Lake Wales to Miramar is 192.3 miles and takes about 3 hours 45 minutes via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the state of Florida, moving from its central region down toward the southern tip. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused drive that prioritizes reaching your destination efficiently. With a recommended one-day travel time, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip if you're looking to cover ground quickly.
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
96.2 miles from Lake Wales, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
142.7 mi
2h 36m
FL 60
45.2 mi
57m
Hollywood Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Southwest 72nd Avenue
1 mi
2m
Bahama Drive
0.4 mi
1m
South Scenic Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Palm Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
4th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 142.7 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Wales, FL and Miramar, FL.
1
Start on this road
58 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
97 ft·11 sec·East Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto FL 17
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Scenic Highway
4
Turn slight left onto East Polk Avenue
223 ft·9 sec·East Polk Avenue
5
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·4th Street
6
Continue on Palm Avenue
0.2 mi·44 sec·Palm Avenue
7
Take the ramp onto Palm Avenue
257 ft·7 sec·Palm Avenue
8
Merge onto FL 60
45 mi·57 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on this road
295 ft·7 sec·this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
143 mi·2 hr 36 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto SR 820
1.1 mi·2 min·Hollywood Boulevard
15
Turn left onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Southwest 72nd Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto SR 824
444 ft·19 sec·Pembroke Road
17
Turn right onto West Arcadia Drive
527 ft·25 sec·West Arcadia Drive
18
At end of road, turn right onto Tropicana Street
158 ft·12 sec·Tropicana Street
19
Turn left onto Bahama Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Bahama Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Bahama Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under four hours, this trip is best tackled in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential midday traffic, especially as you approach the South Florida area. With only one recommended stop and a long stretch on the Turnpike, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the 142.7-mile mark. Keep an eye out for signs indicating exits for FL 60 and Hollywood Boulevard as these will be your final navigational cues before reaching Miramar.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.2 miles from Lake Wales, FL, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.2 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miramar, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Wales, 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 Wales, FL
This is one driving day of about 192.3 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Lake Wales, 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 142.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 46.1 and 191.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
46.1 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
46.3 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
7
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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
190.7 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|Southwest 72nd Avenue
Turn left onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
191.9 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|Tropicana Street
At end of road, turn right onto Tropicana Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.61 one way
$61.22 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$33.30
$66.59
premium
$4.72
$35.76
$71.51
diesel
$5.61
$42.46
$84.91
Estimated Tolls: $9.99
Florida's Turnpike
(142.7 mi)$9.99
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
$31
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.7
0
$20.19
$9.23
Efficient EV
48.1
0
$16.83
$7.69
EV Truck/SUV
76.9
0
$26.92
$12.31
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lake Wales, FL
Evening
in Lake Wales on Sunday
Local time
5:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Miramar, FL
Evening
in Miramar on Sunday
Local time
5:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
8 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
3h 45m 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 predominantly highway, with 98% of the journey on major roads, making it a highway-focused experience. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on Florida's Turnpike, including a continuous stretch of 142.7 miles. This means you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and a predictable driving environment. The main roads include Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, and Hollywood Boulevard, indicating a transition from a major toll road to more local arteries as you near Miramar.
98% 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: 142.7 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 FL 60. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 46.1 miles in.
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 192.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake Wales, FL to Miramar, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 192.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.99 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Miramar, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Miramar, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
