Hialeah to Wekiwa Springs is 244.1 miles and takes about 4h 40m via Florida's Turnpike and I-4, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the southern part of the state up towards the Orlando area. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable distance, it's well-suited for a single-day drive. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, making for a straightforward transit. Plan for a steady pace as you head north.
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
122 miles from Hialeah, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
214.5 mi
3h 54m
I 4
16.7 mi
20m
SR 9
2.6 mi
4m
Wekiva Springs Road
1.9 mi
3m
Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector
1.4 mi
2m
Northwest 135th Street
1 mi
2m
FL 434
0.9 mi
1m
East 8th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 214.5 mi, about 3h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hialeah, FL and Wekiwa Springs, 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
215 mi·3 hr 54 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 259Toward I 4: Orlando, TampaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 4 East: Downtown Orlando
17
Merge onto I 4
17 mi·20 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 94Toward FL 434: Longwood, Winter SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto FL 434
0.9 mi·1 min·FL 434
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Wekiva Springs Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Wekiva Springs Road
21
Turn left onto Sweetwater Boulevard South
0.4 mi·1 min·Sweetwater Boulevard South
22
Turn left onto Green Lake Drive
458 ft·22 sec·Green Lake Drive
23
At end of road, turn right onto Blue Lake Drive
371 ft·21 sec·Blue Lake Drive
24
Turn left onto Green Lake Circle
0.1 mi·23 sec·Green Lake Circle
25
Arrive at destination
Green Lake Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 40m drive, consider an early morning departure from Hialeah to avoid any lingering traffic. With only one recommended stop and a short total duration, you have flexibility. The majority of your travel will be on Florida's Turnpike, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 214.5-mile stretch. The estimated fuel cost is around $38, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. You'll transition to surface roads only near the end of your trip.
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 122 miles from Hialeah, FL, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.5 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122 miles or 2h 20m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wekiwa Springs, 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 244.1 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 214.5 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 243.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
223 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 4: Orlando, Tampa
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 259
Toward I 4: Orlando, Tampa
8
240.4 mi into trip|~4h 32m in
Take the exit toward FL 434: Longwood, Winter Springs
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 94
Toward FL 434: Longwood, Winter Springs
6
243.9 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|Blue Lake Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Blue Lake Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.95 one way
$73.90 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$40.55
$81.09
premium
$4.55
$43.73
$87.45
diesel
$4.80
$46.09
$92.18
Estimated Tolls: $15.02
Florida's Turnpike
(214.5 mi)$15.02
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
$37
Tolls
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.2
0
$25.63
$11.72
Efficient EV
61
0
$21.36
$9.76
EV Truck/SUV
97.6
1
$34.17
$15.62
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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
Afternoon
in Hialeah on Sunday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 12 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wekiwa Springs, FL
Afternoon
in Wekiwa Springs on Sunday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph31% chanceLive 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 40m 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 drive is almost entirely on highways, with 96% of the 244.1 miles covered on major roads like Florida's Turnpike and I-4. You'll experience a long stretch of 214.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which means consistent cruising with frequent exits. Expect a busy environment with many interchanges as you approach and move through more populated areas. The transition to surface roads will occur very late in the trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 214.5 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 I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near Northwest 42nd Avenue-37th Avenue Connector.
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 22 significant decision points across 244.1 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 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; at 223 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
99 ft7 ft
Total Climb
101 ft
Total Descent
58 ft
Highest Point
99 ft
~226.6 mi in
Elevation Range
92 ft
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 Wekiwa Springs, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tampa along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 244.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 214.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $15.02 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Wekiwa Springs, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 223 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Wekiwa Springs, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
