Hialeah to Medulla is 216.9 miles and takes about 4h 37m via US 27 and I-75, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the southern part of the state up towards the center. It's a primarily highway route, meaning you'll cover ground efficiently. Given the relatively short duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day drive, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
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
108.5 miles from Hialeah, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
161.3 mi
3h 22m
I 75
22.4 mi
24m
FL 60
14.7 mi
18m
Boy Scout Ranch Road
4.8 mi
8m
Bartow Road
3.2 mi
4m
Gratigny Parkway
2.2 mi
2m
Palm Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
CR 540A
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 161.3 mi, about 3h 22m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~8,818 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~393 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Hialeah, FL and Medulla, FL.
1
Start on East 39th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 39th Street
2
Turn right onto Palm Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Palm Avenue
3
Turn left onto West 65th Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·West 65th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn straight onto West 2nd Court
0.2 mi·24 sec·West 2nd Court
5
Continue on West 68th Street
447 ft·12 sec·West 68th Street
6
Turn right onto SR 823
0.9 mi·1 min·West 4th Avenue/Red Road
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward SR 924 Toll West
8
Merge onto SR 924 Toll
2.2 mi·2 min·Gratigny Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 75
16 mi·17 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
6.4 mi·6 min·I 75
Toward Alligator Alley, NaplesUse the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 23Toward US 27: Hialeah, South BayUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 27 North: South BayUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 27
0.9 mi·59 sec·US 27
14
Continue on US 27
62 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 27; FL 80
51 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 27; FL 80
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 27
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 27
10 mi·12 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 27
37 mi·49 min·US 27
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Merge onto FL 60
15 mi·18 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.6 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·Bartow Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto CR 540A
4.8 mi·8 min·Boy Scout Ranch Road
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on CR 540A
1.5 mi·2 min·CR 540A
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto Old Road 37
1.0 mi·2 min·Old Road 37
27
Arrive at destination
Old Road 37
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving Hialeah in the morning will get you to Medulla with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll have one recommended stop, but with only 216.9 miles total, you can easily adjust your breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 161.3-mile section on US 27, as services can be more spread out there. The $34 fuel estimate is a good baseline for planning your budget.
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 108.5 miles from Hialeah, FL, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.3 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 48 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.5 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medulla, 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 216.9 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 US 27 for about 161.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$1 to $10
Sebring, Florida
Hours: 7 AM–1:30 PM
+18633146377
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 190.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward SR 924 Toll West
Navigation decision point
Toward SR 924 Toll West
8
21.9 mi into trip|~27m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward Alligator Alley, Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Alligator Alley, Naples
8
28.3 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Hialeah, South Bay
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 23
Toward US 27: Hialeah, South Bay
7
28.6 mi into trip|~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 27 North: South Bay
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 27 North: South Bay
6
190.3 mi into trip|~3h 58m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.83 one way
$65.67 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$36.03
$72.06
premium
$4.55
$38.85
$77.71
diesel
$4.80
$40.95
$81.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.1
0
$22.77
$10.41
Efficient EV
54.2
0
$18.98
$8.68
EV Truck/SUV
86.8
1
$30.37
$13.88
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Hialeah, FL
Morning
in Hialeah on Monday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Partly Sunny
SE 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:08PM CDT until July 18 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:05PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Medulla, FL
Morning
in Medulla on Monday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:08PM CDT until July 18 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:05PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
1 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
4h 37m 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 spend about 92% of this trip on the highway, covering 200 miles of highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 161.3 miles on US 27. As you transition off I-75 and onto FL 60, expect a change from high-speed interstate cruising to more typical state road conditions with more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds.
92% 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: 161.3 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 216.9 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 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 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
162 ft7 ft
Total Climb
185 ft
Total Descent
30 ft
Highest Point
162 ft
~216.9 mi in
Elevation Range
155 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hialeah, FL and Medulla, FL, road signs point toward Alligator Alley, Naples and Bay.
Alligator Alley
21.9 mi in|~27m|via I 75
Naples
21.9 mi in|~27m|via I 75
Bay
28.3 mi in|~34m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 216.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 161.3 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Medulla, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Medulla, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
