Origin
Gainesville, FL
Evening in Gainesville on Thursday
Local time
6:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
75 mi
121 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Augustine Beach, FL
Ethan Essig
Trip Overview
The drive from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hawthorne Road, FL 207, FL 312 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.6 miles on Hawthorne Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.94 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.
Midpoint
37.5 miles from Gainesville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 75 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 51m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hawthorne Road is the longest continuous segment at about 42.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FL 20; FL 24; FL 26 / East University Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL is easy. At 1h 51m with 36% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FL 20; FL 24; FL 26 / East University Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles (FL 20 / 9th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44 miles (US 17; FL 100 / Reid Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FL 20; FL 24; FL 26 / East University Avenue
Turn right onto FL 20; FL 24; FL 26 / East University Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
43.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
FL 20 / 9th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 20 / 9th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
44 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 17; FL 100 / Reid Street
Turn right onto US 17; FL 100 / Reid Street
Navigation decision point
3
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
FL 207
Turn left onto FL 207
Navigation decision point
4
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne Road | 42.6 mi | 1h |
| FL 207 | 23.1 mi | 32m |
| FL 312 | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Memorial Bridge | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| A1A Beach Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East University Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Reid Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 9th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Hawthorne Road
— 42.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville, FL and Saint Augustine Beach, FL.
1
Start on CR 329
115 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto FL 20; FL 24; FL 26
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East University Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on FL 20
43 mi
·
1 hr
·
Hawthorne Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 20
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Street
5
Turn right onto US 17; FL 100
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Reid Street
6
Continue on US 17; FL 100
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Memorial Bridge
7
Turn left onto FL 207
23 mi
·
32 min
·
FL 207
8
Turn slight right
132 ft
·
4 sec
9
Turn straight onto FL 312
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
FL 312
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on A1A Beach Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
A1A Beach Boulevard
11
Turn left onto 9th Street
482 ft
·
21 sec
·
9th Street
12
Arrive at destination
9th Street
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 37.5 miles from Gainesville, FL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.6 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.5 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Augustine Beach, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gainesville, FL
This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Gainesville, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Hawthorne Road for about 42.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.5 mi from Gainesville, FL · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Gainesville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Augustine Beach, FL
The final approach into Saint Augustine Beach, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.94 one way
$23.88 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $12.99 | $25.97 |
| premium | $4.72 | $13.95 | $27.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.56 | $33.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.50 | $4.80 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Saint Augustine Beach, FL
Evening in Saint Augustine Beach on Thursday
Local time
6:54 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
19 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
1h 51m 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 Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hawthorne Road, FL 207, FL 312. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.5 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 $11.94 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 Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL is easy. At 1h 51m with 36% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FL 20; FL 24; FL 26 / East University Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles (FL 20 / 9th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44 miles (US 17; FL 100 / Reid Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine Beach, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
Saint Augustine Beach, FL to Gainesville, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
75 mi
1h 52m
Continue From Saint Augustine Beach, FL
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