Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
211.8 mi
341 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland City, FL
Larry Milligan
Pembroke Pines, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Highland City to Pembroke Pines is 211.8 miles and takes about 4 hours 8 minutes via Florida's Turnpike and FL 60, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Florida, taking you south through the heart of the state. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's perfectly suited for a single day of driving. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route if you need a no-fuss drive with minimal navigation challenges.
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
105.9 miles from Highland City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 142.7 mi | 2h 36m |
| FL 60 | 61.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| Bartow Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Broadway Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Van Fleet Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 64th Way | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hollywood Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Highland City, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL.
Start on US 98
Turn left onto CR 540
Turn sharp left onto US 98
Continue on US 98
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Merge onto SR 820
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning from Highland City is ideal, allowing you to reach Pembroke Pines well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 142.7 miles, you can plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long stretch on Florida's Turnpike, as services can sometimes be spread out. The $33 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to fill up before you depart or at your planned stop to ensure you have plenty for the 211.8-mile journey. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
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.
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 47 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.9 miles or 2h 10m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke Pines, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Highland City, 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 Highland City, FL
This is one driving day of about 211.8 miles and 4h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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.
A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 105.9 miles from Highland City, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 142.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Near the start, ~11 min detour
Bartow, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
Near the end, short detour
Delray Beach, Florida
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+15614950233
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Hours: 4–10:30 pm
+17726266655
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~9 min detour
Wellington, Florida
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+15617914005
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Hallandale Beach, Florida
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+19544571452
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Oakland Park, Florida
Later in the drive, ~12 min detour
Jupiter, Florida
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+15617412400
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 211.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto CR 540 / Clubhouse Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$34.05 one way
$68.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.44 | $37.04 | $74.08 |
| premium | $4.78 | $39.84 | $79.68 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $51.52 | $103.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.99
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
$34
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.24 | $10.17 |
| Efficient EV | 53 | 0 | $18.53 | $8.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.65 | $13.56 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Highland City on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 9:04AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 9:02AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Destination
Morning in Pembroke Pines on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 9:04AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 9:02AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike, offering a consistent driving pace. The main roads involved, including Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, and Bartow Road, are designed for efficient travel. Expect a smooth, albeit perhaps less varied, driving experience for the majority of the trip. The character of the drive is largely defined by its highway nature, making it predictable and easy to cover ground quickly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike 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 0.2 miles in near CR 540 / Clubhouse Road.
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 211.8 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 0.2 miles (CR 540 / Clubhouse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
19 ft
Total Descent
131 ft
Highest Point
119 ft
Elevation Range
113 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Highland City, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
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.
Founded 1956
Broward County is in the Greater Miami region of Florida.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 211.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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