Lehigh Acres, FL to Palm Bay, FL is 160.3 miles and takes about 3h 30m via I 95, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, traversing a mixed drive that connects two points in the state. The drive is straightforward, making it a solid option for a single-day excursion. You'll find this route practical for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours, suitable for those prioritizing efficiency.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.2 miles from Lehigh Acres, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
44 mi
47m
Industrial Drive
34.4 mi
46m
Park Street
31.3 mi
39m
FL 78
14.8 mi
18m
Palm Beach Boulevard
11.6 mi
15m
Joel Boulevard
4.5 mi
7m
North Bridge Street
4 mi
6m
US 27
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 44 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lehigh Acres, FL and Palm Bay, FL.
1
Start on Richmond Avenue North
1.2 mi·3 min·Richmond Avenue North
2
Turn right onto East 12th Street
1.7 mi·4 min·East 12th Street
3
Turn left onto CR 884
4.5 mi·7 min·Joel Boulevard
4
Turn right onto FL 80
12 mi·15 min·Palm Beach Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto FL 29
4.0 mi·6 min·North Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto FL 78
15 mi·18 min·FL 78
7
Continue on US 27; FL 78
3.7 mi·4 min·US 27; FL 78
8
Take the exit
358 ft·10 sec
9
Turn left onto FL 78 Detour
34 mi·46 min·Industrial Drive
10
Turn left onto Parrott Avenue
3.1 mi·6 min·Parrott Avenue
11
Turn right onto FL 70
31 mi·39 min·Park Street
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: Daytona BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
44 mi·47 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 173Toward FL 514: Palm Bay, Malabar
16
Turn right onto FL 514
0.5 mi·50 sec·Malabar Road
17
Turn left onto FL 507
2.5 mi·4 min·Babcock Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Palm Bay Road Northeast
2.0 mi·3 min·Palm Bay Road Northeast
19
Arrive at destination
Palm Bay Road Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 30m duration, it's best to depart in the morning to allow for any unforeseen delays and to arrive with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a short overall drive, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 44-mile stretch on I 95, as services can be spaced out. Consider topping off your tank before leaving Lehigh Acres to ensure a smooth journey to Palm Bay.
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 80.2 miles from Lehigh Acres, FL, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm Bay, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lehigh Acres, 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 Lehigh Acres, FL
This is one driving day of about 160.3 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Lehigh Acres, 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 I 95 for about 44 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.4 and 154.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.4 mi into trip|~15m in|FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
19 mi into trip|~30m in|FL 29 / North Bridge Street
Turn left onto FL 29 / North Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
110.5 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
5
111 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
154.9 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward FL 514: Palm Bay, Malabar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 173
Toward FL 514: Palm Bay, Malabar
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.52 one way
$51.03 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$27.76
$55.51
premium
$4.72
$29.81
$59.61
diesel
$5.61
$35.39
$70.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.83
$7.69
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
EV Truck/SUV
64.1
0
$22.44
$10.26
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lehigh Acres, FL
Evening
in Lehigh Acres on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Palm Bay, FL
Evening
in Palm Bay on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live 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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey offers a mixed drive experience, with 39% of the route on highways like I 95. Expect to encounter stretches of Industrial Drive and Park Street alongside the faster interstate sections. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 44 miles on I 95, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. As you progress, the character of the road shifts between efficient highway cruising and more localized city or industrial road segments.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.4 miles in near FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
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 160.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 7.4 miles (FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (FL 29 / North Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 160.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.4 miles (FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles (FL 29 / North Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Palm Bay, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
