Carol City, FL to Brent, FL is 658.5 miles and takes about 11 hours 55 minutes via Florida's Turnpike and I-10, with a fuel budget near $105 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that covers a significant portion of Florida, from the southern part of the state up to the panhandle. While it's possible to complete in one day, it's a demanding trip. Given the 11 hours 55 minutes estimated driving time, most people will want to break this into two days for a more comfortable pace. The route primarily uses major highways, making it a straightforward, albeit long, 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
329.3 miles from Carol City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
283.4 mi
5h 3m
Florida's Turnpike
261.8 mi
4h 44m
I 75
106.9 mi
1h 54m
Northwest 27th Avenue
1 mi
1m
Northwest 199th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
Brent Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
East Brent Lane
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 283.4 mi, about 5h 3m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,226 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,701
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Carol City, FL and Brent, FL.
1
Start on this road
339 ft·27 sec·this road
2
Turn uturn onto SR 860
525 ft·18 sec·Northwest 183rd Street
3
Turn left onto SR 817
1.0 mi·1 min·Northwest 27th Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Northwest 199th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
262 mi·4 hr 44 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 10
283 mi·5 hr 3 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 110
0.4 mi·29 sec·Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 5Toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward FL 296: Brent LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto FL 296
0.3 mi·52 sec·Brent Lane
17
Continue on East Brent Lane
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Brent Lane
18
Turn left onto Sycamore Drive
218 ft·12 sec·Sycamore Drive
19
Turn left onto East Brent Lane
34 ft·1 sec·East Brent Lane
20
Arrive at destination
East Brent Lane
Trip Plan
For this 11-hour 55-minute drive, consider leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, or plan for an overnight stop. Splitting the 658.5-mile trip into two days is recommended for safety and comfort, perhaps stopping around the central Florida area. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 283.4-mile stretch on I-10, as services can be spaced out. The $105 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices along your route. Plan for at least 3 stops to stretch your legs and stay alert.
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 329.3 miles from Carol City, FL, or about 5h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283.4 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 145 miles or 2h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 329.3 miles or 5h 59m 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 329.3 miles or 5h 59m
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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brent, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carol City, 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 Carol City, FL
Aim for roughly 329 miles and 6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brent, FL
Aim for roughly 329 miles and 6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 145 miles from Carol City, 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 283.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 656.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 860 / Northwest 183rd Street
Turn uturn onto SR 860 / Northwest 183rd Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
371.6 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
371.7 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
8
655.4 mi into trip|~11h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
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 12
Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
8
656.8 mi into trip|~11h 51m in
Take the exit toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent Lane
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 5
Toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$99.68 one way
$199.36 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg230 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$109.38
$218.76
premium
$4.55
$117.96
$235.92
diesel
$4.80
$124.34
$248.67
Estimated Tolls: $18.31
Florida's Turnpike
(261.6 mi)$18.31
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
$100
Tolls
$18
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$248–$358
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 230.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $69 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
197.6
2
$69.14
$31.61
Efficient EV
164.6
1
$57.62
$26.34
EV Truck/SUV
263.4
3
$92.19
$42.14
Gas CO2
230 kg
EV CO2
77 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Carol City, FL
Night
in Carol City on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 6 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:58PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Brent, FL
Evening
in Brent on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
NW 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:58PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
11h 55m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$25
near mile 658.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 99% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I-10 and Florida's Turnpike. The longest stretch without a significant break from highway driving is 283.4 miles on I-10. Expect to encounter dense exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate through various parts of Florida, especially around population centers.
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: 283.4 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 0.1 miles in near SR 860 / Northwest 183rd Street.
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 17 significant decision points across 658.5 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 0.1 miles (SR 860 / Northwest 183rd Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 371.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 371.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
224 ft8 ft
Total Climb
401 ft
Total Descent
312 ft
Highest Point
224 ft
~235.5 mi in
Elevation Range
216 ft
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 Carol City, FL to Brent, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.
The longest stretch is about 283.4 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 329 miles on day one.
Expect about $18.31 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 Brent, 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 0.1 miles (SR 860 / Northwest 183rd Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 371.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 371.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.9 hours each way, a round trip means 23.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brent, FL before the return drive.
