Citrus Hills to Pembroke Pines is 284.2 miles and takes about 5 hours 23 minutes via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Florida, taking you from the central part of the state down towards South Florida. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey, making it a straightforward trip if you're looking for efficiency. With just one recommended stop and a longest uninterrupted stretch of 257.6 miles on the Turnpike, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination with time to spare.
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
142.1 miles from Citrus Hills, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
257.6 mi
4h 39m
Gulf to Lake Highway
19.4 mi
26m
Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
North Kensington Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
North Citrus Hills Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi
1m
East Reehill Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Glassboro Court
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 257.6 mi, about 4h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Citrus Hills, FL and Pembroke Pines, 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
258 mi·4 hr 39 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto SR 820
0.2 mi·36 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·Southwest 8th Street
15
Arrive at destination
Southwest 8th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 23-minute duration, starting your drive in Citrus Hills in the morning will allow you to arrive in Pembroke Pines well before evening. The route is efficient, with only one recommended stop, so you can easily complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 257.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spread out. Plan to refuel before hitting that long section to ensure a smooth journey.
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 142.1 miles from Citrus Hills, FL, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257.6 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 63 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.1 miles or 2h 47m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke Pines, 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 284.2 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 257.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 283.5 — 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
7
282.8 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
6
283.5 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|Southwest 64th Way
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.02 one way
$86.04 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$47.21
$94.41
premium
$4.55
$50.91
$101.82
diesel
$4.80
$53.66
$107.32
Estimated Tolls: $18.03
Florida's Turnpike
(257.6 mi)$18.03
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
$43
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.84
$13.64
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
EV Truck/SUV
113.7
1
$39.79
$18.19
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Citrus Hills, FL
Morning
in Citrus Hills on Sunday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 2 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 8:54PM EDT until July 17 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Pembroke Pines, FL
Morning
in Pembroke Pines on Sunday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 2 to 9 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 8:54PM EDT until July 17 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
96°F
Dundee, FL
142 mi in
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
8 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 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 91% highway share, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your time on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 257.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the profile is highway-focused, you will encounter segments on Gulf to Lake Highway and Main Street, which may offer a slight change of pace before rejoining the main highway. This drive is designed for covering distance efficiently rather than for scenic exploration.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 257.6 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 23m drive. You will face about 7 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 ft6 ft
Total Climb
91 ft
Total Descent
205 ft
Highest Point
120 ft
Elevation Range
114 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 Pembroke Pines, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
The longest stretch is about 257.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.03 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pembroke Pines, FL before the return drive.
