Origin
Auburndale, FL
Late night in Auburndale on Thursday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
36m
Distance
21.7 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburndale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Wales, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL covers 21.7 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Recker Highway, Lake Shipp Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
10.8 miles from Auburndale, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 36m drive with frequent turns across 21.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL is easy. At 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| Recker Highway | — | — |
| Lake Shipp Drive | — | — |
| Snively Avenue | — | — |
| US 27 | — | — |
| West Central Avenue | — | — |
| North Scenic Highway | — | — |
| East Stuart Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburndale, FL and Lake Wales, FL.
1
Start on North Bartow Avenue
10 ft
·
North Bartow Avenue
2
Continue on Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Recker Highway
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Recker Highway
4
Turn left onto Lake Shipp Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Shipp Drive
5
Continue on Snively Avenue
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Snively Avenue
6
At the end of the road, turn left
4.2 mi
·
4 min
7
Continue straight
3.7 mi
·
4 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
9
Keep slight left
279 ft
·
11 sec
10
Turn left onto US 27
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 27
11
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Central Avenue
12
Turn left onto North Scenic Highway
285 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Scenic Highway
13
Turn right onto East Stuart Avenue
112 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Stuart Avenue
14
Turn right
226 ft
·
17 sec
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.8 miles from Auburndale, FL, or about 18m into the drive.
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 21.7 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.8 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Wales, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Auburndale, FL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Auburndale, FL
This is one driving day of about 21.7 miles and 36m.
At 21.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.8 mi from Auburndale, FL · 18m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.8 miles from Auburndale, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Wales, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Lake Wales, FL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.45 one way
$6.91 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $3.76 | $7.51 |
| premium | $4.72 | $4.04 | $8.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Lake Wales, FL
Late night in Lake Wales on Thursday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL covers 21.7 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Recker Highway, Lake Shipp Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 miles from Auburndale, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL is easy. At 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Auburndale, FL to Lake Wales, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lake Wales, FL
More trips to Lake Wales, FL
Explore more options from Auburndale, FL or browse trips ending in Lake Wales, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.
Explore maps for Auburndale, FL or Lake Wales, FL on MapSof.net.