The drive from Jacksonville, FL to Alachua, FL covers 76.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, South 6th Street, FL 121 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.6 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.13 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
38.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 76.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 76.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and South 6th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 26.6 miles on I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and South 6th Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 351A
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
6
29.4 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward FL 121: Macclenny, Lake Butler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 335
Toward FL 121: Macclenny, Lake Butler
6
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Palmetto Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Palmetto Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jacksonville, FL to Alachua, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Butler along the way.
Lake Butler
29.4 mi in|~36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
26.6 mi
30m
South 6th Street
22.4 mi
28m
FL 121
16.5 mi
24m
CR 237
4 mi
9m
FL 235
1.6 mi
2m
US 17
1.1 mi
1m
Palmetto Boulevard
0.7 mi
2m
State Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 26.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Alachua, FL.
1
Start on US 17
210 ft·12 sec·Union Street
2
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
281 ft·15 sec·Ocean Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.3 mi·36 sec·Kings Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17; FL 228
Toward I 95 South: JacksonvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 351AToward I 10 West: Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
27 mi·30 min·I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 335Toward FL 121: Macclenny, Lake Butler
9
Turn right onto FL 121
22 mi·28 min·South 6th Street
10
Continue on FL 121
16 mi·24 min·FL 121
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto FL 235
1.6 mi·2 min·FL 235
12
Turn left onto CR 237
4.0 mi·9 min·CR 237
13
Turn left onto US 441
0.6 mi·57 sec·ML King Memorial Highway
14
Turn right onto Turkey Creek Boulevard
0.1 mi·32 sec·Turkey Creek Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Palmetto Boulevard
0.3 mi·1 min·Palmetto Boulevard
16
Continue on Palmetto Boulevard
0.3 mi·1 min·Palmetto Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Creek Drive West
0.4 mi·1 min·Creek Drive West
18
Turn right onto Northwest 105th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Northwest 105th Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto Palmetto Boulevard
461 ft·20 sec·Palmetto Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
Palmetto Boulevard
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 38.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 47m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alachua, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 76.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Jacksonville, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 26.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.1 mi from Jacksonville, FL
· 47m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.00
$3.66
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.67
$3.05
EV Truck/SUV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Friday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alachua, FL
Morning
in Alachua on Friday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
3 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 49m 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 Jacksonville, FL to Alachua, FL covers 76.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, South 6th Street, FL 121. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.13 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Jacksonville, FL to Alachua, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Butler along the way.
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.
