Origin
Lakeland, FL
Late night in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, FL to Tavares, 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 29m
Distance
62.2 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tavares, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Lakeland to Tavares, you are looking at a 62.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since both cities are located within the state of Florida, the transition between regions is seamless and straightforward. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct route provides a manageable travel experience that fits easily into a weekend schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Avenue North | 21.3 mi | 27m |
| Howey Road | 13.3 mi | 19m |
| Commonwealth Avenue | 11.3 mi | 15m |
| FL 19 | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Lakeland Hills Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| I 4 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| South Massachusetts Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Alfred Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Commonwealth Avenue North
— 21.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Tavares, 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
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 4
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 38
Toward FL 33: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto FL 33
373 ft
·
5 sec
·
Lakeland Hills Boulevard
9
Continue on FL 33
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto FL 33
131 ft
·
2 sec
·
Commonwealth Avenue North
11
Continue on FL 33
21 mi
·
27 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue North
12
Turn left onto FL 50; FL 33
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Broad Street
13
Turn right onto FL 19
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Howey Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto FL 19
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
FL 19
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto CR Old 441
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Alfred Street
16
Arrive at destination
CR Old 441
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 31.1 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 55.1 — 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
7
8.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward FL 33: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38
Toward FL 33: Polk City
4
8.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
FL 33 / Lakeland Hills Boulevard
Turn left onto FL 33 / Lakeland Hills Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
41.8 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
FL 19 / Howey Road
Turn right onto FL 19 / Howey Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
FL 19
Turn right onto FL 19
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.90 one way
$19.80 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.77 | $21.54 |
| premium | $4.72 | $11.57 | $23.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.73 | $27.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.53 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Tavares, FL
Late night in Tavares on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Polk City, FL
31 mi in
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
15 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
1h 29m 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 monotonous interstate cruise, as highways only account for 16% of your total travel time. You will spend a significant portion of the trip navigating smaller roads, with Commonwealth Avenue North serving as your longest uninterrupted stretch at 21.3 miles. Because you are primarily sticking to local routes like Commonwealth Avenue and Howey Road, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by these technical local segments, which keep the driving experience engaging compared to a standard highway haul. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads requires your full attention throughout the trip.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.3 mi on Commonwealth Avenue North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lake Morton Drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (FL 33 / Lakeland Hills Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
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 29m. Total distance: 62.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.3 miles on Commonwealth Avenue North. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (FL 33 / Lakeland Hills Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tavares, 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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