Hialeah to Lake Panasoffkee is 272 miles and takes about 5h 12m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Florida the entire way, transitioning from the bustling South Florida region to the more central part of the state. Expect a largely highway-focused drive that's straightforward and efficient for a single-day journey. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct route without complex navigation.
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
251.4 mi
4h 33m
CR 470
5.5 mi
9m
Central Parkway
4 mi
7m
SR 9
2.6 mi
4m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
1.4 mi
2m
McNeill Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Northwest 135th Street
1 mi
2m
East 8th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 251.4 mi, about 4h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hialeah, FL and Lake Panasoffkee, 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
251 mi·4 hr 33 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 296Toward CR 470: LeesburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn slight left onto CR 470
0.6 mi·1 min·CR 470
17
Continue on McNeill Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·McNeill Drive
18
Turn left onto Central Parkway
0.4 mi·47 sec·Central Parkway
19
Enter roundabout onto Central Parkway
227 ft·4 sec·Central Parkway
20
Continue on Central Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
21
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
201 ft·4 sec·Central Parkway
22
Continue on CR 470
1.0 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
23
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
198 ft·4 sec·Central Parkway
24
Continue on CR 470
0.8 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
25
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
151 ft·3 sec·Central Parkway
26
Continue on CR 470
0.6 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
27
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
190 ft·3 sec·Central Parkway
28
Continue on CR 470
0.3 mi·28 sec·Central Parkway
29
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
203 ft·4 sec·CR 470
30
Continue on CR 470
2.5 mi·4 min·CR 470
31
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
0.6 mi·54 sec·US 301; CR 470
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto CR 470
2.3 mi·3 min·CR 470
33
Turn right onto County Road 527 North
0.4 mi·2 min·County Road 527 North
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 12m duration, starting your drive from Hialeah in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With a single recommended stop and a fuel cost around $43, planning your fuel top-off before hitting the longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike is a good idea. The drive is manageable in one day, so you have flexibility; however, if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up. Keep an eye out for the transition from urban areas to more rural landscapes as you head north.
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 251.4 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 Lake Panasoffkee, 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 miles and 5h 12m.
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 251.4 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 268.7 — 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.
7
259.8 mi into trip|~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward CR 470: Leesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 296
Toward CR 470: Leesburg
7
268.7 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|US 301; CR 470
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.30 one way
$86.59 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$47.10
$94.19
premium
$4.72
$50.58
$101.15
diesel
$5.61
$60.05
$120.11
Estimated Tolls: $17.60
Florida's Turnpike
(251.4 mi)$17.60
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
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
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
$28.56
$13.06
Efficient EV
68
0
$23.80
$10.88
EV Truck/SUV
108.8
1
$38.08
$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 18, 2026
Origin
Hialeah, FL
Night
in Hialeah on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
E 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lake Panasoffkee, FL
Night
in Lake Panasoffkee on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
26 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 12m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on Florida's Turnpike, including one uninterrupted stretch of 251.4 miles. The road character is consistently that of a fast-paced highway, designed for efficient travel. While CR 470 and Central Parkway offer minor deviations, the vast majority of your time will be spent on this high-speed corridor.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 251.4 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and CR 470. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 272 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 272 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 251.4 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $17.60 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 16 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 Lake Panasoffkee, 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 16 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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lake Panasoffkee, FL before the return drive.
