Coconut Creek to Gainesville is 302 miles and takes about 5h 36m via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the southern part of the state up towards the center. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Expect a fairly direct path with minimal detours, ideal if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
151 miles from Coconut Creek, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
239.2 mi
4h 18m
I 75
46.1 mi
49m
US 441
8 mi
9m
South Main Street
2.4 mi
4m
Lyons Road
1.6 mi
3m
Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi
2m
West Sample Road
1.2 mi
2m
Wynmoor Circle
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 239.2 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,482 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,683
Quietest
2 AM
~405 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Coconut Creek, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on Portofino Point
62 ft·4 sec·Portofino Point
2
Continue on Portofino Point
0.1 mi·26 sec·Portofino Point
3
At end of road, turn left onto Wynmoor Circle
0.6 mi·1 min·Wynmoor Circle
4
Turn right onto Westgate Drive
0.1 mi·25 sec·Westgate Drive
5
Turn right onto Lyons Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Lyons Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto SR 834
1.2 mi·2 min·West Sample Road
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
522 ft·12 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, OrlandoUse the right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North Toll
9
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
239 mi·4 hr 18 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Merge onto I 75
46 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 374Toward CR 234: MicanopyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 234
1.3 mi·2 min·Southeast County Road 234
14
Turn left
421 ft·15 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 441
8.0 mi·9 min·US 441
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto FL 331
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest Williston Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 329
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
18
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
92 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
19
Continue on CR 329
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
20
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
177 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
21
Continue on CR 329
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Trip Plan
Given the 5.5-hour estimated drive time, leaving Coconut Creek in the morning should allow you to reach Gainesville with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is mostly highway, so you can maintain a steady pace. Plan for a single, brief stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. The low fuel cost estimate of $49 suggests it's an economical trip to undertake.
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 151 miles from Coconut Creek, FL, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.2 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 66 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151 miles or 2h 48m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coconut Creek, 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 Coconut Creek, FL
This is one driving day of about 302 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Coconut Creek, 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 239.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 289.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Lyons Road
Turn right onto Lyons Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|SR 834 / West Sample Road
Turn right onto SR 834 / West Sample Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
3.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando
7
243 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
7
289.4 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward CR 234: Micanopy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 374
Toward CR 234: Micanopy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.72 one way
$91.43 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$50.16
$100.33
premium
$4.55
$54.10
$108.20
diesel
$4.80
$57.02
$114.05
Estimated Tolls: $16.72
Florida's Turnpike
(238.9 mi)$16.72
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
$46
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.6
1
$31.71
$14.50
Efficient EV
75.5
0
$26.43
$12.08
EV Truck/SUV
120.8
1
$42.28
$19.33
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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 17, 2026
Origin
Coconut Creek, FL
Afternoon
in Coconut Creek on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 10 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 4:41PM EDT until July 17 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:41PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Gainesville, FL
Afternoon
in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph87% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 4:41PM EDT until July 17 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:41PM 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
1 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 36m 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 97% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 239.2 miles, primarily on Florida's Turnpike. You'll notice a dense network of exits and interchanges as you navigate these main arteries, especially in the southern sections of the drive. Surface roads will only feature for a small portion towards the end of your trip.
97% 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: 239.2 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Lyons Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 302 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 0.8 miles (Lyons Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (SR 834 / West Sample Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 36m. Total distance: 302 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.72 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 30 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 Gainesville, 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. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Lyons Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (SR 834 / West Sample Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gainesville, FL before the return drive.
