Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
150.7 mi
243 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Pine Key, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Traveling from Hollywood to Big Pine Key covers 150.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 36 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike, the Dixie Highway, and the iconic Overseas Highway. Budgeting approximately $25 for fuel is a safe bet for this trek through the Florida landscape. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you do not necessarily need to book an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward journey that transitions from the urban sprawl of South Florida into the unique island environment of the Keys. Use this route if you want a direct path to the lower islands without the need for an extended multi-day itinerary.
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
75.3 miles from Hollywood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 150.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a mix of driving conditions that shift significantly as you move away from the mainland. While only 28% of the trip is on major highways, you will encounter a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs once you hit the Overseas Highway, where you will cruise for 77.4 miles. Transitioning from the turnpike onto the local highway system changes the rhythm of your drive, shifting from fast-paced transit to a more deliberate pace. Stay alert for frequent speed changes as the road personality evolves from high-speed corridors to the localized flow of the Florida Keys.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard.
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 16 significant decision points across 150.7 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 0.8 miles (SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 95 South: Miami
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 441 South, SR 9 South, SR 826 East, SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 826 West: Florida's Turnpike Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto SR 826 toward SR 826 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas Highway | 77.4 mi | 2h |
| Dixie Highway | 19.2 mi | 26m |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 16.7 mi | 20m |
| Palmetto Expressway | 11.5 mi | 15m |
| Express Lanes | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| Don Shula Expressway | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| I 95 | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Hollywood Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, FL and Big Pine Key, FL.
Start on SR 820
Continue on SR 820
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820
Turn left
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto SR 826
Take the exit onto SR 826
Merge onto SR 826
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Lanes
Merge onto SR 826
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 874 Toll
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Arrive at destination
Planning your departure is key to avoiding the heaviest traffic patterns common on these regional arteries. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave early and maximize your time at your destination. With only one recommended stop, you should pace yourself to ensure you remain refreshed for the longer stretches of driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you head further down the Overseas Highway where service intervals can vary. A smart strategy is to top off your tank before leaving the mainland to avoid any potential price spikes or limited availability once you are deep into your journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 39m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Pine Key, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hollywood, 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 Hollywood, FL
This is one driving day of about 150.7 miles and 3h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.3 mi from Hollywood, FL · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75.3 miles from Hollywood, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Overseas Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.4 miles.
The final approach into Big Pine Key, 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 Big Pine Key, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.99 one way
$47.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $26.09 | $52.19 |
| premium | $4.72 | $28.02 | $56.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.27 | $66.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| Efficient EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.10 | $9.64 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Hollywood on Friday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Big Pine Key on Friday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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