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Trip from Zephyrhills, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 51m

Distance

244.2 mi

393 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 38m ★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 19m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Pasco County, Florida, United States

Zephyrhills, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 244.2-mile drive from Zephyrhills, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 51 minutes. You'll primarily be on Florida's Turnpike, with some sections of FL 60 and Paul S Buchman Highway. With a highway share of 89%, expect a focused driving experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $39, and you'll likely make just one stop along the way. This route keeps you within the state of Florida, offering a straightforward journey through varied landscapes.

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

122.1 miles from Zephyrhills, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Florida's Turnpike 142.7 mi 2h 36m
FL 60 61.7 mi 1h 19m
Paul S Buchman Highway 9.8 mi 12m
Polk Parkway 9.4 mi 10m
Bartow Road 6.9 mi 9m
I 4 4.7 mi 4m
Paul Buchman Highway 2.1 mi 3m
Alexander Street 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Florida's Turnpike — 142.7 mi, about 2h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Zephyrhills, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL.

1

Start on 5th Avenue

122 ft · 7 sec · 5th Avenue
2

Continue on 5th Avenue

304 ft · 18 sec · 5th Avenue
3

Turn left onto US 301

1.2 mi · 2 min · Gall Boulevard
4

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 39

9.8 mi · 12 min · Paul S Buchman Highway
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on FL 39

1.2 mi · 1 min · Alexander Street
6

Turn left onto FL 39A

2.1 mi · 3 min · Paul Buchman Highway
Use the left lane.
7

Turn slight right

182 ft · 6 sec
8

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
9

Merge onto I 4

4.7 mi · 4 min · I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 27 Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on FL 570 Toll

9.4 mi · 10 min · Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 10 Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto US 98

6.9 mi · 9 min · Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
14

Continue on US 98

0.6 mi · 1 min · Broadway Avenue
15

Turn left onto US 98; FL 60

0.5 mi · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
16

Continue on FL 60

0.3 mi · 26 sec · FL 60
17

Continue on FL 60

11 mi · 13 min · FL 60
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on FL 60

4.3 mi · 5 min · FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on FL 60

46 mi · 59 min · FL 60
Use the left lane.
20

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Use the left lane.
21

Continue on this road

295 ft · 7 sec · this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

143 mi · 2 hr 36 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 49B Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Merge onto SR 820

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Hollywood Boulevard
26

Turn left onto Southwest 64th Way

0.5 mi · 1 min · Southwest 64th Way
Use the left lane.
27

Continue on Southwest 8th Street

0.2 mi · 56 sec · Southwest 8th Street
28

Arrive at destination

Southwest 8th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 4-hour and 51-minute trip, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Pembroke Pines. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 142.7 miles, you can plan your break strategically. The estimated fuel cost of $39 is manageable, but be sure to check your fuel levels before departing Zephyrhills. Given the highway-focused profile, keep an eye on your speed and be aware of the transitions between Florida's Turnpike and other highways.

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 122.1 miles from Zephyrhills, FL, or about 2h 35m 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 54 miles or 1h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 122.1 miles or 2h 35m 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 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke Pines, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Zephyrhills, 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 Zephyrhills, FL

This is one driving day of about 244.2 miles and 4h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Zephyrhills, 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.

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eagle Lake, FL

122 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.

Popular next leg

Eagle Lake, FL to Pembroke Pines, FL

204.9 mi · 4h

Pacing Suggestions

Eagle Lake, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palm Bay, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 122.1 miles from Zephyrhills, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 142.7 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.

Top Coffee Stop

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Wales, Florida

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 52.3

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18632968827

Visit website

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 52.3

Lake Wales, Florida

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18632968827

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Zephyrhills, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 34.9

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 34.9

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 104.6

Okeechobee, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Riverbend Park

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 174.4

Jupiter, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15617411359

Visit website

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 209.3

Delray Beach, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15614950233

Visit website

Stuart Heritage Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 157

Stuart, Florida

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+17722204600

Visit website

Ingalls Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 244.2

Hallandale Beach, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+19544571452

Visit website

Indian Creek Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 174.4

Jupiter, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15617412400

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 242.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in | FL 39 / Paul S Buchman Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 39 / Paul S Buchman Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
19.7 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven

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 27 Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
8
29.6 mi into trip | ~38m in

Take the exit toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow

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 10 Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
8
100 mi into trip | ~2h 11m 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
242.8 mi into trip | ~4h 47m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.87 one way

$77.74 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $42.28 $84.57
premium $4.72 $45.41 $90.82
diesel $5.61 $53.92 $107.83

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

$39

Tolls

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 73.3 0 $25.64 $11.72
Efficient EV 61.1 0 $21.37 $9.77
EV Truck/SUV 97.7 1 $34.19 $15.63

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Zephyrhills, FL

Morning in Zephyrhills on Sunday

Local time

6:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pembroke Pines, FL

Morning in Pembroke Pines on Sunday

Local time

6:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

62°F

Eagle Lake, FL

122 mi in

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

14 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 51m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

The personality of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 89% of the journey on major roads. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 142.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this trip. While largely a high-speed experience, expect some transitions as you navigate between the Turnpike and state roads like FL 60 and Paul S Buchman Highway. This means a consistent pace for most of the way, punctuated by moments of entering and exiting the main thoroughfare.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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?

8/10

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 1.3 miles in near FL 39 / Paul S Buchman Highway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 244.2 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 1.3 miles (FL 39 / Paul S Buchman Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Zephyrhills, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven, Bartow and Florida's Turnpike South: Miami.

Winter Haven

19.7 mi in | ~27m

Bartow

29.6 mi in | ~38m

Florida's Turnpike South: Miami

100 mi in | ~2h 11m

About the Cities

Arriving in Pembroke Pines, FL

Full guide →

Broward County is in the Greater Miami region of Florida.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 244.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Pembroke Pines, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (FL 39 / Paul S Buchman Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Pembroke Pines, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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