Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Orlando, FL to Port Saint Joe, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 50m
Distance
319.4 mi
514 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 39m
★
6 AM
6h 51m
8 AM
7h 14m
10 AM
6h 59m
12 PM
6h 57m
3 PM
7h 0m
5 PM
7h 13m
8 PM
6h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orlando, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Port Saint Joe, FL
Brent Singleton
Trip Overview
Orlando, FL to Port Saint Joe, FL is 319.4 miles and takes about 6h 50m via Young Boulevard and US 27, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the central part of the state toward the Panhandle. Expect a mix of faster-paced highway driving and more leisurely surface roads as you cover the 319.4 miles. It's a manageable distance for a single day, but be prepared for the change in scenery and driving conditions.
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
159.7 miles from Orlando, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Young Boulevard | 66.5 mi | 1h 25m |
| Hampton Springs Avenue | 54.4 mi | 1h 11m |
| US 27 | 48 mi | 1h 1m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 42.6 mi | 45m |
| US 319 | 32.6 mi | 49m |
| I 75 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| Avenue E | 22.7 mi | 31m |
| Sopchoppy Highway | 17 mi | 24m |
Longest stretch:
Young Boulevard
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
10 AM
~3,679 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~471 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 3 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orlando, FL and Port Saint Joe, FL.
1
Start on this road
113 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto FL 527
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Orange Avenue
3
Turn straight
238 ft
·
10 sec
4
Turn slight right onto Lucerne Circle West
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
Lucerne Circle West
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward FL 408 Toll West
6
Merge onto FL 408 Toll
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
East-West Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on FL 408 Toll
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Ocala
9
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 75
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 27: Ocala, Williston
13
Keep slight left at fork
295 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 27 North: Williston
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto US 27
48 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 27
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
67 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Young Boulevard
17
Turn left onto US 98
54 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Hampton Springs Avenue
18
Turn slight right onto US 319
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Sopchoppy Highway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 319
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Sopchoppy Highway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 319
33 mi
·
49 min
·
US 319
21
Turn left onto US 98
23 mi
·
31 min
·
Avenue E
22
Continue on US 98
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Monument Avenue
23
Turn right onto FL 71
283 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cecil G Costin Senior Boulevard
24
Continue on FL 71
197 ft
·
11 sec
·
Cecil G Costin Senior Boulevard
25
Arrive at destination
FL 71
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 50m estimated drive time, leaving Orlando in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Port Saint Joe with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move between highway and surface road sections, and plan to refuel before hitting longer stretches. The $49 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor gas prices. The longest stretch is 66.5 miles, so ensure you have snacks and drinks ready for that segment.
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 159.7 miles from Orlando, FL, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 70 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.7 miles or 3h 11m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint Joe, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Orlando, 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 Orlando, FL
This is one driving day of about 319.4 miles and 6h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Orlando, 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 Young Boulevard for about 66.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
160 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 159.7 miles from Orlando, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Young Boulevard if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Okahumpka Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Northbound
0.3 mi from route
Turkey Lake Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 77.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
FL 408 Toll / East-West Expressway
Merge onto FL 408 Toll / East-West Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North, Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Ocala
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52.4 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
8
77.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 27 North: Williston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 27 North: Williston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.36 one way
$102.71 round trip
$4.08/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $56.02 | $112.04 |
| premium | $4.78 | $60.13 | $120.27 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $78.92 | $157.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.96
Florida's Turnpike
(42.3 mi)
$2.96
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
$51
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.8 | 1 | $33.54 | $15.33 |
| Efficient EV | 79.9 | 0 | $27.95 | $12.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.8 | 1 | $44.72 | $20.44 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Origin
Orlando, FL
Morning in Orlando on Thursday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Saint Joe, FL
Morning in Port Saint Joe on Thursday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
NE 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
77°F
Madison, FL
160 mi in
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
4 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 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 49% highway, meaning you'll spend roughly half the drive on higher-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 66.5 miles on Young Boulevard. You'll transition from highway speeds to surface roads, so be ready for more frequent intersections and potentially slower traffic as you progress. The profile is mixed highway & surface, indicating a blend of driving experiences.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on Young Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near FL 408 Toll / East-West Expressway.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 319.4 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 0.5 miles (FL 408 Toll / East-West Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
222 ft
6 ft
Total Climb
182 ft
Total Descent
279 ft
Highest Point
222 ft
~22.8 mi in
Elevation Range
216 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Orlando, FL to Port Saint Joe, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Williston along the way.
Williston
77.3 mi in
|
~1h 25m
About the Cities
Starting in Orlando, FL
Full guide →“The City Beautiful” · Founded 1875
For the broader urban area including suburbs and other nearby destinations, please see the Greater Orlando article. Orlando deserves its reputation as the theme park capital of the world, with an estimated 52 million visitors a year. The city is best known for its theme parks Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, but it holds a lot to offer besides those two amusement meccas. Countless hotels and restaurants cater to business conventions and other events hosted by organizations from all over the country. Outside the theme park districts and hotels, however, lies much more to be explored, including downtown, areas of untouched wilderness, world-class museums and theaters, and old towns with dining and nightlife. At the center of the state of Florida, in Orange County, Orlando is about an hour from each coast.
Top landmarks
- • Universal Studios Florida — theme park in the United States
- • Universal's Islands of Adventure — theme park, part of Universal Orlando Resort
- • Universal Epic Universe — theme park in Orlando, Florida
Arriving in Port Saint Joe, FL
Full guide →Port St. Joe is a city on the Forgotten Coast of Florida.
Top landmarks
- • Port Theatre — former movie theater in Port St. Joe, Florida, United States
- • St. Joseph Catholic Mission Church — church building in Florida, United States of America
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 50m. Total distance: 319.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on Young Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.96 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 12 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 Port Saint Joe, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (FL 408 Toll / East-West Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Port Saint Joe, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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