Palm Bay to Fernandina Beach is 211.6 miles and takes about 4 hours 7 minutes via I 95 North and FL 9B North, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Florida, traversing primarily surface roads for a more local feel. With a single recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a straightforward option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Florida communities without extensive highway time.
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
105.8 miles from Palm Bay, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
155.9 mi
2h 47m
East Beltway
21.8 mi
25m
Main Street
12.4 mi
17m
SR A1A
11.3 mi
19m
FL 9B
4.3 mi
4m
Palm Bay Road Northeast
4 mi
7m
Ash Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 155.9 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,004
Quietest
2 AM
~237 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 105 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 Palm Bay, FL and Fernandina Beach, FL.
1
Start on Palm Bay Road Northeast
4.0 mi·7 min·Palm Bay Road Northeast
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
3
Merge onto I 95
156 mi·2 hr 47 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 333Toward FL 9B: Jacksonville BeachesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward FL 9B North: Jacksonville BeachesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto FL 9B
4.3 mi·4 min·FL 9B
7
Merge onto I 295
22 mi·25 min·East Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 17
9
Turn right onto US 17
12 mi·17 min·Main Street
10
Take the ramp
211 ft·6 sec
11
Turn right onto SR A1A; FL 200
11 mi·19 min·SR A1A; FL 200
12
Turn left onto Ash Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·Ash Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Ash Street
Trip Plan
Since this drive is just over 4 hours, you can easily complete it in one day. Aim to leave Palm Bay in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $32, and plan your refueling accordingly. The predominantly surface road profile means you'll want to be mindful of local traffic patterns and speed limit changes, especially as you get closer to Fernandina Beach.
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 105.8 miles from Palm Bay, FL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.9 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 1h 57m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fernandina Beach, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palm Bay, 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 Palm Bay, FL
This is one driving day of about 211.6 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Palm Bay, 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 I 95 for about 155.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 211.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
5
4.5 mi into trip|~8m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
160.3 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward FL 9B: Jacksonville Beaches
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 333
Toward FL 9B: Jacksonville Beaches
7
160.6 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 9B North: Jacksonville Beaches
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 9B North: Jacksonville Beaches
6
211.4 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|Ash Street
Turn left onto Ash Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.72 one way
$65.45 round trip
$3.93/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.30
$35.84
$71.68
premium
$4.63
$38.54
$77.08
diesel
$5.60
$46.64
$93.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.22
$10.16
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.62
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Palm Bay, FL
Morning
in Palm Bay on Saturday
Local time
7:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fernandina Beach, FL
Morning
in Fernandina Beach on Saturday
Local time
7:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 3 mph21% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 7m 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.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 124.1
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...
Discover a dynamic barrier island shaped by dunes, coastal hammocks, and Mosquito Lagoon. Walk among ancient Timucua shell mounds and connect with thousands of years of human history. Immerse yourself...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway share. After exiting I-95 North and FL 9B, you'll be on local roads for the full 211.6 miles. Expect frequent intersections and a steady pace as you navigate through towns and communities. This means you'll notice a consistent pattern of traffic lights and changing speed limits, rather than long stretches of high-speed cruising.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and East Beltway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 211.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 160.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 211.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 155.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 160.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Matanzas National Monument, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Canaveral National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fernandina Beach, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
