, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bunnell, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bunnell, FL
This is one driving day of about 274.5 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Bunnell, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 144.1 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 12.3 and 264.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.3 mi into trip|~16m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
156.5 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce
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 129
Toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce
7
156.9 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 70 West: Okeechobee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward FL 70 West: Okeechobee
8
157.7 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
8
264.4 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock Stadium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2X
Toward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock Stadiu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.69 one way
$87.39 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$47.53
$95.06
premium
$4.72
$51.04
$102.08
diesel
$5.61
$60.61
$121.21
Estimated Tolls: $7.43
Florida's Turnpike
(106.2 mi)$7.43
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
$44
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.4
1
$28.82
$13.18
Efficient EV
68.6
0
$24.02
$10.98
EV Truck/SUV
109.8
1
$38.43
$17.57
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Bunnell, FL
Late night
in Bunnell on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hialeah, FL
Late night
in Hialeah on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
E 3 to 10 mph7% chanceLive 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
25 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Canaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
Discover a dynamic barrier island shaped by dunes, coastal hammocks, and Mosquito Lagoon. Walk among ancient Timucua shell mounds and connect with thousands of years of human history. Immerse yourself...
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 285
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 94% of this route, covering 274.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 144.1 miles on I-95, so be prepared for sustained highway travel. While the majority is on interstates and turnpikes, there's a segment on US Highway 1 that might offer a slight change of pace. The road character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over scenic detours. You'll be moving at highway speeds for most of the journey.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Florida's Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort7/10
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 274.5 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 12.3 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Bunnell, FL and Hialeah, FL, road signs point toward Fort Pierce, Miami and Florida's Turnpike South.
Fort Pierce
156.5 mi in|~2h 51m
Miami
157.7 mi in|~2h 54m
Florida's Turnpike South
157.7 mi in|~2h 54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 274.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.43 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 Hialeah, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Canaveral National Seashore, Fort Matanzas National Monument and Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hialeah, FL before the return drive.
