Trip from Richmond West, FL to Palm Bay, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 42m
Distance
191.5 mi
308 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
28 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond West, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Palm Bay, FL
Hetvi Patel
Trip Overview
Richmond West, FL to Palm Bay, FL is 191.5 miles and takes about 3h 42m via Florida's Turnpike and I-95, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, primarily utilizing major highways to connect two points in the state. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the road, making it a functional transit rather than a leisurely exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.7 miles from Richmond West, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 104.7 mi | 1h 56m |
| I 95 | 44 mi | 47m |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 29.7 mi | 33m |
| Southwest 152nd Street | 3 mi | 6m |
| Babcock Street Northeast | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Palm Bay Road Northeast | 2 mi | 3m |
| State Road 821 Access Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 147th Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond West, FL and Palm Bay, FL.
Start on Southwest 168th Terrace
Turn left onto Southwest 146th Court
Turn left onto Southwest 168th Street
Enter roundabout onto Southwest 147th Avenue
Continue on Southwest 147th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest 152nd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 117th Avenue
Turn left onto State Road 821 Access Road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto FL 70
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn right onto FL 514
Turn left onto FL 507
Turn right onto Palm Bay Road Northeast
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3h 42m drive, departing in the morning should allow you to reach Palm Bay with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $30, this is a manageable one-day trip. Consider fueling up before you leave Richmond West, as the longest stretch without a major break is over 100 miles on the Turnpike. You'll want to be aware of the numerous exits on I-95 as you get closer to Palm Bay, so stay focused.
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 42 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.7 miles or 1h 53m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm Bay, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
Open the route before leaving Richmond West, 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 Richmond West, FL
This is one driving day of about 191.5 miles and 3h 42m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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.
Pacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.7 miles from Richmond West, 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 104.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Love's Travel Stop
Pompano Service Plaza
50381
40392
40391
Snapper Creek Service Plaza
Port Saint Lucie - Fort Pierce Service Plaza
Flying J Travel Center
West Palm Beach Service Plaza
TA
Love's Travel Stop
50382
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Around the midpoint, short detour
Delray Beach, Florida
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+15614950233
Visit websiteGold Coast Railroad Museum
Near the start, short detour
Miami, Florida
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+13052530063
Visit websiteZoo Miami
Near the start, short detour
Miami, Florida
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13052510400
Visit websiteMiramar Regional Park
Near the start, short detour
Miramar, Florida
Hours: 8 am–9 pm
+19548836950
Visit websitePeaceful Waters Sanctuary
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Wellington, Florida
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+15617914005
Visit websiteStuart Heritage Museum
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Stuart, Florida
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+17722204600
Visit websiteRiverbend Park
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Jupiter, Florida
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+15617411359
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 141.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest 152nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North: Miami International Airport, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward FL 70: Fort Pierce, Vero Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.48 one way
$60.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $33.16 | $66.32 |
| premium | $4.72 | $35.61 | $71.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.28 | $84.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.11
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
$30
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
28 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
The Falls - Tesla Supercharger
Miami, FL
20 DCFC
Kendall Village Center - Tesla Supercharger
Miami, FL
12 DCFC
Dadeland Station - Tesla Supercharger
Miami, FL
12 DCFC
Bird Ludlam - Tesla Supercharger
Miami, FL
12 DCFC
Wawa - Tesla Supercharger
Cutler Bay, FL
8 DCFC
Shops of Kendall
Miami, FL
8 DCFC
Wawa - Tesla Supercharger
Miami, FL
8 DCFC
Wawa
Miami, FL
8 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.11 | $9.19 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.76 | $7.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.6 | 0 | $26.81 | $12.26 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Richmond West, FL
Late night in Richmond West on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Palm Bay, FL
Late night in Palm Bay on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 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
3h 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 93% of this 191.5-mile trip, with a continuous stretch of 104.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike also contributes significantly to the highway mileage. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent exits as you approach and depart urban areas, particularly around South Florida. Surface roads will become more prevalent only in the final miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Southwest 152nd Street.
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 20 significant decision points across 191.5 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 1.1 miles (Southwest 152nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.8 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond West, FL and Palm Bay, FL, road signs point toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North and Vero Beach.
Orlando
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Vero Beach
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 191.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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