Winter Haven to Miramar is 207 miles and takes about 4 hours 7 minutes via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you moving across Florida. Expect to spend most of your time on the Turnpike, a consistent and efficient route. With a single recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this trip is easily manageable for a single day. It's a practical option for getting from the central part of the state down to South Florida without much fuss.
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
103.7 miles from Winter Haven, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
142.7 mi
2h 36m
FL 60
46.5 mi
59m
Cypress Gardens Boulevard
6.9 mi
11m
US 27
5.9 mi
7m
1st Street South
1.2 mi
2m
Hollywood Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Southwest 72nd Avenue
1 mi
2m
Bahama Drive
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 142.7 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winter Haven, FL and Miramar, FL.
1
Start on West Central Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·West Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto 1st Street South
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Street South
3
Turn left onto FL 540
6.9 mi·11 min·Cypress Gardens Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto US 27
5.9 mi·7 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto FL 60
0.1 mi·14 sec·FL 60
7
Continue on FL 60
46 mi·59 min·FL 60
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on this road
295 ft·7 sec·this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: MiamiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
143 mi·2 hr 36 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto SR 820
1.1 mi·2 min·Hollywood Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Southwest 72nd Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto SR 824
444 ft·19 sec·Pembroke Road
16
Turn right onto West Arcadia Drive
527 ft·25 sec·West Arcadia Drive
17
At end of road, turn right onto Tropicana Street
158 ft·12 sec·Tropicana Street
18
Turn left onto Bahama Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Bahama Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Bahama Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 7 minute drive time, leaving Winter Haven in the morning will comfortably get you to Miramar before the afternoon rush. While only one stop is suggested, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider making your stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary, as the longest continuous stretch is over 140 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach your destination, and remember that Florida's Turnpike is a toll road. Planning your departure time can help you avoid potential traffic congestion in the South Florida area as you near Miramar.
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 103.7 miles from Winter Haven, FL, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.7 miles or 2h 9m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miramar, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Winter Haven, 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 Winter Haven, FL
This is one driving day of about 207.4 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Winter Haven, 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 142.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.5 and 205.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.5 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
7
204.2 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
6
205.8 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|Southwest 72nd Avenue
Turn left onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.01 one way
$66.03 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$35.91
$71.82
premium
$4.72
$38.56
$77.13
diesel
$5.61
$45.79
$91.58
Estimated Tolls: $9.99
Florida's Turnpike
(142.7 mi)$9.99
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
$33
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.2
0
$21.78
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.15
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.04
$13.27
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Winter Haven, FL
Morning
in Winter Haven on Tuesday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Miramar, FL
Morning
in Miramar on Tuesday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live 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
20 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
4h 7m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike, making it a highly efficient travel corridor. The route is primarily characterized by its focus on rapid transit, with Florida's Turnpike serving as the main artery for the majority of the trip. Cypress Gardens Boulevard and FL 60 are also part of the main roads, likely serving as your entry and exit points to the Turnpike. The overall feel is one of steady progress on well-maintained highways.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.7 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 14.5 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 207.4 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 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Winter Haven, FL to Miramar, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County, Florida. The city was an agricultural center, but in the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a largely residential and manufacturing city. Winter Haven is home to Legoland and the "Chain of Lakes".
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 207.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.99 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 12 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 Miramar, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Miramar, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
