Origin
Live Oak, FL
Late night in Live Oak on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Live Oak, FL to Gainesville, 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 25m
Distance
66.1 mi
106 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Live Oak, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Trip Overview
Spanning 66.1 miles, the drive from Live Oak to Gainesville is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is perfectly manageable as a simple day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the one-way trek. You will transition from the rural landscapes surrounding Live Oak into the more urban environment of Gainesville. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this route offers a practical connection between these two North Florida locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 39.9 mi | 42m |
| Howard Street | 19.8 mi | 27m |
| West University Avenue | 3.4 mi | 8m |
| West Newberry Road | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Dowling Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 39.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Live Oak, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on Dowling Avenue
347 ft
·
17 sec
·
Dowling Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 90
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Howard Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
4
Merge onto I 75
40 mi
·
42 min
·
I 75
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 387
Toward FL 26: Gainesville, Newberry, Newberry Road
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn right onto FL 26
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West Newberry Road
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on FL 26
3.4 mi
·
8 min
·
West University Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CR 329
115 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Live Oak, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 66.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 90 / Howard Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 90 / Howard Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
20.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward FL 26: Gainesville, Newberry, Newberry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 387
Toward FL 26: Gainesville, Newberry, Newberry R...
5
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
FL 26 / West Newberry Road
Turn right onto FL 26 / West Newberry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
66.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
CR 329 / South Main Street
Turn right onto CR 329 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.52 one way
$21.04 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $11.45 | $22.89 |
| premium | $4.72 | $12.29 | $24.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.59 | $29.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.25 | $4.23 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Gainesville, FL
Late night in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 25m 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?
This mixed drive balances fast-paced interstate travel with a transition into local city streets. You will spend about 60% of your time on highways, with a significant 39.9-mile stretch on I-75 serving as the primary leg of your journey. As you move off the interstate, the route shifts onto Howard Street and West University Avenue to bring you into the heart of Gainesville. This combination of high-speed transit and urban navigation keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Expect a functional road experience that shifts character as you pull off the highway and approach the city center.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 90 / Howard Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Live Oak, FL to Gainesville, FL is easy. At 1h 25m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 90 / Howard Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Live Oak, FL to Gainesville, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Newberry along the way.
Newberry
60 mi in
|
~1h 10m
About the Cities
Starting in Live Oak, FL
Full guide →Live Oak is a small city in North Central Florida not far from the Georgia border.
Arriving in Gainesville, FL
Full guide →Gainesville is in North Central Florida. It is home to the University of Florida, and Santa Fe College.
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 25m. Total distance: 66.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.9 miles on I 75. 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 (US 90 / Howard Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gainesville, 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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