Pembroke Pines to Lake Panasoffkee is 259.4 miles and takes about 4h 54m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to Florida's Turnpike, making it a straightforward trip across the state. You'll be spending most of your time on this major highway, which is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from South Florida up towards the Lake Panasoffkee area. Given its highway focus and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
129.7 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
245.8 mi
4h 27m
CR 470
5.5 mi
9m
Central Parkway
4 mi
7m
McNeill Drive
1.2 mi
2m
US 301
0.6 mi
<1m
Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi
1m
County Road 527 North
0.4 mi
2m
Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 245.8 mi, about 4h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pembroke Pines, FL and Lake Panasoffkee, FL.
1
Start on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·58 sec·Southwest 8th Street
2
Continue on Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
3
Turn right onto SR 820
0.2 mi·31 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, OrlandoUse the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
6
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
246 mi·4 hr 27 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 296Toward CR 470: LeesburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight left onto CR 470
0.6 mi·1 min·CR 470
9
Continue on McNeill Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·McNeill Drive
10
Turn left onto Central Parkway
0.4 mi·47 sec·Central Parkway
11
Enter roundabout onto Central Parkway
227 ft·4 sec·Central Parkway
12
Continue on Central Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
201 ft·4 sec·Central Parkway
14
Continue on CR 470
1.0 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
15
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
198 ft·4 sec·Central Parkway
16
Continue on CR 470
0.8 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
17
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
151 ft·3 sec·Central Parkway
18
Continue on CR 470
0.6 mi·1 min·Central Parkway
19
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
190 ft·3 sec·Central Parkway
20
Continue on CR 470
0.3 mi·28 sec·Central Parkway
21
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
203 ft·4 sec·CR 470
22
Continue on CR 470
2.5 mi·4 min·CR 470
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
0.6 mi·54 sec·US 301; CR 470
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto CR 470
2.3 mi·3 min·CR 470
25
Turn right onto County Road 527 North
0.4 mi·2 min·County Road 527 North
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 54m drive, consider an early morning departure from Pembroke Pines to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The longest stretch is a substantial 245.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so plan for a mid-drive break before you feel the need. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the Turnpike, as services can be spread out; your estimated fuel cost is around $41. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace, but utilizing a service plaza on the Turnpike around the halfway mark would be a logical point for a quick stop.
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 129.7 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 245.8 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 57 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.7 miles or 2h 23m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Panasoffkee, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pembroke Pines, 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 Pembroke Pines, FL
This is one driving day of about 259.4 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Pembroke Pines, 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 245.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 256.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
5
1.5 mi into trip|~4m 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
247.2 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward CR 470: Leesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 296
Toward CR 470: Leesburg
7
256.1 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|US 301; CR 470
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.71 one way
$83.42 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.44
$45.36
$90.73
premium
$4.78
$48.80
$97.59
diesel
$6.18
$63.10
$126.21
Estimated Tolls: $17.20
Florida's Turnpike
(245.8 mi)$17.20
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
$42
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.8
0
$27.24
$12.45
Efficient EV
64.9
0
$22.70
$10.38
EV Truck/SUV
103.8
1
$36.32
$16.60
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Pembroke Pines, FL
Late night
in Pembroke Pines on Monday
Local time
2:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 16 to 22 mph76% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:56AM EDT until October 20 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:21AM EDT until October 18 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Lake Panasoffkee, FL
Late night
in Lake Panasoffkee on Monday
Local time
2:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NNE 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:56AM EDT until October 20 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:21AM EDT until October 18 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
5 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
4h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 259.4-mile journey, with 99% of it being on major roadways. The vast majority of your time will be spent on Florida's Turnpike, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 245.8 miles. This means you'll experience a consistent driving pace for the bulk of the trip, characterized by smooth, fast travel. As you approach your destination, you'll transition to local roads like CR 470 and Central Parkway for the final miles into Lake Panasoffkee.
99% 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: 245.8 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and CR 470. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 54m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 245.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $17.20 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 16 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.
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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Lake Panasoffkee, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
