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Trip from Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

38m

Distance

25.8 mi

42 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m

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

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Fort Meade, FL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Auburndale, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL covers 25.8 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Charleston Avenue, 5th Street, Old Nine Foot Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.11 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

12.9 miles from Fort Meade, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 38m drive with frequent turns across 25.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Charleston Avenue 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 Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL is easy. At 38m 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 Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Charleston Avenue
5th Street
Old Nine Foot Road
Recker Highway
Main Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Charleston Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Meade, FL and Auburndale, FL.

1

Start on Charleston Avenue

125 ft · 11 sec · Charleston Avenue
2

Continue on Charleston Avenue

17 mi · 24 min · Charleston Avenue
3

Continue on 5th Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · 5th Street
4

Turn left onto Old Nine Foot Road

1.2 mi · 1 min · Old Nine Foot Road
5

Turn right

0.4 mi · 40 sec
6

Continue on Recker Highway

4.1 mi · 6 min · Recker Highway
7

Turn left onto Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street
8

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 12.9 miles from Fort Meade, FL, or about 19m 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 25.8 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 12.9 miles or 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 32m

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

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Fort Meade, FL.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fort Meade, FL

This is one driving day of about 25.8 miles and 38m.

At 25.8 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 12.9 mi from Fort Meade, FL · 19m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Winter Haven, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eagle Lake, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.9 miles from Fort Meade, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Auburndale, FL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Auburndale, 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

$4.11 one way

$8.21 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $4.47 $8.93
premium $4.72 $4.80 $9.59
diesel $5.61 $5.70 $11.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.7 0 $2.71 $1.24
Efficient EV 6.5 0 $2.26 $1.03
EV Truck/SUV 10.3 0 $3.61 $1.65

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Meade, FL

Late night in Fort Meade on Thursday

Local time

12:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburndale, FL

Late night in Auburndale on Thursday

Local time

12:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

38m 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 Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL covers 25.8 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Charleston Avenue, 5th Street, Old Nine Foot Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.9 miles from Fort Meade, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.11 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 Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL is easy. At 38m 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 Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fort Meade, FL to Auburndale, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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