Jacksonville to Lake Panasoffkee is 138.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 52 minutes via Sid Martin Highway and US 301, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the northern part of the state down toward the central region. Expect a drive that's largely on highways, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two points without a lot of complex navigation.
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
69.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sid Martin Highway
39 mi
48m
US 301
37.5 mi
47m
I 75
36.6 mi
39m
I 10
17.1 mi
20m
Northwest 70th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Northwest 77th Street
1.2 mi
2m
US 17
1.1 mi
1m
State Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Sid Martin Highway
— 39 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Lake Panasoffkee, 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
17 mi·20 min·I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto US 301
0.1 mi·11 sec·US 301
11
Continue on US 301
37 mi·47 min·US 301
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301
39 mi·48 min·Sid Martin Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on FL 326
1.2 mi·2 min·Northwest 77th Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
16
Merge onto I 75
37 mi·39 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 321Toward FL 470: Sumterville, Lake PanasoffkeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn sharp left onto CR 470
0.3 mi·43 sec·CR 470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto County Road 527 North
0.4 mi·2 min·County Road 527 North
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour 52-minute duration, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. Consider leaving Jacksonville in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $22, planning is minimal. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 39 miles on Sid Martin Highway, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering that segment, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 30 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.1 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Panasoffkee, 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 138.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Sid Martin Highway for about 39 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 137.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|US 301 / Sid Martin Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301 / Sid Martin Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
97.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street
Turn right onto FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
137.1 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward FL 470: Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee
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 321
Toward FL 470: Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee
6
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|CR 470
Turn sharp left onto CR 470
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.00 one way
$44.00 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$23.93
$47.86
premium
$4.72
$25.70
$51.40
diesel
$5.61
$30.51
$61.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.5
0
$14.51
$6.63
Efficient EV
34.6
0
$12.09
$5.53
EV Truck/SUV
55.3
0
$19.35
$8.84
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lake Panasoffkee, FL
Morning
in Lake Panasoffkee on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
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
2h 52m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 67% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like the 39 miles on Sid Martin Highway, which offers a more direct, less interrupted travel segment. While the main roads include US 301 and I-75, the profile suggests a journey that balances highway speed with potentially more local road sections, especially early on. The road character generally favors efficiency over winding scenic routes, so settle in for a consistent pace.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on Sid Martin Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sid Martin Highway and US 301. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 138.2 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 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles (US 301 / Sid Martin Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.2 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 138.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on Sid Martin Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 Lake Panasoffkee, 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles (US 301 / Sid Martin Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.2 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake Panasoffkee, FL before heading back.
