Tamarac to Lakeland is 209 miles and takes about 4h 12m via Florida's Turnpike and FL 60, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, starting in the South and heading north and west. The majority of this drive is on highways, making it a straightforward trip if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. With only one recommended stop and a total drive time under five hours, it's a very manageable one-day excursion.
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
104.5 miles from Tamarac, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
129.9 mi
2h 22m
FL 60
61.6 mi
1h 19m
Bartow Road
10.7 mi
16m
West McNab Road
1.8 mi
3m
Rock Island Road
1 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West Commercial Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 129.9 mi, about 2h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tamarac, FL and Lakeland, FL.
1
Start on Brookwood Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Brookwood Boulevard
2
Turn left onto West McNab Road
1.8 mi·3 min·West McNab Road
3
Turn right onto Rock Island Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Rock Island Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto SR 870
0.6 mi·1 min·West Commercial Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, OrlandoUse the left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, OrlandoUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
130 mi·2 hr 22 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 193Toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
9
Keep slight right at fork
245 ft·6 sec
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto FL 60
62 mi·1 hr 19 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.6 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 98
11 mi·16 min·Bartow Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto East Lime Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Lime Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto South Lake Avenue
269 ft·13 sec·South Lake Avenue
16
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
279 ft·12 sec·East Walnut Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Walnut Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving Tamarac in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Lakeland. Since the total duration is under five hours and only one stop is suggested, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself; consider stopping about halfway through, perhaps after the longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the turnpike, as services can be spaced out. The fuel cost is estimated at $33, so plan accordingly for your fill-ups.
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 104.5 miles from Tamarac, FL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tamarac, 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 Tamarac, FL
This is one driving day of about 209 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Tamarac, 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 129.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 134.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Rock Island Road
Turn right onto Rock Island Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, Orlando
8
4 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
6
134.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 193
Toward US 441, FL 60: Yeehaw Junction
6
134.9 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.64 one way
$63.28 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.72
$69.43
premium
$4.55
$37.44
$74.88
diesel
$4.80
$39.46
$78.93
Estimated Tolls: $9.09
Florida's Turnpike
(129.9 mi)$9.09
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
$32
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.03
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.29
$8.36
EV Truck/SUV
83.6
1
$29.26
$13.38
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Tamarac, FL
Late night
in Tamarac on Monday
Local time
2:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 3 to 8 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lakeland, FL
Late night
in Lakeland on Monday
Local time
2:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SE 3 to 7 mph41% 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
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 12m 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 predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the trip on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 129.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which means consistent cruising with fewer interruptions. After the turnpike, you transition to FL 60 and Bartow Road, which are surface roads and will likely involve more local traffic and frequent exits as you approach your destination in Lakeland.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.9 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 FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near Rock Island Road.
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 13 significant decision points across 209 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 2.2 miles (Rock Island Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Tamarac is a city of 67,000 people (2019) in Broward County, Florida. It is a mostly residential suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
Development began in the early 1960s. The city was named after the Tamarac Country Club in nearby Oakland Park.
Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.
Top landmarks
•Child of the Sun — Florida
•Polk Theatre — movie theater and theater in Lakeland, Florida
•Beacon Hill-Alta Vista Residential District — historic district in Florida, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 209 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.9 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.09 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 13 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 Lakeland, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (Rock Island Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Lakeland, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
