Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
126 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
The drive from Gainesville, FL to Lake Alfred, FL covers 126 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, Southwest Williston Road, Southeast County Road 234 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.58 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63 miles from Gainesville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 38m drive with frequent turns across 126 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest Williston Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast County Road 234 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Florida's Turnpike South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| O'Brien Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Orange Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville, FL and Lake Alfred, FL.
Start on South Main Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Main Street
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn straight
Continue straight
Continue straight
Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234
Take the ramp left toward I 75 South: Tampa
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Take the exit slight right toward US 27, FL 19: Tavares, Clermont
Continue on US 27, FL 19: Tavares, Clermont
Merge slight left
Turn right onto O'Brien Road
Turn right
Turn left onto West Orange Street
Continue straight
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Commonwealth Avenue North
Exit the roundabout onto Commonwealth Avenue North
Turn left onto Broadway Boulevard Southeast
Continue straight
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Rochelle Avenue
Turn left onto East Haines Boulevard
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63 miles or 1h 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 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Alfred, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 126 miles and 2h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63 mi from Gainesville, FL · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 63 miles from Gainesville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Lake Alfred, 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 Lake Alfred, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.58 one way
$41.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $22.80 | $45.60 |
| premium | $4.90 | $24.29 | $48.57 |
| diesel | $4.35 | $21.58 | $43.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.23 | $6.05 |
| Efficient EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.02 | $5.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.64 | $8.06 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Gainesville on Saturday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Lake Alfred on Saturday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Orlando, FL
63 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Gainesville, FL or browse trips ending in Lake Alfred, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.
Explore maps for Gainesville, FL or Lake Alfred, FL on MapSof.net.