Origin
Cooper City, FL
Afternoon in Cooper City on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cooper City, FL to Lakeland, FL
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
217.9 mi
351 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
Cooper City, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Lakeland, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cooper City to Lakeland covers 217.9 miles of Florida landscape, typically taking about 4 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes Florida's Turnpike before transitioning onto FL 60 and Bartow Road. It is an efficient path that links two distinct Florida hubs, making it a practical choice for those who prefer a direct, no-nonsense transit through the state.
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
108.9 miles from Cooper City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient commute, as 92% of this trip is spent on highways. The route features a significant 138.7-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, which dominates the majority of your time on the road. This creates a consistent, fast-paced driving experience that requires sustained attention rather than technical maneuvering. As you exit the turnpike and transition to FL 60 and Bartow Road, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed transit to local road navigation. You will find that the consistency of the highway segments helps you maintain a steady pace throughout the duration of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Florida's Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 138.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near SR 818 / Griffin Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 217.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (SR 818 / Griffin Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 818 / Griffin Road
Turn right onto SR 818 / Griffin Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando
6
143.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m 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
143.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 138.7 mi | 2h 32m |
| FL 60 | 61.6 mi | 1h 19m |
| Bartow Road | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| Griffin Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Van Fleet Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 90th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Lime Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 138.7 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cooper City, FL and Lakeland, FL.
1
Start on this road
103 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Southwest 51st Street
474 ft
·
28 sec
·
Southwest 51st Street
3
Turn left onto Southwest 90th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 90th Avenue
4
Turn right onto SR 818
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Griffin Road
Use the none lane.
5
Turn left
269 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike North: Orlando
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
139 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 193
Toward 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 none 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 none 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
Since the total duration is under five hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route is manageable in one go, scheduling at least one stop is recommended to break up the long highway stretches. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 138.7-mile turnpike segment, as service plazas are your best bet for consistent refueling options. Aim to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours near the larger hubs to ensure you stay as close to the 4h 22m estimate as possible. Planning for a single, efficient break will keep you refreshed for the final transition onto Bartow Road.
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 108.9 miles from Cooper City, FL, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.7 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.9 miles or 2h 3m 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 27m
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 Cooper City, 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 Cooper City, FL
This is one driving day of about 217.9 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cooper City, 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 138.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.9 mi from Cooper City, FL · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.9 miles from Cooper City, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.7 miles.
Arriving in Lakeland, FL
The final approach into Lakeland, 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 Lakeland, FL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.40 one way
$72.80 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $39.43 | $78.86 |
| premium | $4.90 | $42.00 | $84.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $48.41 | $96.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.71
Florida's Turnpike
(138.7 mi)
$9.71
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
$36
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.88 | $10.46 |
| Efficient EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.07 | $8.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.51 | $13.95 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Lakeland, FL
Afternoon in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
7 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 22m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cooper City, FL to Lakeland, FL covers 217.9 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, Bartow Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.9 miles from Cooper City, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 217.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (SR 818 / Griffin Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cooper City, FL to Lakeland, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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