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Trip from Kathleen, FL to Orlando, FL

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

Drive Time

1h 10m

Distance

56.8 mi

91 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m

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

Downtown Kathleen, FL, FL

Kathleen, FL

Arian Fernandez

city in and county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States

Orlando, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 56.8-mile drive from Kathleen to Orlando, Florida, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 10 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the journey on major roads like I-4. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, it’s an economical option for getting between these two Florida locations. You won't need to worry about finding many places to stop, as the data indicates no recommended stops, allowing for a direct journey. This drive is ideal for those looking for a quick and efficient transfer within the state.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 4 50 mi 56m
Kathleen Road 4.3 mi 7m
South Division Avenue 1.2 mi 3m
West South Street 0.3 mi <1m
West Kaley Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 4 — 50 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kathleen, FL and Orlando, FL.

1

Start on CR 35A

74 ft · 6 sec · Kathleen Road
2

Continue on CR 35A

4.3 mi · 7 min · Kathleen Road
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 48 sec
4

Merge onto I 4

30 mi · 33 min · I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 4

13 mi · 16 min · I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 4

6.3 mi · 7 min · I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 81 Toward Kaley Avenue, Michigan Street Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec
9

Turn slight right onto West Kaley Street

264 ft · 14 sec · West Kaley Street
10

Turn left onto South Division Avenue

1.2 mi · 3 min · South Division Avenue
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto West South Street

0.3 mi · 51 sec · West South Street
12

Turn slight right

103 ft · 3 sec
13

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Celebration, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Celebration, FL

28 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.

Popular next leg

Celebration, FL to Orlando, FL

20.2 mi · 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Lakeland, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Davenport, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from Kathleen, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4.7 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 4

Merge onto I 4

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
35 mi into trip | ~41m in | I 4

Keep slight left at fork onto I 4

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
48.4 mi into trip | ~57m in | I 4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 4

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54.7 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the exit toward Kaley Avenue, Michigan Street

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 81 Toward Kaley Avenue, Michigan Street
6
55.2 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | South Division Avenue

Turn left onto South Division Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.04 one way

$18.08 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $9.83 $19.67
premium $4.72 $10.56 $21.12
diesel $5.61 $12.54 $25.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17 0 $5.96 $2.73
Efficient EV 14.2 0 $4.97 $2.27
EV Truck/SUV 22.7 0 $7.95 $3.64

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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

Kathleen, FL

Night in Kathleen on Saturday

Local time

9:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Orlando, FL

Night in Orlando on Saturday

Local time

9:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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

1h 10m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 56.8-mile trip, with 88% of your travel on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 50 miles on I-4, indicating a consistent, faster-paced drive for the bulk of your journey. While the initial and final segments might involve local roads like Kathleen Road and South Division Avenue, the overall character is that of an interstate transit. This means you’ll likely encounter steady traffic flow and limited opportunities for leisurely sightseeing, prioritizing direct travel over scenic detours.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50 mi on I 4.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Kathleen Road. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near I 4.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 56.8 miles you will encounter 7 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 4.7 miles (I 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles (I 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Orlando, FL

Full guide →

For the broader urban area including suburbs and other nearby destinations, please see the Greater Orlando article. Orlando deserves its reputation as the theme park capital of the world, with an estimated 52 million visitors a year. The city is best known for its theme parks Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, but it holds a lot to offer besides those two amusement meccas. Countless hotels and restaurants cater to business conventions and other events hosted by organizations from all over the country. Outside the theme park districts and hotels, however, lies much more to be explored, including downtown, areas of untouched wilderness, world-class museums and theaters, and old towns with dining and nightlife. At the center of the state of Florida, in Orange County, Orlando is about an hour from each coast.

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 1h 10m. Total distance: 56.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 50 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Orlando, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (I 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles (I 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Orlando, FL before heading back.

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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