Jacksonville to Gonzalez is 359.9 miles and takes about 6h 35m via I 10, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Florida, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the Sunshine State. The majority of the drive is on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace for most of the 359.9 miles. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under seven hours, this trip is designed for a single-day journey. It's a practical option if you need to get from the Jacksonville area to the Pensacola region efficiently.
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
180 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
351.2 mi
6h 18m
Pensacola Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
US 17
1.1 mi
1m
South Highway 29
1 mi
1m
State Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Palafox Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Kings Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Old Chemstrand Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 351.2 mi, about 6h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Gonzalez, FL.
1
Start on US 17
210 ft·12 sec·Union Street
2
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
281 ft·15 sec·Ocean Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.3 mi·36 sec·Kings Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17; FL 228
Toward I 95 South: JacksonvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 351AToward I 10 West: Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
351 mi·6 hr 18 min·I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 10Toward US 29: Pensacola, Cantonment, Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 29 North: Cantonment, Pensacola Boulevard
10
Turn straight onto US 29
3.9 mi·6 min·Pensacola Boulevard
11
Continue on US 29
1.0 mi·1 min·South Highway 29
12
Turn sharp right onto Tate School Road
124 ft·9 sec·Tate School Road
13
Turn left onto CR 95A
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Palafox Road
14
Turn right onto CR 749
0.2 mi·30 sec·Old Chemstrand Road
15
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
82 ft·3 sec·3rd Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 35m duration, starting your drive from Jacksonville early in the morning is the best way to ensure you arrive in Gonzalez with daylight to spare. The route is mostly highway, with a single recommended stop, so you can easily cover the 359.9 miles in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially on the long 351.2-mile stretch of I 10, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $57 is a good baseline for planning your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your timing, but an early start is still recommended.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 351.2 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 79 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gonzalez, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 359.9 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Jacksonville, 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 I 10 for about 351.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 180 miles from Jacksonville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 351.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 354.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 351A
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
8
354 mi into trip|~6h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Pensacola, Cantonment,
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 10
Toward US 29: Pensacola, Cantonment,
6
354.2 mi into trip|~6h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 29 North: Cantonment, Pensacola Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 29 North: Cantonment, Pensacola Boule...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.29 one way
$114.57 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$62.32
$124.63
premium
$4.72
$66.92
$133.84
diesel
$5.61
$79.46
$158.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108
1
$37.79
$17.28
Efficient EV
90
1
$31.49
$14.40
EV Truck/SUV
144
1
$50.39
$23.03
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
NE 2 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 3:53PM EDT until April 22 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 3:53PM EDT until April 22 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Gonzalez, FL
Morning
in Gonzalez on Tuesday
Local time
8:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Quincy, FL
180 mi in
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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
6h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$25
near mile 347.5
Park Closure: Fort Pickens Campground Restroom A Loop Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 98% of the 359.9 miles taking place on interstates and major roadways. You'll be on I 10 for the longest stretch, a continuous 351.2 miles. After that long highway segment, expect a brief transition to surface roads as you approach Gonzalez. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter frequent exits and merges for a good portion of the trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 351.2 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Pensacola Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
Top landmarks
•Fort Caroline — fort in Florida managed by the National Park Service
•Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville — museum in Jacksonville, Florida
•Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve — wetlands in Florida (U.S.) managed by the National Park Service
The longest stretch is about 351.2 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gonzalez, 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: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gonzalez, FL before the return drive.
