Longwood to Coral Springs is 218 miles and takes about 4 hours 10 minutes via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, connecting two points in the central and southern parts of the state. It's a straightforward highway-focused drive designed for efficient travel, making it a solid choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. You'll spend most of your time on major expressways, so pack some good tunes and be ready for a direct journey. Given its relatively short duration, this is easily a same-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109 miles from Longwood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
187.1 mi
3h 21m
I 4
15.7 mi
20m
Sawgrass Expressway
3.8 mi
4m
FL 434
3.1 mi
5m
North University Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Coral Springs Drive
1 mi
2m
Wiles Road
1 mi
1m
Grant Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 187.1 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longwood, FL and Coral Springs, FL.
1
Start on Palmetto Avenue
71 ft·5 sec·Palmetto Avenue
2
Turn right onto Grant Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Grant Street
3
Turn right onto FL 434
1.7 mi·3 min·FL 434
4
Continue on FL 434
1.3 mi·2 min·FL 434
5
Take the ramp
397 ft·9 sec
Toward I 4: Daytona Beach, Tampa
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 4 West: TampaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 4
9.0 mi·11 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 84BToward Ivanhoe BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·34 sec·this road
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
11
Merge onto I 4
6.7 mi·8 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 77Toward Miami, OcalaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
187 mi·3 hr 21 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward SR 869 Toll South: Coral Springs, Sawgrass ExpresswayUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
18
Merge onto SR 869 Toll
3.8 mi·4 min·Sawgrass Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 15Toward SR 817: University DriveUse the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
338 ft·12 sec
Toward Coral SpringsUse the left lane.
21
Continue on North University Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·North University Drive
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Wiles Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Wiles Road
23
Turn left onto Coral Springs Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·Coral Springs Drive
24
Turn right onto West Sample Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·West Sample Road
25
Turn left
0.1 mi·45 sec
26
Keep slight left at fork
56 ft·4 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This drive is best tackled in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach the South Florida region. With a 4-hour 10-minute estimated duration, you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike is quite substantial at 187.1 miles. Consider filling up before you begin the longest segment to ensure a smooth continuation of your drive.
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 109 miles from Longwood, FL, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.1 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coral Springs, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Longwood, 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 Longwood, FL
This is one driving day of about 218 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Longwood, 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 187.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 209.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 4 West: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
7
12.9 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward Ivanhoe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 84B
Toward Ivanhoe Boulevard
8
20.7 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Ocala
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 77
Toward Miami, Ocala
8
21.5 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South, Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Miami
8
209.1 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward SR 869 Toll South: Coral Springs, Sawgrass Expressway
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 71
Toward SR 869 Toll South: Coral Springs, Sawgra...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.70 one way
$69.40 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$37.75
$75.49
premium
$4.72
$40.54
$81.07
diesel
$5.61
$48.13
$96.26
Estimated Tolls: $13.41
Florida's Turnpike
(187.1 mi)$13.10
Sawgrass Expressway
(3.8 mi)$0.31
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.4
0
$22.89
$10.46
Efficient EV
54.5
0
$19.08
$8.72
EV Truck/SUV
87.2
1
$30.52
$13.95
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Longwood, FL
Morning
in Longwood on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Coral Springs, FL
Morning
in Coral Springs on Tuesday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
19 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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 highway-focused drive with a 96% highway share, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of this 218-mile journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch of driving is 187.1 miles, primarily on Florida's Turnpike, so plan your breaks accordingly. The route is largely consistent, dominated by the efficiency of major expressways like Florida's Turnpike, I-4, and the Sawgrass Expressway. This character lends itself to a predictable and swift travel experience, with minimal deviations from the main thoroughfares.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 187.1 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 218 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 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.
Between Longwood, FL and Coral Springs, FL, road signs point toward Miami, Ocala and Florida's Turnpike South.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 218 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 187.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.41 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Coral Springs, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Coral Springs, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
