Origin
Lakeland, FL
Late night in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, FL to Apopka, 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 19m
Distance
64.3 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Apopka, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Lakeland to Apopka, you are looking at a straightforward 64.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes to complete. Because the route is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this path involves transitioning through local roads rather than major interstates, providing a steady connection between these two Florida cities. Since the entire trip takes place within the same region, you won't experience significant environmental shifts, making it a predictable and manageable drive for any traveler.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Beltway | 28.8 mi | 32m |
| I 4 | 24.8 mi | 27m |
| Lakeland Hills Boulevard | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| FL 451 Toll | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Massachusetts Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Orange Blossom Trail | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lake Morton Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Western Beltway
— 28.8 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Apopka, FL.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
422 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Lake Morton Drive
3
Turn right onto South Massachusetts Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Massachusetts Avenue
4
Continue on FL 33
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Lakeland Hills Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
6
Merge onto I 4
25 mi
·
27 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 60
Toward FL 429 North: Apopka
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on FL 429 Toll
29 mi
·
32 min
·
Western Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 30
Toward FL 414 Toll East: Maitland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
Toward FL 451 Toll North: Apopka
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on FL 451 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
FL 451 Toll
12
Turn right onto US 441
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Orange Blossom Trail
Use the right lane.
13
Turn straight
186 ft
·
6 sec
14
Continue on West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
West 3rd Street
15
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Central Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Lakeland, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lake Morton Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
Navigation decision point
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 4
Merge onto I 4
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
30 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward FL 429 North: Apopka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 60
Toward FL 429 North: Apopka
7
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward FL 414 Toll East: Maitland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Toward FL 414 Toll East: Maitland
7
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 451 Toll North: Apopka
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 451 Toll North: Apopka
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.23 one way
$20.47 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $11.13 | $22.27 |
| premium | $4.72 | $11.96 | $23.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (64% 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
Apopka, FL
Late night in Apopka on Sunday
Local time
3:52 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 19m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through town centers and connecting roads, starting on routes like Lake Morton Drive and South Massachusetts Avenue before transitioning onto Lakeland Hills Boulevard. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you will need to remain attentive to frequent turns and local traffic signals throughout the 1 hour and 19-minute duration. The road’s personality is defined by its localized nature, requiring you to stay focused on navigating city streets rather than settling into a long-distance interstate pace.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.8 mi on Western Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lake Morton Drive.
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 64.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Lakeland, FL
Full guide →Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.
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 19m. Total distance: 64.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.8 miles on Western Beltway. 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 Apopka, 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 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Apopka, 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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