Origin
Harlem, FL
Morning in Harlem on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harlem, FL to Lakeland Highlands, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
129.7 mi
209 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harlem, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Trip Overview
Harlem to Lakeland Highlands is 129.7 miles and takes about 2h 50m via US 27 and FL 60, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, connecting two points in the central part of the state. Expect a fairly straightforward trip on major roads for most of the way. Given the relatively short distance and time, it's a solid choice for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Florida locations without a lot of complexity.
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
64.8 miles from Harlem, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 103.2 mi | 2h 9m |
| FL 60 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| Boy Scout Ranch Road | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| Bartow Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Lewis Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Van Fleet Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Scott Lake Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 103.2 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harlem, FL and Lakeland Highlands, FL.
1
Start on 10th Street
89 ft
·
5 sec
·
10th Street
2
Turn right onto Harlem Academy Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harlem Academy Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto 13th Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
13th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Lewis Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lewis Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
6
Merge onto US 27; FL 80
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 27; FL 80
7
Continue on US 27; FL 80
51 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 27; FL 80
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 27
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 27
10 mi
·
12 min
·
US 27
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 27
37 mi
·
49 min
·
US 27
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto FL 60
15 mi
·
18 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto US 98
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 98
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Bartow Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto CR 540A
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Boy Scout Ranch Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 37A
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Scott Lake Road
18
Arrive at destination
CR 37A
Trip Plan
Start your drive in Harlem in the morning to make the most of daylight. With a total duration of under 3 hours, you likely won't need to stop for an overnight stay. You have one recommended stop along the way. Since this is a fairly short drive, you have flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on US 27, as services can be spread out in some sections. The fuel cost estimate is around $21, so plan accordingly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Harlem, FL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.2 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 21m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland Highlands, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harlem, 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 Harlem, FL
This is one driving day of about 129.7 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Harlem, 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 103.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.8 miles from Harlem, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 124.4 — 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
|
13th Street
At end of road, turn right onto 13th Street
Navigation decision point
6
105 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
105.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
|
FL 60
Merge onto FL 60
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
120.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
US 98 / Broadway Avenue
Turn right onto US 98 / Broadway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
124.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
CR 540A / Boy Scout Ranch Road
Turn left onto CR 540A / Boy Scout Ranch Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.64 one way
$41.29 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $22.46 | $44.92 |
| premium | $4.72 | $24.12 | $48.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.64 | $57.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.62 | $6.23 |
| Efficient EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.35 | $5.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.16 | $8.30 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Morning in Lakeland Highlands on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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
17 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
2h 50m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 91% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 103.2 miles, which occurs on US 27. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads for the final portion of the trip. Be prepared for a shift in pace as you approach your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.2 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and FL 60. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near 13th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 129.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 (13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 105 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.2 miles (FL 60): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 129.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.2 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 105 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.2 miles (FL 60): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakeland Highlands, FL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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