Sunrise, FL to Gainesville, FL is 310.9 miles and takes about 5h 52m via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the southern part of the state north towards the center. Given that it's a single-day drive, you'll spend most of your time on major highways. Plan for a straightforward transit, ideal if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
155.4 miles from Sunrise, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
240.6 mi
4h 20m
I 75
46.1 mi
49m
US 441
8 mi
9m
East Sunrise Boulevard
2.4 mi
5m
South Powerline Road
2.4 mi
4m
South Main Street
2.4 mi
4m
Northwest 9th Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.6 mi, about 4h 20m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 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 Sunrise, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on Northeast 7th Place
286 ft·15 sec·Northeast 7th Place
2
Turn left onto Northeast 25th Way
358 ft·13 sec·Northeast 25th Way
3
Turn right onto Northeast 8th Street
296 ft·15 sec·Northeast 8th Street
4
Turn left onto Northeast 26th Avenue
311 ft·15 sec·Northeast 26th Avenue
5
Turn left onto Northeast 9th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Northeast 9th Street
6
Continue on Northeast 24th Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Northeast 24th Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto SR 838
2.4 mi·5 min·East Sunrise Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto SR 845
1.9 mi·3 min·Northwest 9th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on SR 845
1.1 mi·2 min·Powerline Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on SR 845
2.4 mi·4 min·South Powerline Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on SR 845
1.0 mi·1 min·South Pompano Parkway
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto SR 814
0.6 mi·1 min·West Atlantic Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Northwest 31st Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, OrlandoUse the straight / left lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
16
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
240 mi·4 hr 20 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Merge onto I 75
46 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 374Toward CR 234: MicanopyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CR 234
1.3 mi·2 min·Southeast County Road 234
21
Turn left
421 ft·15 sec
Use the left lane.
22
Turn straight onto US 441
8.0 mi·9 min·US 441
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto FL 331
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest Williston Road
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto CR 329
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
25
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
92 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
26
Continue on CR 329
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
27
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
177 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
28
Continue on CR 329
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Trip Plan
For this 5h 52m drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive in Gainesville before evening. Since the longest stretch is 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike, consider a brief stop around the halfway point for fuel and to stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $49, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Sunrise. With only one recommended stop and a predominantly highway profile, this trip offers flexibility in pacing your journey.
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 155.4 miles from Sunrise, FL, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 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 68 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.4 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sunrise, 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 Sunrise, FL
This is one driving day of about 310.9 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Sunrise, 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 240.6 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 298.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Northeast 25th Way
Turn left onto Northeast 25th Way
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Northeast 26th Avenue
Turn left onto Northeast 26th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
11.2 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
7
251.9 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
7
298.3 mi into trip|~5h 33m in
Take the exit toward CR 234: Micanopy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 374
Toward CR 234: Micanopy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.06 one way
$94.13 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$51.64
$103.28
premium
$4.55
$55.69
$111.39
diesel
$4.80
$58.70
$117.41
Estimated Tolls: $16.83
Florida's Turnpike
(240.4 mi)$16.83
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
$47
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.3
1
$32.64
$14.92
Efficient EV
77.7
0
$27.20
$12.44
EV Truck/SUV
124.4
1
$43.53
$19.90
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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 19, 2026
Origin
Sunrise, FL
Late night
in Sunrise on Monday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 9 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gainesville, FL
Late night
in Gainesville on Monday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SE 3 mph1% 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
7 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
5h 52m 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?
This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on major roads for almost the entire trip. You'll experience a long stretch of 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive, as you approach Gainesville after leaving the main interstate corridors. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate through different sections of the highway system.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.6 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Northeast 25th Way.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 310.9 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 0.1 miles (Northeast 25th Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Northeast 26th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 310.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.83 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 30 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 Gainesville, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northeast 25th Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Northeast 26th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gainesville, FL before the return drive.
