Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 54m
Distance
259.4 mi
417 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Panasoffkee, FL
Jose Valverde
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Pembroke Pines, FL and Lake Panasoffkee, FL.
Start on Southwest 8th Street
Continue on Southwest 64th Way
Turn right onto SR 820
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto CR 470
Continue on McNeill Drive
Turn left onto Central Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Central Parkway
Continue on Central Parkway
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
Continue on CR 470
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
Continue on CR 470
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
Continue on CR 470
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
Continue on CR 470
Enter roundabout onto CR 470
Continue on CR 470
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
Turn right onto CR 470
Turn right onto County Road 527 North
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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.
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 129.7 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 245.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
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
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 470: Leesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto US 301; CR 470
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$41.29 one way
$82.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $44.92 | $89.83 |
| premium | $4.72 | $48.23 | $96.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.27 | $114.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$41
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Pembroke Pines on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Lake Panasoffkee on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
Broward County is in the Greater Miami region of Florida.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 259.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
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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