Cutler Ridge, FL to Gainesville, FL is 355.6 miles and takes about 6h 36m via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the southern part of the state up towards the center. With 98% of the route on major highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering distance. It's a solid choice if you need to get from South Florida to the Gainesville area efficiently, with the bulk of the travel time on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
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
177.8 miles from Cutler Ridge, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
260.8 mi
4h 43m
I 75
46.1 mi
49m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
33.5 mi
38m
US 441
8 mi
9m
South Main Street
2.4 mi
4m
Marlin Road
1.4 mi
3m
Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi
2m
Southwest Williston Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 260.8 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,001 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,859
Quietest
2 AM
~413 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Cutler Ridge, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on Marlin Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Marlin Road
2
Continue on Southwest 107th Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Southwest 107th Avenue
3
Turn left onto SR 994
0.4 mi·48 sec·Quail Roost Drive
4
Turn right
0.2 mi·33 sec
5
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·40 sec·this road
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, Orlando
6
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.0 mi·3 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi·3 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
27 mi·30 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1.0 mi·1 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 75
46 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 374Toward CR 234: MicanopyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CR 234
1.3 mi·2 min·Southeast County Road 234
15
Turn left
421 ft·15 sec
Use the left lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 441
8.0 mi·9 min·US 441
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto FL 331
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest Williston Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto CR 329
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
19
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
92 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
20
Continue on CR 329
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
21
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
177 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
22
Continue on CR 329
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 36m estimated drive time, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. Aim to depart Cutler Ridge in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The longest stretch without a break is 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so plan for at least one substantial stop for fuel and a stretch before you reach that point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the mid-point of that long stretch, as services can be spread out on turnpikes. The fuel cost estimate of $56 provides a good baseline for budgeting.
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 177.8 miles from Cutler Ridge, FL, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.8 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 78 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.8 miles or 3h 19m 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 27m
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 Cutler Ridge, 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 Cutler Ridge, FL
This is one driving day of about 355.6 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Cutler Ridge, 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 260.8 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 5.6 and 343 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.6 mi into trip|~10m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.1 mi into trip|~13m 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.
8
35.1 mi into trip|~43m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
7
296.7 mi into trip|~5h 28m 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
343 mi into trip|~6h 18m 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
$53.83 one way
$107.66 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$59.07
$118.13
premium
$4.55
$63.70
$127.40
diesel
$4.80
$67.14
$134.29
Estimated Tolls: $20.25
Florida's Turnpike
(260.5 mi)$18.24
Homestead Extension
(33.5 mi)$2.01
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
$54
Tolls
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.7
1
$37.34
$17.07
Efficient EV
88.9
1
$31.12
$14.22
EV Truck/SUV
142.2
1
$49.78
$22.76
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Cutler Ridge, FL
Morning
in Cutler Ridge on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 3 mph2% 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
Gainesville, FL
Morning
in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 2 mph4% 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
4 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 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the 355.6 miles on major roads like Florida's Turnpike and I-75. You'll experience a long stretch of 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike, indicating a significant portion of the trip will be on this toll road. Expect frequent exits and services along these primary routes, especially as you move further north. The transition to surface roads, if any, would occur very late in the drive.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 260.8 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 5.6 miles in near Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike.
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 18 significant decision points across 355.6 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 5.6 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
178 ft6 ft
Total Climb
250 ft
Total Descent
80 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
~355.6 mi in
Elevation Range
172 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cutler Ridge, FL and Gainesville, FL, road signs point toward Orlando and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
Orlando
35.1 mi in|~43m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
35.1 mi in|~43m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 36m. Total distance: 355.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $20.25 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 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 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.
