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Trip from Miami, FL to Arcadia, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

178.3 mi

287 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 30m ★
6 AM
3h 42m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 49m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 6m
8 PM
3h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States

Miami, FL

Wikimedia Commons

city in DeSoto County, Florida, United States

Arcadia, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 178.3-mile drive from Miami to Arcadia, Florida, will take you approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward, single-day trip, perfect for getting from the bustling South Florida region to the more rural interior. You'll primarily navigate via I-95 and SR 826 West. With a projected fuel cost of around $30, this route is an economical option for a quick getaway. Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of the journey, so plan for a consistent pace rather than long, uninterrupted stretches.

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

89.2 miles from Miami, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 27 107.6 mi 2h 11m
FL 70 32.2 mi 41m
Florida's Turnpike 10.5 mi 12m
I 95 9.8 mi 12m
Port Everglades Expressway 9.1 mi 10m
I 75 4.7 mi 5m
East Hickory Street 0.6 mi 1m
North Miami Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 27 — 107.6 mi, about 2h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Miami, FL and Arcadia, FL.

1

Start on North Miami Avenue

499 ft · 16 sec · North Miami Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2

Take the ramp

472 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 95 Use the slight right lane.
3

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 North Use the slight right lane.
4

Merge onto I 95

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

7.8 mi · 9 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 12A Toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll Use the slight left lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike
8

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

10 mi · 12 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 54 Toward I 595, SR 84, US 441 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward SR 84 West, I 595 West Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 595 West Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 595

9.1 mi · 10 min · Port Everglades Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 75

4.7 mi · 5 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 23 Toward US 27: Hialeah, South Bay Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward US 27 North: South Bay Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto US 27

0.9 mi · 59 sec · US 27
17

Continue on US 27

62 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 27
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on US 27; FL 80

44 mi · 53 min · US 27; FL 80
Use the left lane.
19

Turn left onto FL 70

32 mi · 41 min · FL 70
Use the left lane.
20

Turn straight onto FL 70

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Hickory Street
21

Arrive at destination

FL 70

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 42-minute drive, departing Miami in the morning, perhaps before 9 AM, will help you avoid the worst of the city's traffic. Since it's a single-day trip totaling 178.3 miles, you can easily complete it without an overnight stay. Plan for one primary stop along the way to break up the drive and refuel, keeping the estimated $30 fuel cost in mind. Given the 'turn-heavy' profile, stay alert for frequent changes in direction and speed limits as you transition between local roads.

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 89.2 miles from Miami, FL, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 39 miles or 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 89.2 miles or 1h 51m 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 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcadia, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Miami, 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 Miami, FL

This is one driving day of about 178.3 miles and 3h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Miami, 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 US 27 for about 107.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pahokee, FL

89 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

Sunshine Ranches, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pahokee, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.2 miles from Miami, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

FunDimension Game Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Miami, Florida

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Hours: 10 am–11 pm

+17863601766

Visit website

FunDimension Game Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 10 am–11 pm

+17863601766

Visit website

Maurice A. Ferré Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+13053587550

Visit website

The Horrorland Miami

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: Closed

+13054007000

Visit website

Morgan Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.3

Arcadia, Florida

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+18639934854

Visit website

Little Havana Tours

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

Visit website

Paradox Museum Miami

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 12–7 pm

+13056143808

Visit website

Wynwood Walls

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm

+13055763334

Visit website

Wynwood Art Walk Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+13058149290

Visit website

Museum of Graffiti

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Miami, Florida

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+17865804678

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 37.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 95 North
7
10.5 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 12A Toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
8
22.2 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward I 595, SR 84, US 441

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 54 Toward I 595, SR 84, US 441
8
22.7 mi into trip | ~29m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 84 West, I 595 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward SR 84 West, I 595 West
8
37.2 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward US 27: Hialeah, South Bay

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 23 Toward US 27: Hialeah, South Bay

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.38 one way

$56.76 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $30.87 $61.75
premium $4.72 $33.15 $66.31
diesel $5.61 $39.37 $78.73

Estimated Tolls: $0.73

Florida's Turnpike (10.5 mi) $0.73

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

$28

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.5 0 $18.72 $8.56
Efficient EV 44.6 0 $15.60 $7.13
EV Truck/SUV 71.3 0 $24.96 $11.41

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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

Miami, FL

Late night in Miami on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arcadia, FL

Late night in Arcadia on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

8 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 42m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park

National Park

Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour Free
Caution: Boater Awareness
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Don't expect a high-speed interstate cruise on this 178.3-mile journey; the highway share is 0%, indicating a fully local road experience. This route is characterized as 'turn-heavy,' meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, straight drive. While there isn't a specific longest uninterrupted stretch noted, the nature of the drive suggests a dynamic experience with constant navigation through local roads. This type of driving requires your full attention and can feel more engaging than a typical highway run.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.6 mi on US 27.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and FL 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 17 significant decision points across 178.3 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 0.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 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 Miami, FL and Arcadia, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike and Bay.

Florida's Turnpike

11.3 mi in | ~15m

Bay

37.2 mi in | ~47m

About the Cities

Starting in Miami, FL

Full guide →

“The Magic City” · Founded 1825

Miami is a major city in the southeastern United States and the second most populous city in Florida. The Greater Miami metropolitan area is the largest in the state with an estimated population just under 6.1 million (2021), which makes it the 9th most populous metro area in the United States. Although tourists generally consider Miami Beach to be part of Miami, it is its own municipality. Miami Beach sits on a barrier island east of Miami and Biscayne Bay. It is home to lots of beach resorts, and is one of the most popular spring break party destinations in the world. This article only covers the city of Miami, not Miami Beach.

Top landmarks

  • Little Havana — neighborhood in Miami, Florida
  • Vizcaya Museum and Gardens — historic estate on Biscayne Bay; Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida

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 3h 42m. Total distance: 178.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 107.6 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.73 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 Arcadia, 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 0.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Arcadia, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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