This 217.8-mile drive from Medulla to Pembroke Pines in Florida is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 19 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. With a fuel cost estimated at $35, this trip is budget-friendly for a single day excursion. The route offers a consistent driving experience, making it a practical option for those seeking an efficient transfer between these two Florida locations. Given its manageable duration and highway focus, it's well-suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
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
108.9 miles from Medulla, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
142.7 mi
2h 36m
FL 60
61.7 mi
1h 19m
Boy Scout Ranch Road
4.8 mi
8m
Bartow Road
3.2 mi
4m
CR 540A
1.5 mi
2m
Old Road 37
1 mi
2m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 142.7 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medulla, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL.
1
Start on Old Road 37
1.0 mi·2 min·Old Road 37
2
Turn left onto CR 540A
1.5 mi·2 min·CR 540A
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CR 540A
4.8 mi·8 min·Boy Scout Ranch Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·Bartow Road
5
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi·26 sec·FL 60
8
Continue on FL 60
11 mi·13 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on FL 60
4.3 mi·5 min·FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on FL 60
46 mi·59 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on this road
295 ft·7 sec·this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
143 mi·2 hr 36 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto SR 820
0.2 mi·36 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·Southwest 8th Street
19
Arrive at destination
Southwest 8th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 19-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Pembroke Pines. With only one recommended stop and a long uninterrupted stretch of 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $35 estimated cost suggests filling up before you leave Medulla or at a strategic point along the Turnpike. This route is designed for efficiency, so you have the flexibility to stop more or less as you see fit, but remembering to factor in potential delays near your destination is key.
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 108.9 miles from Medulla, FL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.9 miles or 2h 18m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke Pines, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Medulla, 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 Medulla, FL
This is one driving day of about 217.8 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Medulla, 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 142.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 217 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 540A
Turn left onto CR 540A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
7
216.4 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
6
217 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|Southwest 64th Way
Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.67 one way
$69.34 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$37.71
$75.42
premium
$4.72
$40.50
$81.00
diesel
$5.61
$48.09
$96.17
Estimated Tolls: $9.99
Florida's Turnpike
(142.7 mi)$9.99
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
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.3
0
$22.87
$10.45
Efficient EV
54.5
0
$19.06
$8.71
EV Truck/SUV
87.1
1
$30.49
$13.94
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Medulla, FL
Afternoon
in Medulla on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pembroke Pines, FL
Afternoon
in Pembroke Pines on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
10 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 19m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on Florida's Turnpike, including a substantial stretch of 142.7 miles without needing to exit. The main roads, including Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, and Boy Scout Ranch Road, are designed for efficient travel. This means you'll likely experience a consistent pace for most of the 4 hours and 19 minutes, with minimal interruptions as you make your way south.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.7 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near CR 540A.
Driving Effort6/10
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 217.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 1 miles (CR 540A): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Medulla, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 217.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m 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 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.99 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.
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.
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 Pembroke Pines, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (CR 540A): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Pembroke Pines, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
