Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Afternoon in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, FL to Gainesville, FL
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
72.2 mi
116 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksonville, FL
Mike Jones
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Jacksonville to Gainesville, expect a straightforward 72-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive without needing to book an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel should cover your transit costs between these two Florida cities. Because you will be navigating via Ocean Street, State Street, and Kings Road rather than major interstates, the drive offers a more local perspective of the region. It is a practical, efficient connection for those looking to bypass typical highway traffic while transitioning between these two hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local streets, meaning your highway share is 0%. You will navigate through various intersections and turns throughout the 72-mile stretch, requiring your full attention rather than cruise control. This journey provides a consistent, steady pace that avoids the high-speed isolation of major freeways. By sticking to local roads like Kings Road, you trade the predictability of a highway for a more hands-on driving experience that reflects the character of the local landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 301 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
192 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
120 ft
Highest Point
192 ft
~33.1 mi in
Elevation Range
176 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 301 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 72.2 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: 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 1 miles (US 17; FL 228): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
|
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.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 17; FL 228
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228 toward I 95 South: Jacksonville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville
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
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 10; US 17; FL 228
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 301 | 37.5 mi | 47m |
| I 10 | 17.1 mi | 20m |
| Waldo Road | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| US 17 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East University Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Northeast Waldo Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Kennard Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 301
— 37.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Gainesville, 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: Jacksonville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 351A
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
10
Merge onto US 301
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
US 301
11
Continue on US 301
37 mi
·
47 min
·
US 301
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 24
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennard Street
13
Continue on FL 24
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Waldo Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on FL 24
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Northeast Waldo Road
15
Continue on FL 24
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Waldo Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto FL 20; FL 24; FL 26
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East University Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 329
115 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 19-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 72-mile distance in one go without the need for scheduled stops, though it is always smart to ensure your tank is ready for the $12 fuel expense before leaving. Because this is a turn-heavy route, keep your GPS handy to navigate the specific local streets effectively. The primary advantage here is the lack of highway congestion, so use that to your benefit by choosing a departure time that avoids local rush hour traffic. Planning your departure around mid-morning or early afternoon will likely provide the smoothest experience on these local roads.
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 36.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.5 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 72.2 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, 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.
+
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 Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 72.2 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jacksonville, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 301 for about 37.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.1 mi from Jacksonville, FL · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 72.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Jacksonville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gainesville, FL
The final approach into Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.06 one way
$24.12 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $13.06 | $26.13 |
| premium | $4.90 | $13.92 | $27.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.04 | $32.08 |
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: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.58 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
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.
Destination
Gainesville, FL
Afternoon in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
6 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 35m 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 Gainesville, FL covers 72.2 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 301, I 10, Waldo Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.1 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 $12.06 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 72.2 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.
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 1 miles (US 17; FL 228): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Jacksonville, FL to Gainesville, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 16 ft to 192 ft elevation with about 281 ft of total climbing.
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