Lakeland, FL to Hialeah Gardens, FL is 211.9 miles and takes about 4h 33m via US 27, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the central part of the state down towards the Miami metro area. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making this a straightforward transit rather than a scenic exploration. Given the relatively short duration, it's best suited for a single-day drive, allowing for a flexible departure time.
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
105.9 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
183.2 mi
3h 51m
FL 60
14.8 mi
18m
Bartow Road
10.7 mi
16m
Northwest 103rd Street
0.9 mi
1m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
1m
East Lime Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West 28th Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 183.2 mi, about 3h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Hialeah Gardens, FL.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
279 ft·16 sec·East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto South Lake Avenue
269 ft·15 sec·South Lake Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Lime Street
0.4 mi·55 sec·East Lime Street
4
Turn right onto US 98
11 mi·16 min·Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi·26 sec·FL 60
8
Continue on FL 60
11 mi·13 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on FL 60
3.7 mi·4 min·FL 60
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon ParkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
272 ft·7 sec
12
Merge onto US 27
23 mi·28 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 27; US 98
10 mi·14 min·US 27; US 98
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 27; US 98
55 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 27; US 98
Use the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 27; FL 78
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 27; FL 78
16
Turn slight right
338 ft·4 sec
17
Continue on US 27
32 mi·42 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 27; FL 80
40 mi·48 min·US 27; FL 80
19
Continue on US 27
10 mi·12 min·US 27
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
12 mi·17 min·US 27
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn sharp left onto West 28th Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·West 28th Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto SR 932
0.9 mi·1 min·Northwest 103rd Street
23
Turn right
523 ft·38 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 33m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Leaving Lakeland in the morning should allow you to arrive in Hialeah Gardens with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch is over 183 miles on US 27, so plan for a fuel stop before you begin this significant portion. While there's only one main road mentioned, keep an eye on your GPS for any unexpected detours or traffic, especially as you enter more populated areas towards the end of the route. The $37 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 105.9 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183.2 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 47 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.9 miles or 2h 18m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hialeah Gardens, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakeland, 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 Lakeland, FL
This is one driving day of about 211.9 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Lakeland, 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 US 27 for about 183.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 210.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 98 / Bartow Road
Turn right onto US 98 / Bartow Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
27.1 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
5
27.3 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
198.2 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
210.7 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|West 28th Avenue
Turn sharp left onto West 28th Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.08 one way
$64.15 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$35.20
$70.39
premium
$4.55
$37.96
$75.92
diesel
$4.80
$40.01
$80.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.25
$10.17
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.54
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.67
$13.56
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lakeland, FL
Late night
in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SE 3 to 7 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:52PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Hialeah Gardens, FL
Late night
in Hialeah Gardens on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 to 9 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:52PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
95°F
Arcadia, FL
106 mi in
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
5 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
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 211.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway cruising, with 93% of the 211.9 miles spent on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 183.2 miles along US 27. You'll transition from highway to surface roads, including Bartow Road, as you approach your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and potential for urban merging as you get closer to Hialeah Gardens.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 183.2 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 98 / Bartow Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 211.9 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 0.5 miles (US 98 / Bartow Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
196 ft8 ft
Total Climb
33 ft
Total Descent
221 ft
Highest Point
196 ft
Elevation Range
188 ft
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 Lakeland, FL to Hialeah Gardens, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Avon Park along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Child of the Sun — Florida
•Polk Theatre — movie theater and theater in Lakeland, Florida
•Beacon Hill-Alta Vista Residential District — historic district in Florida, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 211.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 183.2 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Hialeah Gardens, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 98 / Bartow Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Hialeah Gardens, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
