This 133.5-mile drive from Citrus Hills to Jacksonville, Florida, will take you about 2 hours and 56 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 301 and I-10, it's a highway-focused journey that's perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, this route offers an efficient way to travel north within Florida. You'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads, making it a straightforward transit rather than a leisurely exploration. Given its relatively short distance and duration, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.7 miles from Citrus Hills, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 301
75.9 mi
1h 34m
FL 200
21.6 mi
32m
I 10
16.8 mi
19m
I 75
7.5 mi
8m
East Norvell Bryant Highway
3.7 mi
6m
Northwest 70th Street
1.5 mi
2m
FL 326
1.1 mi
1m
North Essex Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 301
— 75.9 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Citrus Hills, FL and Jacksonville, FL.
1
Start on East Glassboro Court
462 ft·22 sec·East Glassboro Court
2
Turn right onto North Essex Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·North Essex Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 486
3.7 mi·6 min·East Norvell Bryant Highway
4
Turn left onto US 41
0.3 mi·32 sec·Florida Avenue
5
Turn slight right onto FL 200
22 mi·32 min·FL 200
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 75 North: Lake CityUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
7.5 mi·8 min·I 75
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 358Toward FL 326Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn slight right
144 ft·4 sec
10
Turn slight right onto FL 326
1.1 mi·1 min·FL 326
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
12
Turn left onto US 301; US 441
5.5 mi·6 min·US 301; US 441
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 301
52 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 301
Toward North US 301: StarkeUse the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 301
18 mi·22 min·US 301
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Jacksonville
16
Merge onto I 10
17 mi·19 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, SavannahUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi·1 min·I 95
20
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 17; FL 228
Exit 353BToward Union Street, Beaver Street
21
Turn straight onto US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·Union Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
US 17
Trip Plan
For this straightforward 2-hour, 56-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day. With only one stop suggested, you can easily break up the 133.5 miles as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 75.9-mile stretch on US 301, and plan your refueling stops accordingly. The $21 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra. Given the highway-focused nature, rest stops will likely be at service plazas or exits along I-10 or US 301.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.7 miles from Citrus Hills, FL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.9 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 29 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.7 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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 133.5 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 US 301 for about 75.9 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 26.5 and 132.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26.5 mi into trip|~41m in
Turn left toward I 75 North: Lake City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Lake City
7
34.3 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward FL 326
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 358
Toward FL 326
5
114 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savan...
6
132.6 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 17; FL 228
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228 toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 353B
Toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.25 one way
$42.50 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$23.12
$46.23
premium
$4.72
$24.82
$49.65
diesel
$5.61
$29.48
$58.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.02
$6.41
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.68
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.69
$8.54
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Citrus Hills, FL
Morning
in Citrus Hills on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% 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
7 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
2h 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 93% of the drive taking place on high-speed roads. You'll navigate segments of US 301 and I-10, designed for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 75.9 miles on US 301, meaning you can settle in for a good amount of time on this primary artery. While the profile is highway-focused, transitions between US 301 and I-10 will mark the main changes in your driving environment. This road character suggests consistent speed and minimal local traffic interference for much of the trip.
93% 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: 75.9 mi on US 301.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 301 and FL 200. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 133.5 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 26.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 114 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 133.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.9 miles on US 301. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jacksonville, 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 26.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 114 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, FL before heading back.
