This 325.7-mile drive from Citra, Florida, to Hialeah, Florida, will take you approximately 5 hours and 2 minutes to complete. Designed as a single-day trip, the route is primarily composed of local roads, indicating a more turn-heavy experience rather than an interstate cruise. With a projected fuel cost of around $54, it's an affordable journey for a day trip. The route offers a practical way to travel between these two Florida locations, with just one recommended stop along the way. It's a straightforward drive that keeps you on local streets for its entirety.
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
157.9 miles from Citra, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
262 mi
4h 44m
I 75
29.3 mi
31m
US 301
11.3 mi
14m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
2.8 mi
4m
Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi
2m
Northwest 70th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Northwest 77th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 262 mi, about 4h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Citra, FL and Hialeah, FL.
1
Start on US 301
310 ft·10 sec·US 301
2
Continue on US 301
11 mi·14 min·US 301
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn right onto FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on FL 326
1.2 mi·2 min·Northwest 77th Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
6
Merge onto I 75
29 mi·31 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
262 mi·4 hr 44 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 2XToward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock StadiumUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·21 sec·this road
10
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi·2 min·Northwest 199th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi·4 min·Northwest 37th Avenue
12
Continue on Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
Given the 5-hour duration and local road nature of this 325.7-mile trip, starting earlier in the day is advisable to avoid peak local traffic, especially as you approach Hialeah. Plan for your single recommended stop to break up the driving, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $54, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before departing Citra. Since this is a turn-heavy route, staying alert to navigation and road signs is crucial to avoid missing turns and prolonging your travel time.
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 157.9 miles from Citra, FL, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262 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 69 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.9 miles or 2h 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 4h 44m
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 Citra, 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 Citra, FL
This is one driving day of about 315.8 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Citra, 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 262 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 306.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.3 mi into trip|~14m in|FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street
Turn right onto FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
14.5 mi into trip|~19m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.8 mi into trip|~51m 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
8
305.8 mi into trip|~5h 35m 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...
5
306.5 mi into trip|~5h 37m in|Northwest 199th Street
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.27 one way
$100.53 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$54.68
$109.36
premium
$4.72
$58.72
$117.44
diesel
$5.61
$69.72
$139.45
Estimated Tolls: $18.34
Florida's Turnpike
(262 mi)$18.34
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
$50
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.7
1
$33.16
$15.16
Efficient EV
79
0
$27.63
$12.63
EV Truck/SUV
126.3
1
$44.21
$20.21
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Citra, FL
Night
in Citra on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hialeah, FL
Night
in Hialeah on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
20 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 54m 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.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
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 325.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 325.7-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and communities for the full 5 hours and 2 minutes of travel time. Without long stretches of uninterrupted highway, you’ll likely experience a more varied pace, with frequent turns and potential for local traffic. The 'profile' suggests a constant engagement with the road as you transition through different local road networks from start to finish.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in near FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 54m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Citra, FL and Hialeah, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
Florida's Turnpike South
43.8 mi in|~51m|via Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
43.8 mi in|~51m|via Florida's Turnpike
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 315.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 262 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.34 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.
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 11.3 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 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.
