Lake City, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL is 360.1 miles and takes about 6h 35m via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the northern part of the state down to the southern tip. You'll be spending almost all your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. Given the duration and distance, it's definitely a feasible same-day trip, though you could break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace.
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 Lake City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
258 mi
4h 39m
I 75
95.1 mi
1h 41m
Southwest State Road 47
3.8 mi
6m
Northwest Main Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi
1m
Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Hollywood Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 258 mi, about 4h 39m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
11 AM
~2,820 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,734
Quietest
2 AM
~427 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Lake City, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL.
1
Start on this road
39 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 41; US 441
347 ft·13 sec·Northwest Main Boulevard
3
Continue on US 41; US 441
1.4 mi·2 min·Northwest Main Boulevard
4
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 47
3.8 mi·6 min·Southwest State Road 47
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 75 South: TampaUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 75
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
258 mi·4 hr 39 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto SR 820
0.2 mi·36 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
10
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·Southwest 8th Street
12
Arrive at destination
Southwest 8th Street
Trip Plan
For this 360.1-mile drive, leaving Lake City in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since it's a single-day trip with a 6h 35m estimated duration, you can afford to be flexible with stops. The longest stretch is 258 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so plan for a fuel and rest break before or around the halfway point of that section. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out on long highway segments, and your estimated fuel cost is around $62.
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 Lake City, FL, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke Pines, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake City, 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 Lake City, FL
This is one driving day of about 360.1 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Lake City, 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 258 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 359.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in|FL 47 / Southwest State Road 47
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 47 / Southwest State Road 47
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.3 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn left toward I 75 South: Tampa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
8
100.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
7
358.7 mi into trip|~6h 31m in
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
6
359.3 mi into trip|~6h 32m in|Southwest 64th Way
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.51 one way
$109.02 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$59.81
$119.63
premium
$4.55
$64.51
$129.01
diesel
$4.80
$67.99
$135.99
Estimated Tolls: $18.06
Florida's Turnpike
(258 mi)$18.06
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
$55
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108
1
$37.81
$17.28
Efficient EV
90
1
$31.51
$14.40
EV Truck/SUV
144
1
$50.41
$23.05
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Lake City, FL
Late night
in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
W 1 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Pembroke Pines, FL
Late night
in Pembroke Pines on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami 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.
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
7 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 98% of the 360.1 miles on major roads. You'll have a stretch of 258 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which is a significant portion of the drive. The transition to surface roads will occur very late in the trip, near the end of your 6h 35m travel time. Expect a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach your destination in Pembroke Pines.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 258 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near FL 47 / Southwest State Road 47.
Driving Effort6/10
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 360.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.5 miles (FL 47 / Southwest State Road 47): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
213 ft6 ft
Total Climb
168 ft
Total Descent
358 ft
Highest Point
213 ft
~128.6 mi in
Elevation Range
207 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake City, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
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.
Top landmarks
•Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum — museum in Lake City, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 35m. Total distance: 360.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 258 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.06 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 35 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 Pembroke Pines, 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 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (FL 47 / Southwest State Road 47): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Pembroke Pines, FL before the return drive.
