Gainesville to Wilton Manors is 307.6 miles and takes about 5 hours 45 minutes via Florida's Turnpike and I 75, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the northern part of the state down towards South Florida. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward transit. Given the duration and highway focus, it's definitely a one-day drive, but plan for a full day behind the wheel.
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
153.8 miles from Gainesville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
240.6 mi
4h 19m
I 75
46.2 mi
49m
US 441
8 mi
9m
South Powerline Road
3.2 mi
6m
South Main Street
2.5 mi
5m
Southeast County Road 234
1.4 mi
2m
South Pompano Parkway
1 mi
1m
West Oakland Park Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.6 mi, about 4h 19m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
11 AM
~2,820 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,734
Quietest
2 AM
~427 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
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 Gainesville, FL and Wilton Manors, FL.
1
Start on CR 329
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
148 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on CR 329
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
57 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
5
Continue on CR 329
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
6
Turn right onto FL 331
0.5 mi·54 sec·Southwest Williston Road
7
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 441
0.4 mi·33 sec·US 441
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on US 441
7.0 mi·8 min·US 441
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 441
0.6 mi·47 sec·US 441
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto CR 234
1.4 mi·2 min·Southeast County Road 234
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
13
Merge onto I 75
46 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
241 mi·4 hr 19 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
192 ft·6 sec
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
17
Continue on Northwest 31st Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Northwest 31st Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
At end of road, turn left onto SR 814
0.6 mi·1 min·West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto SR 845
1.0 mi·1 min·South Pompano Parkway
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on SR 845
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Powerline Road
21
Continue on SR 845
3.2 mi·6 min·South Powerline Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto SR 816
1.0 mi·2 min·West Oakland Park Boulevard
23
Turn right onto Northeast 6th Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·Northeast 6th Avenue
24
Turn right onto Northeast 27th Court
137 ft·6 sec·Northeast 27th Court
25
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Terrace
190 ft·8 sec·Northeast 5th Terrace
26
Continue on Northeast 5th Terrace
163 ft·7 sec·Northeast 5th Terrace
27
Arrive at destination
Northeast 5th Terrace
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5 hour 45 minute drive, aim to depart Gainesville early in the morning to avoid any potential traffic delays. With over 240 miles on the Turnpike, you'll want to factor in at least one stop for fuel and a break. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider stopping around the halfway point for lunch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer highway stretches, as services can sometimes be spread out on the Turnpike.
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 153.8 miles from Gainesville, FL, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 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 68 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.8 miles or 2h 50m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilton Manors, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, FL
This is one driving day of about 307.6 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Gainesville, 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 240.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 301.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|CR 329 / South Main Street
Enter roundabout onto CR 329 / South Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
58.8 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
8
299.5 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
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 67
Toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther Kin...
6
300.1 mi into trip|~5h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlan...
6
301.6 mi into trip|~5h 32m in|SR 845 / South Pompano Parkway
Turn right onto SR 845 / South Pompano Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.56 one way
$93.13 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$51.09
$102.19
premium
$4.55
$55.10
$110.20
diesel
$4.80
$58.08
$116.16
Estimated Tolls: $16.84
Florida's Turnpike
(240.6 mi)$16.84
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
$47
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.6 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
92.3
1
$32.30
$14.76
Efficient EV
76.9
0
$26.92
$12.30
EV Truck/SUV
123
1
$43.06
$19.69
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Gainesville, FL
Morning
in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph87% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 3:18PM EDT until July 17 at 3:30PM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Wilton Manors, FL
Morning
in Wilton Manors on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 12 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 3:18PM EDT until July 17 at 3:30PM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 3:08PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 45m 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?
Expect to be on highways for 96% of this trip. The longest continuous stretch on the Turnpike is 240.6 miles, so you'll have plenty of time on the main roads before transitioning. You'll notice a high density of exits and merging traffic as you approach and pass through more populated areas, particularly as you get closer to South Florida.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.6 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 329 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 307.6 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 329 / South Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 58.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 299.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
199 ft5 ft
Total Climb
160 ft
Total Descent
332 ft
Highest Point
199 ft
~87.9 mi in
Elevation Range
194 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gainesville, FL and Wilton Manors, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean in the US state of Florida. It is known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive canal system. Situated in Broward County in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area, the city's population is over 180,000 (2021).
The city is most famous for its beaches and boats, and while the city of Fort Lauderdale is relatively small in area, the term 'Fort Lauderdale' is often used to refer to the larger metropolis that has grown up around it. It is the county seat for Broward county, and is part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area, which has over 6.1 million people (2019).
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 307.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.84 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.
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.
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 0.5 miles (CR 329 / South Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 58.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 299.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wilton Manors, FL before the return drive.
