Coral Springs to Lake City is 346.5 miles and takes about 6h 22m via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Florida, heading north through the state's interior. Expect a largely highway experience, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Given its duration and highway focus, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extensive scenic detours.
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
173.3 miles from Coral Springs, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
237 mi
4h 16m
I 75
95.2 mi
1h 41m
Sawgrass Expressway
3.7 mi
4m
Southwest State Road 47
3.6 mi
5m
Southwest Main Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Coral Springs Drive
1 mi
2m
North University Drive
1 mi
2m
Wiles Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 237 mi, about 4h 16m
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 Coral Springs, FL and Lake City, FL.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·47 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Sample Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·West Sample Road
3
Turn left onto Coral Springs Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·Coral Springs Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Wiles Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Wiles Road
5
Turn left onto North University Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·North University Drive
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward SR 869 Toll North: OrlandoUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto SR 869 Toll
3.7 mi·4 min·Sawgrass Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·53 sec
Exit 21A-BToward Florida's TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21BToward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, OrlandoUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
237 mi·4 hr 15 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Merge onto I 75
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 423Toward FL 47: Fort White, Lake CityUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto FL 47
3.6 mi·5 min·Southwest State Road 47
16
Turn straight onto US 41; US 441 Truck
1.5 mi·2 min·Southwest Main Boulevard
17
Turn right
39 ft·2 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 22m drive, consider departing Coral Springs in the morning to avoid rush hour traffic. With a single recommended stop and a fuel cost around $60, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. The longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike is 237 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on the fuel gauge as you approach the halfway point of that long stretch, as services can be spaced out on the Turnpike.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.3 miles from Coral Springs, FL, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237 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 76 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.3 miles or 3h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake City, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coral Springs, 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 Coral Springs, FL
This is one driving day of about 346.5 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Coral Springs, 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 237 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 341.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.5 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward Florida's Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21A-B
Toward Florida's Turnpike
6
8.2 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Soutwest 10th Street, Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 21B
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, Orlando
7
245.9 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
8
341.3 mi into trip|~6h 13m in
Take the exit toward FL 47: Fort White, Lake City
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 423
Toward FL 47: Fort White, Lake City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.45 one way
$104.90 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$57.55
$115.11
premium
$4.55
$62.07
$124.14
diesel
$4.80
$65.43
$130.85
Estimated Tolls: $16.87
Florida's Turnpike
(236.7 mi)$16.57
Sawgrass Expressway
(3.7 mi)$0.30
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
$52
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104
1
$36.38
$16.63
Efficient EV
86.6
0
$30.32
$13.86
EV Truck/SUV
138.6
1
$48.51
$22.18
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Coral Springs, FL
Late night
in Coral Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 3 to 9 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Lake City, FL
Late night
in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 2 to 7 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 97% of this 346.5-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 237 miles on Florida's Turnpike. After that, you'll transition to I-75. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate these major arteries, especially in the initial and final portions of the drive as you enter and leave the South Florida metro area.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 237 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 7.5 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 14 significant decision points across 346.5 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Lake City is a city of 12,000 people (2019) in North Central Florida. Lake City is known as "The Gateway to Florida" because it is adjacent to the intersection of Interstate 75 and Interstate 10. It was founded as the "Town of Alligator" in 1821.
Top landmarks
•Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum — museum in Lake City, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 22m. Total distance: 346.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 237 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.87 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 34 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 Lake City, 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 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lake City, FL before the return drive.
