Pembroke Pines to Live Oak is 380 miles and takes about 7 hours via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Florida drive covers a significant portion of the state, moving from South Florida's urban edge northward. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. Expect a consistent driving experience as you head toward North Florida. This route is ideal if you're looking for efficiency and don't need many detours.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
190 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
258.5 mi
4h 41m
I 75
99.8 mi
1h 46m
West US Highway 90
19.9 mi
27m
Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi
1m
Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Hollywood Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Dowling Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 258.5 mi, about 4h 41m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,482 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,683
Quietest
2 AM
~405 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Pembroke Pines, FL and Live Oak, 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
258 mi·4 hr 40 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 75
100 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 427Toward US 90: Lake City, Live OakUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
216 ft·10 sec
Toward US 90 WestUse the left lane.
11
Turn left onto US 90
20 mi·27 min·West US Highway 90
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto Dowling Avenue
347 ft·15 sec·Dowling Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Dowling Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, leaving Pembroke Pines in the morning, ideally before 9 AM, will allow you to reach Live Oak with ample daylight. There are 2 recommended stops, so plan to take a break roughly every 2-3 hours to stretch and refuel. With a 100% highway profile, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 258.5-mile mark on Florida's Turnpike, as services can sometimes be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is $60, so factor that into your budget. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility with your stop timing.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258.5 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 84 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190 miles or 3h 29m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Live Oak, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pembroke Pines, FL
This is one driving day of about 380 miles and 7h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 258.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 360 — 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
7
259.7 mi into trip|~4h 44m 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
359.7 mi into trip|~6h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 90: Lake City, Live Oak
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 427
Toward US 90: Lake City, Live Oak
8
360 mi into trip|~6h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 90 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.52 one way
$115.05 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$63.12
$126.24
premium
$4.55
$68.07
$136.14
diesel
$4.80
$71.75
$143.50
Estimated Tolls: $18.08
Florida's Turnpike
(258.3 mi)$18.08
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
$58
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114
1
$39.90
$18.24
Efficient EV
95
1
$33.25
$15.20
EV Truck/SUV
152
1
$53.20
$24.32
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Pembroke Pines, FL
Late night
in Pembroke Pines on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Live Oak, FL
Late night
in Live Oak on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
W 1 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne 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
6 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
7h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 100% on highways, meaning you'll be on major roads for the entire 380 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 258.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike. You'll notice a consistent highway environment for most of the trip, with plenty of exits for services along the way. The transition to I-75 and then US Highway 90 maintains this highway-focused feel.
100% 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: 258.5 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 380 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 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 259.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h. Total distance: 380 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 258.5 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.08 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 35 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 Live Oak, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 259.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Live Oak, FL before the return drive.
