Embarking on the 496.9-mile journey from Key West to Gainesville is a significant trek that spans the length of Florida. While the trip takes approximately 8 hours and 9 minutes of pure driving time, attempting this in a single day can be exhausting. I highly recommend splitting this into a 2-day excursion to keep your energy levels high. Budgeting about $83 for fuel will cover your transit across the state, though you should account for potential traffic variables. Since you are moving from the southernmost point of the Florida Keys toward the northern interior, you will experience a distinct transition in the state's geography. Planning for at least two major stops will help you break up the time behind the wheel effectively.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
246.6 miles from Key West, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
260.8 mi
4h 43m
New Seven Mile Bridge
68.1 mi
1h 46m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
47.4 mi
55m
I 75
46.1 mi
49m
Overseas Highway
36.1 mi
56m
Dixie Highway
19.4 mi
26m
US 441
8 mi
9m
South Main Street
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 260.8 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,001 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,859
Quietest
2 AM
~413 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Key West, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on George Street
367 ft·21 sec·George Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Flagler Avenue
2.1 mi·5 min·Flagler Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto FL A1A
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Roosevelt Boulevard
4
Turn right onto US 1
36 mi·56 min·Overseas Highway
5
Continue on US 1
68 mi·1 hr 46 min·New Seven Mile Bridge
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 1
19 mi·26 min·Dixie Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13 mi·15 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi·4 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi·3 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
27 mi·30 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1.0 mi·1 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 75
46 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 374Toward CR 234: MicanopyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CR 234
1.3 mi·2 min·Southeast County Road 234
18
Turn left
421 ft·15 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 441
8.0 mi·9 min·US 441
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto FL 331
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest Williston Road
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto CR 329
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
22
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
92 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
23
Continue on CR 329
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
24
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
177 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
25
Continue on CR 329
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Trip Plan
To make the most of this nearly 500-mile trip, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid peak congestion during the first leg of your departure from Key West. Given the 8-hour duration, scheduling two deliberate stops will prevent driver fatigue and allow you to manage your fuel budget of $83 more efficiently. Since the route relies entirely on local roads, keep a close watch on your GPS, as navigation can become complex during turns. If you choose to split the drive over two days, look for lodging options roughly halfway to ensure a balanced travel schedule. Always check your tire pressure before leaving the Keys, as the constant turning on local roads can be more demanding on your vehicle than high-speed straightaways.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 246.6 miles from Key West, FL, or about 5h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 2h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 246.6 miles or 5h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 246.6 miles or 5h 31m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Key West, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Key West, FL
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Gainesville, FL
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Key West, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 260.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 125.9 and 480.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
125.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
6
139.5 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
172.7 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
7
434.2 mi into trip|~8h 55m in|Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
7
480.6 mi into trip|~9h 45m in
Take the exit toward CR 234: Micanopy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 374
Toward CR 234: Micanopy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.50 one way
$157.01 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg173 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$85.57
$171.14
premium
$4.74
$92.10
$184.19
diesel
$5.35
$103.88
$207.77
Estimated Tolls: $21.08
Florida's Turnpike
(260.5 mi)$18.24
Homestead Extension
(47.4 mi)$2.84
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
$79
Tolls
$21
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$230–$340
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
148
1
$51.79
$23.67
Efficient EV
123.3
1
$43.16
$19.73
EV Truck/SUV
197.3
2
$69.05
$31.56
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% 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 May 30, 2026
Origin
Key West, FL
Afternoon
in Key West on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 30 at 5:24PM CDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 30 at 4:42AM EDT until June 2 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Gainesville, FL
Afternoon
in Gainesville on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
W 2 to 12 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 30 at 5:24PM CDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 30 at 4:42AM EDT until June 2 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10h 3m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 137.1
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and anima...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$35
near mile 119.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint. You will begin your journey navigating Flagler Avenue, South Roosevelt Boulevard, and the Overseas Highway, which requires your full attention compared to the monotony of a typical highway cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route is defined by its local road connectivity and constant adjustments behind the wheel. Because the drive is technical and lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, your pace will be slower than a typical cross-country interstate run. Staying alert is essential as you transition from the unique road layouts of the Keys onto the regional roads leading toward Gainesville.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 260.8 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and New Seven Mile Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 125.9 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 20 significant decision points across 493.2 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 125.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.5 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 172.7 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
178 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
209 ft
Total Descent
35 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
~496.9 mi in
Elevation Range
179 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Key West, FL and Gainesville, FL, road signs point toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
Miami
125.9 mi in|~3h 16m
Orlando
125.9 mi in|~3h 16m
Florida's Turnpike North
125.9 mi in|~3h 16m
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
172.7 mi in|~4h 10m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Key West, in the Florida Keys, is a city and an island of the same name. It is the county seat of Monroe County and is considered the southernmost city in the continental United States.
Top landmarks
•Ernest Hemingway House — house and museum in Key West, Florida, USA
The longest stretch is about 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 247 miles on day one.
Expect about $21.08 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.
Yes — we found about 32 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 Gainesville, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 125.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.5 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 172.7 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gainesville, FL before the return drive.
