Origin
Lake City, FL
Morning in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake City, FL to Jacksonville, 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 15m
Distance
60.9 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake City, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Jacksonville, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Lake City and Jacksonville, this 61-mile trip is an efficient way to traverse northern Florida. The journey typically takes about one hour and one minute, making it perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via Northwest Alachua Avenue, West Duval Street, and Highway 90 rather than relying on major interstates. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical route for commuters or casual travelers. Because the entire drive is localized, you do not need to worry about overnight splits; it is designed to be completed in one quick push. Whether you are heading to the coast or returning inland, this route offers a practical alternative to busier transit corridors.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 37.2 mi | 41m |
| East US Highway 90 | 17.9 mi | 23m |
| West Duval Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Union Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I 95 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 17 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northwest Alachua Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 37.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, FL and Jacksonville, FL.
1
Start on this road
17 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
177 ft
·
13 sec
3
Turn right
55 ft
·
6 sec
4
Turn right onto Northwest Alachua Avenue
126 ft
·
10 sec
·
Northwest Alachua Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 90; US 441
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
West Duval Street
6
Continue on US 90
18 mi
·
23 min
·
East US Highway 90
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 10 East: Jacksonville
8
Merge onto I 10
37 mi
·
41 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
12
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 17; FL 228
Exit 353B
Toward Union Street, Beaver Street
13
Turn straight onto US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
US 17
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Lake City, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60 — 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
|
Northwest Alachua Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest Alachua Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
21 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Dayton...
8
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savan...
6
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
US 17; FL 228
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228 toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 353B
Toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.69 one way
$19.39 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.54 | $21.09 |
| premium | $4.72 | $11.32 | $22.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.45 | $26.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.39 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.53 | $3.90 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
Morning in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
SW 3 to 8 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
55°F
Baldwin, FL
30 mi in
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
34 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 15m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged throughout the 61-mile trip. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on local roads, meaning you will not be spending time on high-speed highway stretches. In fact, the highway share is 0%, emphasizing the stop-and-go nature of city streets and regional connectors. You will find that there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, as the longest segment on Northwest Alachua Avenue is 0 miles. Because of this, you should prepare for a consistent series of turns and maneuvers that require your full attention behind the wheel. It is a functional, hands-on drive that feels more like navigating through local communities than cruising down a wide-open bypass.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and East US Highway 90. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Northwest Alachua Avenue.
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 60.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Northwest Alachua Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
201 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
92 ft
Total Descent
272 ft
Highest Point
201 ft
~4.3 mi in
Elevation Range
185 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Lake City, FL
Full guide →Lake City is a city of 12,000 people (2019) in North Central Florida. Lake City is known as "The Gateway to Florida" because it is adjacent to the intersection of Interstate 75 and Interstate 10. It was founded as the "Town of Alligator" in 1821.
Arriving in Jacksonville, FL
Full guide →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.
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 15m. Total distance: 60.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.2 miles on I 10. 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 Jacksonville, 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: near the start (Northwest Alachua Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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