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Trip from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 48m

Distance

72.5 mi

117 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in St. Johns County, Florida, United States

Saint Augustine, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine, FL covers 72.5 miles and takes about 1h 48m 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, Memorial Bridge 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 $11.54 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

36.2 miles from Gainesville, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 72.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (34%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Gainesville, FL to Saint Augustine, FL covers 72.5 miles and takes about 1h 48m, 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 11 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, FL is easy. At 1h 48m with 34% 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 points

These 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
72.5 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | Cordova Street

At end of road, turn right onto Cordova Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hawthorne Road 42.6 mi 1h
FL 207 24.4 mi 35m
Memorial Bridge 2.1 mi 4m
East University Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
South Ponce de Leon Boulevard 1 mi 2m
Reid Street 0.6 mi 1m
Carrera Street 0.4 mi 1m
9th Street 0.3 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, 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

24 mi · 35 min · FL 207
8

Turn left onto US 1

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Ponce de Leon Boulevard
9

Turn right onto Carrera Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Carrera Street
10

At end of road, turn right onto Cordova Street

84 ft · 3 sec · Cordova Street
11

Arrive at destination

Cordova 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 36.2 miles from Gainesville, FL, or about 52m 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 16 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36.2 miles or 52m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Augustine, 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 72.5 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 36.2 mi from Gainesville, FL · 52m into the drive

Downtown Palatka, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatka, FL

36 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

Hawthorne, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palatka, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Gainesville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Saint Augustine, FL

The final approach into Saint Augustine, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

National Monument

Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour $15 near mile 72.5
View on nps.gov
Fort Matanzas National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument

National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 65
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.54 one way

$23.08 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $12.55 $25.11
premium $4.72 $13.48 $26.96
diesel $5.61 $16.01 $32.01

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: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.8 0 $7.61 $3.48
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.34 $2.90
EV Truck/SUV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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

Gainesville, FL

Late night in Gainesville on Saturday

Local time

5:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Augustine, FL

Late night in Saint Augustine on Saturday

Local time

5:36 AM

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 48m 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, FL covers 72.5 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Hawthorne Road, FL 207, Memorial Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36.2 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 $11.54 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, FL is easy. At 1h 48m with 34% 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, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Fort Matanzas National Monument.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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