Origin
Miami Springs, FL
Late night in Miami Springs on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Miami Springs, FL to Gainesville, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
342.6 mi
551 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
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 17m
8 AM
5h 44m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Miami Springs, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Trip Overview
This 342.6-mile drive from Miami Springs, FL to Gainesville, FL will take approximately 5 hours and 17 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, you can expect a fuel cost of around $57 for this journey. The route predominantly follows local roads, making it a more engaging, turn-heavy experience rather than a fast highway cruise. With only one recommended stop, the drive offers a straightforward path through Florida. It’s a practical option if you’re looking for a direct route with a bit more character than a typical interstate run.
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
171.3 miles from Miami Springs, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westward Drive | — | — |
| South Royal Poinciana Boulevard | — | — |
| South Hook Square | — | — |
| Okeechobee Road | — | — |
| SR 112 | — | — |
| Airport Expressway | — | — |
| I 95 North | — | — |
| SR 826 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Westward Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Miami Springs, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on Albatross Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Albatross Street
2
Turn left onto Westward Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Westward Drive
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward South Royal Poinciana Boulevard
289 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Royal Poinciana Boulevard
4
Exit the roundabout onto South Royal Poinciana Boulevard
161 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Royal Poinciana Boulevard
5
Turn slight left onto South Hook Square
92 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Hook Square
6
Continue on South Hook Square
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Hook Square
7
Turn right onto Okeechobee Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Okeechobee Road
8
Keep slight left to continue on Okeechobee Road
430 ft
·
11 sec
·
Okeechobee Road
9
Take the exit slight right toward SR 112 Toll East: Miami Beach
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
SR 112 Toll East: Miami Beach
10
Merge slight right onto Airport Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Expressway
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Downtown
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 95 North, I 95 South: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Downtown
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 North, I 95 South: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Downtown
515 ft
·
13 sec
·
I 95 North, I 95 South: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Downtown
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 North: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
14
Merge slight left
6.9 mi
·
8 min
15
Take the exit slight left toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
16
Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
17
Merge slight right onto Florida's Turnpike
264 mi
·
4 hr 47 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
18
Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
19
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
49 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward CR 234: Micanopy
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CR 234: Micanopy
21
Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast County Road 234
22
Turn left
420 ft
·
15 sec
23
Turn straight
8.0 mi
·
9 min
24
Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Williston Road
25
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
27
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Main Street
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Main Street
29
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 17-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Miami Springs to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. Given the 'turn-heavy local drive' nature, plan for your single stop to be a bit longer than you might on a highway trip to account for potentially slower travel times. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the numerous turns on local roads can be more complex than following a single interstate. The estimated fuel cost of $57 is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer.
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 171.3 miles from Miami Springs, FL, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
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 75 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.3 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Miami Springs, 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 Springs, FL
This is one driving day of about 342.6 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Miami Springs, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 171.3 miles from Miami Springs, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.53 one way
$109.07 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $59.32 | $118.64 |
| premium | $4.72 | $63.70 | $127.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.64 | $151.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.8 | 1 | $35.97 | $16.44 |
| Efficient EV | 85.7 | 0 | $29.98 | $13.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137 | 1 | $47.96 | $21.93 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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
Gainesville, FL
Late night in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
11 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
5h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a road with a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be navigating through various local roads rather than cruising on highways, as this route has a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the character suggests frequent turns and changes in speed limits. You'll likely experience a more intimate connection with the landscape as you pass through towns and local communities. This style of driving requires consistent attention to navigation and road conditions.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Westward Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Miami Springs, FL to Gainesville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Arriving in Gainesville, FL
Full guide →Gainesville is in North Central Florida. It is home to the University of Florida, and Santa Fe College.
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 5h 17m. Total distance: 342.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Miami Springs, FL to Gainesville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gainesville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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