Citrus Hills to Hialeah is 296.8 miles and takes about 5 hours 43 minutes via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused journey connecting two points within Florida. You'll spend the majority of your time on the Turnpike, so expect a consistent driving experience for most of the trip. Given the relatively short duration, this route is best suited for a single day of travel, making it a convenient option for getting from central Florida down to the Miami metropolitan area.
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
148.4 miles from Citrus Hills, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
261.6 mi
4h 43m
Gulf to Lake Highway
19.4 mi
26m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
2.8 mi
4m
Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi
2m
Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
North Kensington Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
East 8th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 261.6 mi, about 4h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Citrus Hills, FL and Hialeah, FL.
1
Start on East Glassboro Court
0.3 mi·1 min·East Glassboro Court
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Citrus Hills Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·North Citrus Hills Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Reehill Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Reehill Street
4
Continue on North Kensington Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·North Kensington Avenue
5
Turn left onto FL 44
4.4 mi·6 min·Gulf to Lake Highway
6
Continue on FL 44
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
7
Turn left onto FL 44
15 mi·20 min·Gulf to Lake Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
262 mi·4 hr 43 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 2XToward Northwest 199th Street, Hard Rock StadiumUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·21 sec·this road
13
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
1.8 mi·2 min·Northwest 199th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Northwest 37th Avenue
2.6 mi·4 min·Northwest 37th Avenue
15
Continue on Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
Given this is a single-day trip of under six hours, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive well before evening. The longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike means you can consolidate your stops; consider planning one significant break around the halfway point or where services are most convenient. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before entering the longest stretch, as services can be spaced out on turnpikes. A good tip is to check the turnpike's official website for any potential construction delays before you depart.
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 148.4 miles from Citrus Hills, FL, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.6 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 65 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.4 miles or 2h 54m 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 37m
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 Citrus Hills, 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 Citrus Hills, FL
This is one driving day of about 296.8 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Citrus Hills, 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 261.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 286.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|North Citrus Hills Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto North Citrus Hills Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~3m in|East Reehill Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Reehill Street
Navigation decision point
8
24.7 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
5
25.2 mi into trip|~40m in|Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
286.8 mi into trip|~5h 24m 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
$44.93 one way
$89.86 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$49.30
$98.60
premium
$4.55
$53.17
$106.33
diesel
$4.80
$56.04
$112.08
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
$45
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89
1
$31.16
$14.25
Efficient EV
74.2
0
$25.97
$11.87
EV Truck/SUV
118.7
1
$41.55
$19.00
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Citrus Hills, FL
Morning
in Citrus Hills on Sunday
Local time
11:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Widespread Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph89% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:47PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:42PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Hialeah, FL
Morning
in Hialeah on Sunday
Local time
11:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 10 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:47PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:42PM EDT by NWS Miami 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.
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
3 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 43m 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 296.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 261.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike, meaning extended periods of consistent speed and minimal traffic interruptions. The drive starts with segments on local roads like Gulf to Lake Highway before merging onto the Turnpike. Afterward, the character remains predominantly highway until you navigate connector roads like Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector as you approach your destination.
88% 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: 261.6 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 Gulf to Lake Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near North Citrus Hills Boulevard.
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 43m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North Citrus Hills Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (East Reehill Street): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
120 ft7 ft
Total Climb
67 ft
Total Descent
180 ft
Highest Point
120 ft
Elevation Range
113 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Citrus Hills, FL and Hialeah, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
The longest stretch is about 261.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 18 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.
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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North Citrus Hills Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (East Reehill Street): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 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.
