Traveling from Orlando to Surfside covers 231.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 27 minutes. You will primarily navigate via South Orange Avenue, West Anderson Street, and Boone Avenue rather than major interstates. Because this journey is relatively short, you can comfortably complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $39 on fuel for the trip. This route is best suited for those who prefer a local, turn-heavy drive through the Florida region rather than high-speed highway travel.
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
115.9 miles from Orlando, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
214.8 mi
3h 53m
I 4
5.6 mi
7m
Northeast 125th Street
1.7 mi
4m
I 95
1.7 mi
2m
Northeast 123rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
96th Street
1 mi
2m
Broad Causeway
0.8 mi
1m
Northwest 125th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 214.8 mi, about 3h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orlando, FL and Surfside, FL.
1
Start on this road
113 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto FL 527
458 ft·18 sec·South Orange Avenue
3
Turn right onto West Anderson Street
479 ft·17 sec·West Anderson Street
4
Turn right onto Boone Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·Boone Avenue
5
Turn left onto West South Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·West South Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 4 West
7
Merge onto I 4
5.6 mi·7 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 77Toward Miami, OcalaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
215 mi·3 hr 53 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95, US 441, SR 826 West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 95, US 441
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95
1.7 mi·2 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 10AToward SR 922: Northwest 125th StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto SR 922
0.7 mi·1 min·Northwest 125th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on SR 922
1.7 mi·4 min·Northeast 125th Street
19
Continue on SR 922
0.1 mi·19 sec·North Miami Boulevard
20
Continue on SR 922
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast 123rd Street
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on SR 922
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Causeway
22
Continue on SR 922
1.0 mi·2 min·96th Street
23
Turn right onto SR A1A
0.5 mi·1 min·Harding Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right onto 92nd Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·92nd Street
25
Turn left onto Carlyle Avenue
459 ft·20 sec·Carlyle Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Carlyle Avenue
Trip Plan
Since your travel time is just under 4.5 hours, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure. I recommend incorporating at least one stop to break up the frequent turns and help you stay refreshed for the duration of the trip. Keep your $39 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling schedule, as navigating local city streets can sometimes consume gas differently than steady highway speeds. Check your navigation frequently, as the reliance on local roads like South Orange Avenue requires more attention to turn-by-turn directions than a standard highway route. Taking your time will make this 231.9-mile trek much more manageable.
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 115.9 miles from Orlando, FL, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.8 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.9 miles or 2h 9m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surfside, 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 231.9 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 214.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 225.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
6.4 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Ocala
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 77
Toward Miami, Ocala
8
7.2 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South, Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Miami
6
222.8 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, US 441
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, US 441
7
223.6 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 South
7
225.5 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward SR 922: Northwest 125th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10A
Toward SR 922: Northwest 125th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.91 one way
$73.82 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$40.15
$80.31
premium
$4.72
$43.12
$86.24
diesel
$5.61
$51.20
$102.40
Estimated Tolls: $15.03
Florida's Turnpike
(214.8 mi)$15.03
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
$37
Tolls
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.6
0
$24.35
$11.13
Efficient EV
58
0
$20.29
$9.28
EV Truck/SUV
92.8
1
$32.47
$14.84
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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 14, 2026
Origin
Orlando, FL
Late night
in Orlando on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
E 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Surfside, FL
Late night
in Surfside on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
1 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 27m 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 231.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly technical experience behind the wheel, as this route consists of 0% highway driving. You will be navigating local roads for the entirety of the 231.9-mile journey, making it a distinctly turn-heavy drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The road demands your full attention as you transition between local streets and thoroughfares. Since there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the pacing remains consistent and steady from start to finish. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 214.8 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 231.9 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 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 231.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 214.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $15.03 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 Surfside, 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 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Surfside, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
