Trip from Kendall, FL to Palm Bay, FL

Drive Time

3h

Distance

190.4 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Kendall, FL to Palm Bay, FL covers 190.4 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Southwest 98th Street, South Dixie Highway, Dadeland Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.09 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

95.2 miles from Kendall, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h drive with frequent turns across 190.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Southwest 98th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Southwest 98th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Dixie Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dadeland Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Southwest 88th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
SR 826 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
Palmetto Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Express Lanes	Unavailable	Refreshing
SR 860	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Southwest 98th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on South Dixie Highway

2

Turn right

3

At the end of the road, turn right onto Southwest 98th Street

4

Turn left onto South Dixie Highway

5

Turn left onto Dadeland Boulevard

6

Turn left onto Southwest 88th Street

7

Take the ramp slight right toward SR 826 North

8

Merge slight left onto Palmetto Expressway

9

Keep slight left to continue on Express Lanes

10

Take the exit slight right toward SR 860: Northwest 186th Street, Miami Gardens Drive

11

Merge slight right

12

Take the exit slight right toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando

13

Merge slight left onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

14

Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

15

Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

16

Take the exit slight right toward FL 70: Fort Pierce, Vero Beach

17

Keep slight right to continue on FL 70 East: Fort Pierce

18

Merge slight left onto Okeechobee Road

19

Take the exit slight right toward I 95

20

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: Daytona Beach

21

Merge slight left

22

Take the exit slight right toward FL 514: Palm Bay, Malabar

23

Turn right onto Malabar Road

24

Turn left onto Babcock Street Northeast

25

Turn right onto Palm Bay Road Northeast

26

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 95.2 miles from Kendall, FL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 95.2 miles or 1h 30m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm Bay, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Kendall, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Kendall, FL

This is one driving day of about 190.4 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kendall, FL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Fort Lauderdale, FL

95 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Palm Bay, 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 Palm Bay, FL.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 95.2 mi from Kendall, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 95.2 miles from Kendall, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.15	$31.09	$62.19
midgrade	$4.60	$34.45	$68.90
premium	$4.90	$36.70	$73.40
diesel	$4.35	$32.61	$65.22

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 66.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Kendall, FL to Palm Bay, FL covers 190.4 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Southwest 98th Street, South Dixie Highway, Dadeland Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 95.2 miles from Kendall, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.