Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
248.5 mi
400 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
Photo: Mike Jones
Traveling from the laid-back shores of Anna Maria to the bustling city of Jacksonville covers approximately 248.5 miles. You should plan for about 4 hours and 24 minutes of pure drive time, making this a manageable journey to complete in a single day. Since this route avoids major highways entirely, your fuel budget will hover around $41, though local driving patterns can impact your final spend. Because the path relies on local roads rather than interstates, you won’t be moving at highway speeds, so factor in extra time for traffic. It serves as a great direct connection between the Gulf Coast and the northern reaches of the state. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this one-day itinerary offers a straightforward path through Florida.
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
124.3 miles from Anna Maria, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate via Pine Avenue, Gulf Drive, and Palm Drive, with 0% of the trip spent on major highways. Because this route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches—with the longest segment being 0 miles on Pine Avenue—you will find yourself constantly navigating intersections and local traffic patterns. This isn't a high-speed cruise; instead, it is a deliberate, winding journey through the heart of the region. Be prepared to shift gears frequently as you make your way from the coast toward your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Anna Maria, FL to Jacksonville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gulf Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Palm Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marina Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Manatee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 15th Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 6th Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Street East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Anna Maria, FL and Jacksonville, FL.
Start on the route
Turn right onto Pine Avenue
Turn left onto Gulf Drive
Continue on Palm Drive
Continue on Marina Drive
Turn left onto Gulf Drive
Turn left onto Manatee Avenue
Turn right onto 15th Street West
Keep slight left to continue on 6th Avenue West
Turn left onto 1st Street East
Continue on Hernando DeSoto Bridge
Continue on Tamiami Trail
Continue on Tamiami Trail
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 75 North: Tampa
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward FL 326
Turn slight right
Turn slight right
Continue on Northwest 70th Street
Turn left
Turn straight onto North US 301: Starke
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East: Jacksonville
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Turn straight onto Union Street
Arrive at your destination
Given the nature of this 248.5-mile route, your best bet is to depart early in the morning to beat local congestion. Since you are relying on local roads, you should build in at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $41 gas budget in mind. Pay close attention to navigation, as the reliance on local avenues like Pine and Gulf Drive means frequent turns rather than straightforward interstate cruising. Because the entire drive is localized, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on real-time traffic conditions. A helpful tip for this specific journey is to keep your GPS active at all times, as the turn-heavy profile makes it easy to miss a transition between local roads.
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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.3 miles or 2h 12m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Anna Maria, 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 Anna Maria, FL
This is one driving day of about 248.5 miles and 4h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.3 mi from Anna Maria, FL · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 124.3 miles from Anna Maria, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Jacksonville, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Jacksonville, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$41.51 one way
$83.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $44.96 | $89.93 |
| premium | $4.90 | $47.90 | $95.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.21 | $110.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.09 | $11.93 |
| Efficient EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.74 | $9.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.4 | 1 | $34.79 | $15.90 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Anna Maria on Sunday
Local time
8:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
8:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
60°F
Gainesville, FL
124 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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