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Trip from Hollywood, FL to Lake Wales, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 45m

Distance

192.2 mi

309 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 33m ★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Lake Wales, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 192.2-mile drive from Hollywood, FL to Lake Wales, FL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. The journey is primarily highway-focused, with 97% of the route utilizing major roadways like Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. With a projected fuel cost of around $31, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within Florida. You'll experience a consistent, high-speed drive for most of the way, making it efficient for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop. Plan for one main stop along the way to break up the drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

96.1 miles from Hollywood, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Florida's Turnpike 125.2 mi 2h 16m
FL 60 45.6 mi 58m
I 95 15.1 mi 17m
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
Hollywood Boulevard 1.2 mi 1m
North Andrews Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
South Scenic Highway 0.4 mi 1m
West Atlantic Boulevard 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Florida's Turnpike — 125.2 mi, about 2h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, FL and Lake Wales, FL.

1

Start on SR 820

216 ft · 12 sec · Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
2

Continue on SR 820

0.8 mi · 1 min · Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Hollywood Boulevard
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 95

15 mi · 17 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 36 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward SR 814 West: Atlantic Boulevard West Use the left / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto SR 814

0.4 mi · 44 sec · West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9

Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Andrews Avenue
Use the right lane.
10

Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Northwest 16th Avenue
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

1.3 mi · 2 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
14

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

125 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 193 Toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
16

Keep slight right at fork

245 ft · 6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
17

Merge onto FL 60

46 mi · 58 min · FL 60
Use the left lane.
18

Turn right onto South 4th Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · South 4th Street
19

At end of road, turn right onto East Polk Avenue

43 ft · 11 sec · East Polk Avenue
20

Turn sharp left onto FL 17

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Scenic Highway
21

Turn right onto East Stuart Avenue

113 ft · 5 sec · East Stuart Avenue
22

Turn right

226 ft · 16 sec
23

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 3-hour and 45-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you leave the Hollywood area. With a longest stretch of 125.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike, plan for a rest stop midway through this section. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so ensure your tank is full before you leave. Given the relatively short duration, you have flexibility; however, a single planned stop will keep the journey comfortable. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Turnpike to FL 60, as this marks a key change in the road character.

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 96.1 miles from Hollywood, FL, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.2 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 42 miles or 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 96.1 miles or 1h 49m 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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Wales, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hollywood, 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 Hollywood, FL

This is one driving day of about 192.2 miles and 3h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Hollywood, 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 125.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town located in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jupiter, FL

96 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Lake Worth Corridor, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Pierce, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 96.1 miles from Hollywood, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Wales, Florida

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 192.2

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18632968827

Visit website

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 192.2

Lake Wales, Florida

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18632968827

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 151

Okeechobee, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Riverbend Park

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 68.6

Jupiter, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15617411359

Visit website

Wreck It Ft Laudy

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 13.7

Oakland Park, Florida

Ingalls Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hallandale Beach, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+19544571452

Visit website

Indian Creek Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 68.6

Jupiter, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15617412400

Visit website

Anne Kolb Nature Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hollywood, Florida

Hours: 8 am–7:30 pm

+19543575161

Visit website

Escape Room PSL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 96.1

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Hours: 4–10:30 pm

+17726266655

Visit website

Joseph C. Carter Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 13.7

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19548285411

Visit website

Veterans Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour

Aventura, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+13054668930

Visit website

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 1.2 and 145.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.2 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
6
16.7 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 36
8
17 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 814 West: Atlantic Boulevard West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / slight right lanes. Toward SR 814 West: Atlantic Boulevard West
6
19.6 mi into trip | ~26m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
6
145.2 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in

Take the exit toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 193 Toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.59 one way

$61.19 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $33.28 $66.56
premium $4.72 $35.74 $71.48
diesel $5.61 $42.44 $84.87

Estimated Tolls: $8.76

Florida's Turnpike (125.2 mi) $8.76

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

$31

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.7 0 $20.18 $9.23
Efficient EV 48.1 0 $16.82 $7.69
EV Truck/SUV 76.9 0 $26.91 $12.30

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (67% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Hollywood, FL

Morning in Hollywood on Sunday

Local time

6:04 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lake Wales, FL

Morning in Lake Wales on Sunday

Local time

6:04 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°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

8 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

3h 45m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this 192.2-mile trek. The vast majority of your time will be spent on fast-paced roads, with Florida's Turnpike forming the longest uninterrupted stretch at 125.2 miles. This means you'll be covering ground efficiently, with minimal slowdowns. While the highway share is high at 97%, FL 60 offers a change of pace as you approach your destination. The overall feel is one of steady progress, ideal for covering distance.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.2 mi on Florida's Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 192.2 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: 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.

Between Hollywood, FL and Lake Wales, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando and Florida's Turnpike North.

Florida's Turnpike: Miami

19.5 mi in | ~25m

Orlando

19.5 mi in | ~25m

Florida's Turnpike North

19.6 mi in | ~26m

About the Cities

Starting in Hollywood, FL

Full guide →

Hollywood is a city in Florida, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. With a population of 153,000 people (2022), Hollywood is a relatively small city that retains an old, laid-back, Florida feel to it compared to the larger cities in the area.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 192.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 45m 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 125.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $8.76 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 Lake Wales, 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Lake Wales, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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