The drive from Gainesville, FL to Pinecrest, FL covers 347.8 miles and takes about 6h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, I 75, Palmetto Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 261 miles on Florida's Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
173.9 miles from Gainesville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 29m. Total distance: 347.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 29m highway drive covering 347.8 miles, with most of the trip on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 261 miles on Florida's Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 261 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.8 miles in near Florida's Turnpike.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 347.8 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 58.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 319.8 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 320 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
58.8 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
7
319.8 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
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.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
7
320 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Homestead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Homestead
8
323.7 mi into trip|~5h 55m in
Take the exit toward SR 823: Red Road, Northwest 57th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43
Toward SR 823: Red Road, Northwest 57th Avenue
7
324.1 mi into trip|~5h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 823 South: Hialeah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward SR 823 South: Hialeah
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gainesville, FL and Pinecrest, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll South and Homestead.
Florida's Turnpike South
58.8 mi in|~1h 8m|via Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
58.8 mi in|~1h 8m|via Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike Toll South
319.8 mi in|~5h 51m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Homestead
319.8 mi in|~5h 51m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
261 mi
4h 43m
I 75
46.2 mi
49m
Palmetto Expressway
9.5 mi
13m
Express Lanes
9.1 mi
9m
US 441
8 mi
9m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.9 mi
4m
Northwest 57th Avenue
3.1 mi
5m
South Main Street
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 261 mi, about 4h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville, FL and Pinecrest, FL.
1
Start on CR 329
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
148 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on CR 329
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CR 329
57 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
5
Continue on CR 329
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
6
Turn right onto FL 331
0.5 mi·54 sec·Southwest Williston Road
7
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 441
0.4 mi·33 sec·US 441
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on US 441
7.0 mi·8 min·US 441
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 441
0.6 mi·47 sec·US 441
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto CR 234
1.4 mi·2 min·Southeast County Road 234
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
13
Merge onto I 75
46 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·20 sec·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, HomesteadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.7 mi·4 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward HomesteadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 43Toward SR 823: Red Road, Northwest 57th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
203 ft·7 sec
Toward SR 823 South: HialeahUse the left lane.
19
Turn left onto SR 823
0.2 mi·22 sec·Red Road
20
Continue on SR 823
3.1 mi·5 min·Northwest 57th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto Northwest 167th Street
295 ft·8 sec·Northwest 167th Street
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward SR 826 West: Miami International Airport
23
Merge onto SR 826
2.4 mi·3 min·Palmetto Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Lanes
9.1 mi·9 min·Express Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
25
Merge onto SR 826
3.5 mi·4 min·Palmetto Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 826
3.6 mi·5 min·Palmetto Expressway
Toward SR 826 South: Palmetto ExpresswayUse the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto US 1
0.2 mi·21 sec·South Dixie Highway
28
Turn left onto Southwest 104th Street
526 ft·25 sec·Southwest 104th Street
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto Southwest 77th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 77th Avenue
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Southwest 112th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest 112th Street
31
Arrive at destination
Southwest 112th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.9 miles from Gainesville, FL, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261 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 77 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.9 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pinecrest, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, FL
This is one driving day of about 347.8 miles and 6h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Gainesville, 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 261 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173.9 mi from Gainesville, FL
· 3h 13m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 347.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.3
1
$36.52
$16.69
Efficient EV
87
0
$30.43
$13.91
EV Truck/SUV
139.1
1
$48.69
$22.26
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Gainesville, FL
Morning
in Gainesville on Friday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pinecrest, FL
Morning
in Pinecrest on Friday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
12 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
6h 29m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gainesville, FL to Pinecrest, FL covers 347.8 miles and takes about 6h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, I 75, Palmetto Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173.9 miles from Gainesville, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.36 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 347.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 58.8 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 319.8 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 320 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Gainesville, FL and Pinecrest, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll South and Homestead.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
