Origin
Englewood, CO
Evening in Englewood on Saturday
Local time
5:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33h 30m
Distance
1846.5 mi
2,972 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$278
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Englewood, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Kathleen, FL
Arian Fernandez
This long-distance drive from Englewood, Colorado, to Kathleen, Florida, covers 1,846.5 miles and is estimated to take about 33 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. Given the distance, this is definitely not a day trip; plan for at least 4 recommended days to complete it comfortably. You'll be primarily on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I-24, and the Fall Line Freeway, with a significant 56% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $278 for this cross-country adventure that takes you from the Mountain West region to Florida. With 9 planned stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the journey.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
9 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
923.2 miles from Englewood, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16h 25m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 603 mi | 10h 29m |
| I 24 | 316 mi | 5h 48m |
| Fall Line Freeway | 306.7 mi | 5h 28m |
| I 75 | 175.5 mi | 3h 14m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 95.9 mi | 1h 39m |
| I 64 | 74.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 54.7 mi | 56m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
Step-by-step road directions between Englewood, CO and Kathleen, FL.
Start on South Broadway
Continue on South Broadway
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 285
Continue on US 285
Continue on US 285
Take the exit
Merge onto I 25
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 225
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
Turn left onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
Take the ramp onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
Merge onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70
Take the exit
Merge onto I 64; IL 3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
Take the exit
Continue on I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
Continue on I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
Take the exit onto I 24
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 75
Continue on I 75; I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
Take the exit
Turn sharp left onto CR 470
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
Turn right onto FL 471
Turn left onto US 98
Turn right onto Rockridge Road
Continue on Old Dade City Road
At end of road, turn right onto CR 35A
Continue on CR 35A
Continue on CR 35A
Arrive at destination
To best tackle this 1,846.5-mile journey, consider splitting the drive over the recommended 4 days to avoid excessive fatigue. Aim to start your days early to maximize daylight driving and take advantage of the 9 stops to rest and refuel. The longest stretch is 603 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so be sure to plan your fuel stops strategically before hitting that segment. With an estimated fuel cost of $278, budgeting is straightforward, but always carry a bit extra for unexpected needs.
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 3h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 923.2 miles or 16h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 461.6 miles or 7h 51m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kathleen, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Englewood, CO 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Englewood, CO
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 8.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 8.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 8.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Kathleen, FL
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 8.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
462 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
923 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Frankfort, ILLate stop town
Final reset
1385 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Kathleen, FL.
Night 1
462 mi · about 8.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Valley Falls, KS after about 462 miles or 8.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
923 mi · about 16.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Frankfort, IL after about 923 miles or 16.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
1385 mi · about 25.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near East Chattanooga, TN after about 1385 miles or 25.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 923.2 miles from Englewood, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 603 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 462 miles or 8.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 1160 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 225 North: Aurora, Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 40, US 287
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway toward I 670 East, I 70 Alternate
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$278.21 one way
$556.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $294.57 | $589.14 |
| premium | $4.39 | $319.43 | $638.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $407.68 | $815.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.74
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
$278
Tolls
$3
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$621–$901
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 646.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $194 in charging · 6 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 553.9 | 6 | $193.88 | $88.63 |
| Efficient EV | 461.6 | 5 | $161.57 | $73.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 738.6 | 9 | $258.51 | $118.18 |
Gas CO2
646 kg
EV CO2
216 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 6 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Englewood on Saturday
Local time
5:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Kathleen on Saturday
Local time
7:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
75°F
Valley Falls, KS
462 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused, long-distance drive, with 56% of the miles covered on interstates. You'll experience the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 603 miles, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. While largely an interstate experience, the transition to I-24 and then the Fall Line Freeway will offer some variation in the highway character. It's a route designed for covering ground efficiently, allowing you to make steady progress across the country.
At 33h 30m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 1846.5 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 602.7 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Englewood, CO and Kathleen, FL, road signs point toward Kansas City, Illinois, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Kansas City
Illinois
Knoxville
Chattanooga
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Englewood, CO or browse trips ending in Kathleen, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CO road trips.