Hialeah to Lady Lake is 272.1 miles and takes about 5 hours 16 minutes via Florida's Turnpike and US 27, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, starting in the Miami metro area and heading north toward Central Florida. With 95% highway driving, expect a pretty straightforward trip, ideal for a single day's travel. It's a practical route if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without much fuss.
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
136 miles from Hialeah, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
240.9 mi
4h 22m
US 27
14.6 mi
22m
Citrus Boulevard
6.5 mi
10m
SR 9
2.6 mi
4m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
1.4 mi
2m
Northwest 135th Street
1 mi
2m
East 8th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
East 4th Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.9 mi, about 4h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hialeah, FL and Lady Lake, FL.
1
Start on East 39th Street
191 ft·9 sec·East 39th Street
2
Turn right onto East 2nd Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·East 2nd Avenue
3
Turn right onto East 41st Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·East 41st Street
4
Turn left onto East 4th Avenue
0.5 mi·59 sec·East 4th Avenue
5
Turn right onto SR 932
0.5 mi·56 sec·East 49th Street
6
Turn left onto SR 953
0.7 mi·1 min·East 8th Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
Toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike TollUse the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike
14
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
241 mi·4 hr 22 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.1 mi·3 min
Exit 285Toward US 27, FL 19: Leesburg, TavaresUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
197 ft·4 sec
Toward US 27 North: Leesburg
17
Merge onto US 27
0.6 mi·47 sec·US 27
18
Continue on US 27
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 27
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
14 mi·21 min·US 27
20
Turn left onto US 27; US 441
0.2 mi·42 sec·14th Street
21
Continue on US 27; US 441
6.5 mi·10 min·Citrus Boulevard
22
Take the exit
181 ft·5 sec
Toward West Lady Lake Boulevard
23
Turn left onto West Lady Lake Boulevard
281 ft·14 sec·West Lady Lake Boulevard
24
Turn right onto South Old Dixie Highway
0.2 mi·37 sec·South Old Dixie Highway
25
At end of road, turn right onto CR 466
209 ft·6 sec·CR 466
26
Arrive at destination
CR 466
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 16-minute drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to avoid driving after dark. You could do this trip in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up. There's only one recommended stop, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, keeping in mind the longest stretch is over 240 miles. For this route, pay attention to the transition from Florida's Turnpike to US 27, as that's where the highway percentage drops.
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 136 miles from Hialeah, FL, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.9 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 60 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136 miles or 2h 35m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lady Lake, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hialeah, 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 Hialeah, FL
This is one driving day of about 272.1 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Hialeah, 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 240.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 249.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East 41st Street
Turn right onto East 41st Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
Keep slight right at fork onto Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in|SR 9
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7.5 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
8
249.3 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 27, FL 19: Leesburg, Tavares
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 285
Toward US 27, FL 19: Leesburg, Tavares
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.31 one way
$86.62 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$47.11
$94.23
premium
$4.72
$50.60
$101.19
diesel
$5.61
$60.08
$120.15
Estimated Tolls: $16.86
Florida's Turnpike
(240.9 mi)$16.86
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
$43
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.6
1
$28.57
$13.06
Efficient EV
68
0
$23.81
$10.88
EV Truck/SUV
108.8
1
$38.09
$17.41
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Hialeah, FL
Late night
in Hialeah on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lady Lake, FL
Late night
in Lady Lake on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
22 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
5h 16m 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.
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?
You'll be on highways for about 95% of this 272.1-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on Florida's Turnpike spans 240.9 miles, meaning you'll have plenty of highway miles before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a lot of exits and merges as you navigate the more developed highway sections before reaching your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.9 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 US 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East 41st Street.
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 21 significant decision points across 272.1 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 0.2 miles (East 41st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (SR 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hialeah, FL to Lady Lake, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tavares along the way.
Tavares
249.3 mi in|~4h 39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 272.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.86 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 14 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 Lady Lake, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East 41st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (SR 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lady Lake, FL before the return drive.
