Origin
Goldenrod, FL
Late night in Goldenrod on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
173.3 mi
279 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Goldenrod, FL
Tom Fisk
Harlem, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Goldenrod, FL to Harlem, FL is 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m via Florida's Turnpike and FL 78, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the Orlando area toward the center of the state. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's well-suited for a single day. You'll spend a good portion of your time on Florida's Turnpike, so expect typical toll road conditions. Consider this route if you need a direct connection between these two points and prefer a quick, efficient passage.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.6 miles from Goldenrod, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| FL 78 | 34.4 mi | 46m |
| Kenansville Road | 31.2 mi | 39m |
| Central Florida GreeneWay | 21.6 mi | 23m |
| US 27 | 15.9 mi | 20m |
| US 441 | 4.8 mi | 9m |
| Goldenrod Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| East Colonial Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Goldenrod, FL and Harlem, FL.
Start on Palmetto Avenue
Continue on FL 551
Turn left onto FL 50
Turn left
Merge onto FL 417 Toll
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto FL 60
Turn sharp left onto US 441
Continue on US 441
Turn right onto FL 78
Continue on FL 78
Turn right onto US 27; FL 78
Continue on US 27; FL 78
Merge onto US 27; FL 78
Turn slight right
Continue on US 27
Turn right onto Lewis Boulevard
Turn right onto 13th Street
Turn left onto Harlem Academy Avenue
Turn left onto 10th Street
Arrive at destination
For this relatively short, 3h 38m drive, leaving Goldenrod in the morning is ideal, allowing you to reach Harlem with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $28, you can be quite flexible with your timing. Pay attention as you transition from Florida's Turnpike to FL 78, as the road conditions and traffic patterns will change. Since this is easily a same-day trip, you don't need to plan for overnight accommodations.
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.
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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harlem, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Goldenrod, 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 Goldenrod, FL
This is one driving day of about 173.3 miles and 3h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 86.6 miles from Goldenrod, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 and 85.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward FL 417 Toll South: Orlando International Airport
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Ocala
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto US 441 / Kenansville Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$27.58 one way
$55.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $30.01 | $60.01 |
| premium | $4.72 | $32.22 | $64.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.26 | $76.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.96
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
$28
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52 | 0 | $18.20 | $8.32 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.16 | $6.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.26 | $11.09 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Late night in Goldenrod on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Harlem on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is highway-focused, with 65% of the 173.3 miles on major highways like Florida's Turnpike. You'll experience a longest stretch of 56.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads like FL 78 and Kenansville Road. Expect to see frequent exits on the turnpike portion, followed by more open cruising as you move onto the state roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 78. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 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 17 significant decision points across 173.3 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 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Goldenrod, FL and Harlem, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Ocala, Miami and Florida's Turnpike South.
Florida's Turnpike: Miami
Ocala
Miami
Florida's Turnpike South
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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