If you are planning to travel from Live Oak to Jacksonville, you are looking at a manageable 84.2-mile trek across Northern Florida. The journey typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip. You won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, as the distance is easily covered in a single afternoon. Budgeting around $14 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent Florida atmosphere from start to finish. This is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over long-haul endurance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Live Oak, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
78.4 mi
1h 25m
Ohio Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Union Street
0.7 mi
1m
I 95
0.7 mi
1m
US 17
0.2 mi
<1m
Dowling Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Howard Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Live Oak, FL and Jacksonville, FL.
1
Start on Dowling Avenue
347 ft·20 sec·Dowling Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 90
320 ft·11 sec·Howard Street
3
Turn right onto US 129
2.6 mi·4 min·Ohio Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
5
Merge onto I 10
78 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, SavannahUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi·1 min·I 95
9
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 17; FL 228
Exit 353BToward Union Street, Beaver Street
10
Turn straight onto US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·Union Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
US 17
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 19-minute excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 84.2-mile distance without needing to schedule formal stops, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always a good safety measure. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure your travel time stays close to the estimate. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to double-check your navigation before hitting Howard Street, as the local road navigation requires more frequent attention than a standard interstate route. Enjoy the ease of a short Florida trip that gets you to your destination without the fatigue of a long-haul journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.1 miles from Live Oak, FL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Live Oak, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Live Oak, FL
This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Live Oak, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 78.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.3 — 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|US 90 / Howard Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 90 / Howard Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Dayton...
8
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savan...
6
83.3 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|US 17; FL 228
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228 toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 353B
Toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.40 one way
$26.80 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$14.58
$29.16
premium
$4.72
$15.66
$31.31
diesel
$5.61
$18.59
$37.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.37
$3.37
EV Truck/SUV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Live Oak, FL
Late night
in Live Oak on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
Late night
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Baldwin, FL
42 mi in
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
20 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
1h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise. Your route kicks off on Howard Street and Ohio Avenue before transitioning toward the I-95 South corridor. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on local roads. Because the longest stretch on Howard Street is effectively zero miles, the route constantly shifts as you navigate through the local landscape. You will find that the personality of this drive remains technical and grounded in local infrastructure throughout the duration of the trip.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Ohio Avenue. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 90 / Howard Street.
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 84.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (US 90 / Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on I 10. 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): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, FL before heading back.
