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Trip from Country Walk, FL to Lakeland, FL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 55m

Distance

228.8 mi

368 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 42m ★
6 AM
4h 55m
8 AM
5h 22m
10 AM
5h 5m
12 PM
5h 2m
3 PM
5h 6m
5 PM
5h 21m
8 PM
4h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Country Walk, FL, FL

Country Walk, FL

DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Lakeland, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Country Walk, FL to Lakeland, FL is 228.8 miles and takes about 4h 55m via US 27, Okeechobee Road, and Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Florida, moving from one part of the state to another. Given its duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day of travel. Most of the route is on major roads, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points 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

114.4 miles from Country Walk, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 27 160.4 mi 3h 21m
Okeechobee Road 19.2 mi 24m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike 16.6 mi 19m
FL 60 14.7 mi 18m
Bartow Road 10.7 mi 16m
Southwest 120th Street 1.9 mi 3m
Southwest 137th Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Southwest 136th Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 27 — 160.4 mi, about 3h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Country Walk, FL and Lakeland, FL.

1

Start on Southwest 143rd Terrace

0.8 mi · 2 min · Southwest 143rd Terrace
2

At end of road, turn right onto Southwest 136th Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southwest 136th Street
3

Turn left onto Southwest 137th Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · Southwest 137th Avenue
4

Turn right onto Southwest 120th Street

1.9 mi · 3 min · Southwest 120th Street
5

Turn left

261 ft · 6 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North Use the left lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North
7

Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

1.1 mi · 1 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
8

Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

16 mi · 17 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 35 Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road Use the right lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
11

Merge onto US 27

19 mi · 24 min · Okeechobee Road
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on US 27

62 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 27
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on US 27; FL 80

51 mi · 1 hr 2 min · US 27; FL 80
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on US 27

0.2 mi · 19 sec · US 27
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on US 27

10 mi · 12 min · US 27
Use the left lane.
16

Continue on US 27

37 mi · 49 min · US 27
Use the left / straight lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Use the left lane.
18

Merge onto FL 60

15 mi · 18 min · FL 60
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn left onto US 98; FL 60

0.6 mi · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto US 98

0.6 mi · 1 min · Broadway Avenue
Use the right lane.
21

Continue on US 98

11 mi · 16 min · Bartow Road
Use the left lane.
22

Turn left onto East Lime Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Lime Street
Use the left lane.
23

Turn left onto South Lake Avenue

269 ft · 13 sec · South Lake Avenue
24

Turn right onto East Walnut Street

279 ft · 12 sec · East Walnut Street
25

Arrive at destination

East Walnut Street

Trip Plan

For this roughly 4-hour and 55-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet for maximizing daylight. Since it's a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider an early start to avoid potential afternoon traffic. The longest stretch is over 160 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you hit that segment, especially if your fuel gauge is low. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between US 27, Okeechobee Road, and the Florida Turnpike to ensure you're on the correct path to Lakeland.

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 114.4 miles from Country Walk, FL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.4 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 50 miles or 1h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 114.4 miles or 2h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Country Walk, 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 Country Walk, FL

This is one driving day of about 228.8 miles and 4h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Country Walk, 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 27 for about 160.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Clewiston, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Clewiston, FL

114 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Coral Springs, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bonita Springs, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.4 miles from Country Walk, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 160.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · final third

Avon Park Diner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Avon Park, Florida

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third · 1h 3m to go 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 AM–3 PM

+18636572343

Next Corner Tapas & Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clewiston, Florida

1.4 mi

Cowpoke's Watering Hole

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Sebring, Florida

1.7 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Black & Brew

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lakeland, Florida

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18635009500

Visit website

Concord Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lakeland, Florida

0.8 mi

Pressed Books & Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lakeland, Florida

0.6 mi

Avon Park Diner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Avon Park, Florida

Hours: 6 AM–3 PM

+18636572343

Next Corner Tapas & Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Clewiston, Florida

Hours: 12–8 PM

+18632282252

Visit website

Cowpoke's Watering Hole

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Sebring, Florida

Hours: 11 AM–9 PM

+18633149459

Visit website

Schooner's BBQ Shack

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Sebring, Florida

Hours: 11 AM–3 PM

Visit website

Sebring Diner

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Sebring, Florida

Hours: 6 AM–3 PM

+18633853434

Visit website

Compass Bar and Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Lake Placid, Florida

Hours: 6 AM–3 PM

+18636591129

Black & Brew

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18635009500

Visit website

Concord Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Pressed Books & Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+18636033166

Visit website

Bayti Cafe / Lebanese Bakery & Sweets

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Doral, Florida

Hours: 8 AM–5 PM

+13053815435

Visit website

Cafe & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hours: 5 AM–5 PM

Common Grounds Coffee Shop

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Clewiston, Florida

Hours: 6:30 AM–2 PM

+18639029889

Cowboy Cafe 98

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Sebring, Florida

Hours: 6:30 AM–2 PM

+18636550044

Visit website

Cafe Tropical

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Clewiston, Florida

Hours: 6:30 AM–8 PM

+18639830049

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Avon Park, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Tesla Destination Charger

2.6 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Sebring, Florida

+18633861000

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 5 mi from route ~12 min detour

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Sebring, Florida

+18636557200

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Bonnet Springs Park

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 6 am–7:30 pm

+18637327000

Visit website

Gold Coast Railroad Museum

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+13052530063

Visit website

Zoo Miami

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13052510400

Visit website

Sebring International Raceway

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour

Sebring, Florida

+18636551442

Visit website

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 4.5 and 21.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
4.5 mi into trip | ~9m in

Turn left toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North
6
4.5 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North
6
5.9 mi into trip | ~11m in | Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.4 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 35 Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
6
21.7 mi into trip | ~29m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.64 one way

$69.27 round trip

$3.85/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $38.00 $76.01
premium $4.55 $40.99 $81.97
diesel $4.80 $43.20 $86.40

Estimated Tolls: $1.00

Homestead Extension (16.6 mi) $1.00

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

$35

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68.6 0 $24.02 $10.98
Efficient EV 57.2 0 $20.02 $9.15
EV Truck/SUV 91.5 1 $32.03 $14.64

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Country Walk, FL

Morning in Country Walk on Sunday

Local time

6:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

92°F

Partly Sunny

SE 12 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Destination

Lakeland, FL

Morning in Lakeland on Sunday

Local time

6:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 10 mph 34% chance Live 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

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

4h 55m 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

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...

17 mi from route ~43 min detour Free
Caution: Boater Awareness
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on highways for about 84% of this 228.8-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single main road is 160.4 miles, which occurs on US 27. After this, you'll transition to surface roads like Okeechobee Road and then merge onto the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike. Expect frequent exits and changes in speed as you navigate these different types of thoroughfares.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 160.4 mi on US 27.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and Okeechobee Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

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 228.8 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 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.9 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

196 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

270 ft

Total Descent

81 ft

Highest Point

196 ft

~228.8 mi in

Elevation Range

189 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Country Walk, FL

Full guide →

Arriving in Lakeland, FL

Full guide →

Founded 1875

Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.

Top landmarks

  • • Child of the Sun — Florida
  • • Polk Theatre — movie theater and theater in Lakeland, Florida
  • • Beacon Hill-Alta Vista Residential District — historic district in Florida, United States

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 228.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 160.4 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.00 in tolls one way, starting with Homestead Extension. 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Lakeland, 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 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.9 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Lakeland, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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