Lakeland, FL to Myrtle Grove, FL is 463.3 miles and takes about 8h 43m via I 10, I 75, and FL 471, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's recommended for two days. This trip stays within Florida, offering a primarily highway experience for most of its length. If you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground across the state, this route is a solid choice. With 95% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time cruising at speed. Consider breaking this up over two days to make the most of your travel time and avoid a marathon driving session.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
231.6 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
283.4 mi
5h 3m
I 75
114.4 mi
2h 2m
FL 471
34.9 mi
46m
South Florida Avenue
16.4 mi
24m
East Fairfield Drive
2.9 mi
5m
Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
2.7 mi
3m
CR 470
2.5 mi
4m
Fairfield Drive
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 283.4 mi, about 5h 3m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,320 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,837
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Lakeland, FL and Myrtle Grove, 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
0.1 mi·22 sec·Lake Morton Drive
3
Turn right onto South Iowa Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Iowa Avenue
4
Continue on East Lemon Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·East Lemon Street
5
Turn right onto FL 37
16 mi·24 min·South Florida Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto FL 471
35 mi·46 min·FL 471
7
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 471
293 ft·12 sec·FL 471
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 301; CR 470
9
Turn right onto CR 470
2.5 mi·4 min·CR 470
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 75
114 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 10
283 mi·5 hr 3 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 110
2.7 mi·3 min·Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 4Toward FL 295: Fairfield DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward FL 295 South
19
Turn straight onto FL 295
2.9 mi·5 min·East Fairfield Drive
20
Continue on FL 727
1.6 mi·3 min·Fairfield Drive
21
Turn left onto North 57th Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North 57th Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto FL 298
1.0 mi·2 min·Lillian Highway
23
Turn right
44 ft·5 sec
24
Turn right
82 ft·5 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 43m estimated driving time, splitting this 463.3-mile trip over two days is advisable for a more relaxed pace. Aim to depart early in the morning, especially if you plan to drive straight through, to maximize daylight. The longest stretch is 283.4 miles on I 10, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. You'll want to fill up before entering this longer segment. With two recommended stops, you can break up the drive into manageable segments, perhaps stopping around the halfway point for an overnight stay.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 231.6 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 4h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 102 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 231.6 miles or 4h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 231.6 miles or 4h 28m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtle Grove, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeland, FL
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Myrtle Grove, FL
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Lakeland, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 283.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 456.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|FL 37 / South Florida Avenue
Turn right onto FL 37 / South Florida Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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.
Exit 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
169.6 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
8
453.3 mi into trip|~8h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
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.
Exit 12
Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
7
456.9 mi into trip|~8h 29m in
Take the exit toward FL 295: Fairfield Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward FL 295: Fairfield Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.13 one way
$140.27 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg162 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$76.96
$153.91
premium
$4.55
$82.99
$165.99
diesel
$4.80
$87.48
$174.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$200–$310
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 162.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
139
1
$48.65
$22.24
Efficient EV
115.8
1
$40.54
$18.53
EV Truck/SUV
185.3
2
$64.86
$29.65
Gas CO2
162 kg
EV CO2
54 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 19, 2026
Origin
Lakeland, FL
Morning
in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
11:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 13 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 19 at 4:11AM EDT until July 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 19 at 3:44AM EDT until July 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Myrtle Grove, FL
Morning
in Myrtle Grove on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NE 5 to 10 mph70% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 19 at 4:11AM EDT until July 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 19 at 3:44AM EDT until July 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
8h 43m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$25
near mile 463.3
Park Closure: Fort Pickens Campground Restroom A Loop Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway, with 95% of its 463.3 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 283.4 miles on I 10, which is a significant portion of the total distance. The transition to surface roads will likely occur closer to your destination, after extensive highway cruising. Expect a high volume of exits and merges as you navigate these interstates, especially on the longer segments.
95% 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: 283.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near FL 37 / South Florida Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 463.3 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 0.7 miles (FL 37 / South Florida Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
244 ft45 ft
Total Climb
416 ft
Total Descent
568 ft
Highest Point
244 ft
~397.1 mi in
Elevation Range
199 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 Myrtle Grove, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee 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
The longest stretch is about 283.4 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 232 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 47 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 Myrtle Grove, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 47 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (FL 37 / South Florida Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Myrtle Grove, FL before the return drive.
