Origin
Miami, FL
Late night in Miami on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Miami, FL to Waldo, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 28m
Distance
346.5 mi
558 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 16m
★
6 AM
6h 28m
8 AM
6h 53m
10 AM
6h 37m
12 PM
6h 35m
3 PM
6h 38m
5 PM
6h 52m
8 PM
6h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Miami, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Waldo, FL
Lauri Poldre
Trip Overview
This 346.5-mile drive from Miami to Waldo, Florida, is entirely within the Sunshine State and can comfortably be completed in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 28 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $55, it's an economical choice for a road trip. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 99% of the journey on major roads, making it a straightforward, albeit long, day trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch clocks in at 264.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so be prepared for extended periods of driving. This is a practical, no-frills journey designed for efficient travel between these two Florida locations.
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
173.2 miles from Miami, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 264.1 mi | 4h 47m |
| US 301 | 38.9 mi | 48m |
| I 75 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| I 95 | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Northwest 70th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| FL 326 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Miami Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Sid Martin Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 264.1 mi, about 4h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Miami, FL and Waldo, 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
264 mi
·
4 hr 47 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto I 75
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 75
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 358
Toward FL 326
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn slight right
144 ft
·
4 sec
13
Turn slight right onto FL 326
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
FL 326
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on FL 326
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest 70th Street
15
Turn left onto US 301; US 441
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 301; US 441
Use the left lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 301
33 mi
·
41 min
·
US 301
Toward North US 301: Starke
17
Arrive at destination
US 301
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 28-minute estimated duration, starting your journey from Miami early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. While the route is designed for a single day, remember the longest stretch is over 260 miles, so plan for at least one significant stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $55, so budget accordingly for this straightforward, highway-centric trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.2 miles from Miami, FL, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.1 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 76 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.2 miles or 3h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waldo, 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 346.5 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 264.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.2 miles from Miami, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 264.1 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 304.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95
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
7
275.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 4m in
|
Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
7
304.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward FL 326
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 358
Toward FL 326
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.15 one way
$110.31 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $60.00 | $119.99 |
| premium | $4.72 | $64.43 | $128.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.50 | $153.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $18.47
Florida's Turnpike
(263.9 mi)
$18.47
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
$55
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104 | 1 | $36.38 | $16.63 |
| Efficient EV | 86.6 | 0 | $30.32 | $13.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.6 | 1 | $48.51 | $22.18 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Waldo, FL
Late night in Waldo on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
13 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
6h 28m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
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
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, as 99% of the drive utilizes major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on Florida's Turnpike, which accounts for the longest unbroken stretch of 264.1 miles. This means consistent speeds and limited opportunities for spontaneous stops off the main path. The transition to US 301 and then I-75 will keep you on high-speed roads for the vast majority of the trip, offering a direct and efficient journey rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 264.1 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and US 301. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 346.5 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 0.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 6h 28m. Total distance: 346.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 264.1 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.47 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 Waldo, 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 0.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waldo, FL before the return drive.
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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