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Trip from Jacksonville, FL to Watertown, FL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

1h 15m

Distance

60 mi

97 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m

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

city in Duval County, and largest city in State of Florida, United States

Jacksonville, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Watertown, FL, FL

Watertown, FL

Samuel Etienne

Trip Overview

This 60-mile drive from Jacksonville to Watertown, Florida, is a quick one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Given its short duration and a fuel cost estimated at $10, it’s an easy excursion without needing an overnight stay. The route is primarily highway-focused, utilizing I-10, US Highway 90, and US 17 for most of the journey. This makes it a straightforward drive, perfect for a half-day adventure or a convenient way to connect these two points within Florida.

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

30 miles from Jacksonville, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient drive, with 94% of the route on highways. The majority of your travel will be on I-10, offering a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.4 miles on I-10, allowing for a good period of steady driving. While predominantly highway, the incorporation of US Highway 90 and US 17 might introduce slightly different road conditions as you progress, though the overall character remains firmly highway-focused.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 37.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US Highway 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 15m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 8 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.
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
6
40.2 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward US 90: Sanderson, Olustee

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 324 Toward US 90: Sanderson, Olustee

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 Watertown, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Olustee along the way.

Olustee

40.2 mi in | ~47m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 37.4 mi 41m
US Highway 90 18.2 mi 24m
US 17 1.1 mi 1m
State Street 0.7 mi 1m
Northeast Washington Street 0.6 mi 1m
East Duval Street 0.4 mi <1m
Northeast Bascom Norris Drive 0.3 mi <1m
Kings Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 10 — 37.4 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Watertown, 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

37 mi · 41 min · I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 324 Toward US 90: Sanderson, Olustee
9

At end of road, turn left onto US 90

18 mi · 24 min · US Highway 90
10

Continue on US 90

0.4 mi · 42 sec · East Duval Street
11

Turn right onto CR 100A

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Northeast Bascom Norris Drive
12

Turn left onto Northeast Washington Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Northeast Washington Street
13

Arrive at destination

Northeast Washington Street

Trip Plan

With a total travel time of just over an hour, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and be at your destination with ample time for activities, or head out in the afternoon. Since there are no recommended stops, consider fueling up before you leave Jacksonville to ensure you have a full tank for the 60-mile journey. The estimated fuel cost of $10 suggests that this is an economical trip, so keep an eye on your gauge, though significant refueling stops are unlikely to be necessary.

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 30 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.4 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 60 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30 miles or 36m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watertown, 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 60 miles and 1h 15m.

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 I 10 for about 37.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30 mi from Jacksonville, FL · 36m into the drive

city in and the county seat of Bradford County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Starke, FL

30 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

Lake City, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Starke, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30 miles from Jacksonville, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Watertown, FL

The final approach into Watertown, 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 Watertown, 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

$9.55 one way

$19.10 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $10.39 $20.78
premium $4.72 $11.16 $22.31
diesel $5.61 $13.25 $26.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18 0 $6.30 $2.88
Efficient EV 15 0 $5.25 $2.40
EV Truck/SUV 24 0 $8.40 $3.84

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Jacksonville, FL

Late night in Jacksonville on Wednesday

Local time

2:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Watertown, FL

Late night in Watertown on Wednesday

Local time

2:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

92°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

26 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 15m 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 Watertown, FL covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, US Highway 90, US 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30 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 $9.55 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 straightforward 1h 15m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
On the drive from Jacksonville, FL to Watertown, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Olustee along the way.

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