Lakeland, FL to Lauderdale Lakes, FL is 207.5 miles and takes about 4h 8m via Florida's Turnpike and FL 60, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, primarily utilizing major highways for a straightforward transit. Expect a largely efficient drive, making it a solid option for a single-day trip. The route is designed for speed and directness, so plan accordingly if you're looking for a more scenic experience.
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
103.7 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
129.9 mi
2h 21m
FL 60
61.7 mi
1h 19m
Bartow Road
10.7 mi
16m
State Road 7
1.5 mi
2m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
1m
West Commercial Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
East Lime Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Lauderdale Lakes, 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
4.3 mi·5 min·FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on FL 60
46 mi·59 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on this road
295 ft·7 sec·this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
130 mi·2 hr 21 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 62Toward SR 870: Commercial BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
423 ft·14 sec
Toward SR 870 East: Fort LauderdaleUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto SR 870
0.5 mi·58 sec·West Commercial Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto US 441
1.5 mi·2 min·State Road 7
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto SR 816
0.2 mi·20 sec·West Oakland Park Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Northwest 43rd Avenue
312 ft·18 sec·Northwest 43rd Avenue
21
Turn left onto Northwest 32nd Street
261 ft·13 sec·Northwest 32nd Street
22
Turn right onto Northwest 43rd Terrace
235 ft·10 sec·Northwest 43rd Terrace
23
Continue on Northwest 32nd Court
446 ft·21 sec·Northwest 32nd Court
24
Turn right onto Northwest 44th Terrace
36 ft·1 sec·Northwest 44th Terrace
25
Arrive at destination
Northwest 44th Terrace
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Lakeland in the morning allows you to reach Lauderdale Lakes with plenty of daylight to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, it's wise to ensure your tank is full before departing to minimize stops. The route features one recommended stop, so consider planning it around the halfway point or when you feel ready for a break. Keep an eye on the mileage for the 129.9-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike; knowing this long highway segment is ahead can help you mentally prepare for sustained driving.
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 103.7 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 46 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.7 miles or 2h 11m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lauderdale Lakes, 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 207.5 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 129.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 74.1 and 205.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
204.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward SR 870: Commercial Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 62
Toward SR 870: Commercial Boulevard
7
205 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 870 East: Fort Lauderdale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward SR 870 East: Fort Lauderdale
6
205.6 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|US 441 / State Road 7
Turn right onto US 441 / State Road 7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.41 one way
$62.82 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.47
$68.93
premium
$4.55
$37.17
$74.34
diesel
$4.80
$39.18
$78.36
Estimated Tolls: $9.10
Florida's Turnpike
(129.9 mi)$9.10
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
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.79
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.05
$13.28
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Lakeland, FL
Morning
in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SE 3 to 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Morning
in Lauderdale Lakes on Sunday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Clear then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 8 mph17% chanceLive 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
6 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 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 92% of this 207.5-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on Florida's Turnpike is 129.9 miles, offering a consistent cruising experience. After this, you'll transition to surface roads like Bartow Road for the remaining portion of your trip. Be prepared for a high volume of exits on the highway sections.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.9 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 74.1 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 207.5 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 74.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
196 ft7 ft
Total Climb
93 ft
Total Descent
283 ft
Highest Point
196 ft
Elevation Range
189 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 Lauderdale Lakes, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
74.3 mi in|~1h 39m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 8m. Total distance: 207.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.10 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 13 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 Lauderdale Lakes, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 74.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lauderdale Lakes, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
