Origin
Key West, FL
Morning in Key West on Monday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Key West, FL to Lakeland, FL
Drive Time
8h 23m
Distance
368.5 mi
593 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 16m
★
6 AM
8h 24m
8 AM
8h 39m
10 AM
8h 29m
12 PM
8h 28m
3 PM
8h 30m
5 PM
8h 38m
8 PM
8h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Key West, FL
Arian Fernandez
Lakeland, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Key West, FL to Lakeland, FL covers 368.5 miles and takes about 8h 23m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Flagler Avenue, South Roosevelt Boulevard, Overseas Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.2 miles from Key West, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 23m drive with frequent turns across 368.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Flagler Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Key West, FL to Lakeland, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Flagler Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Roosevelt Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Overseas Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Seven Mile Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dixie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Miami | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Flagler Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Key West, FL and Lakeland, FL.
1
Start on George Street
367 ft
·
21 sec
·
George Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Flagler Avenue
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Flagler Avenue
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Roosevelt Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Roosevelt Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Overseas Highway
36 mi
·
56 min
·
Overseas Highway
5
Continue on New Seven Mile Bridge
68 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
New Seven Mile Bridge
6
Continue on Dixie Highway
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Dixie Highway
7
Take the exit slight right toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
8
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
9
Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
10
Keep slight left to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
11
Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 27: Okeechobee Road
13
Keep slight right to continue on US 27: Okeechobee Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 27: Okeechobee Road
14
Merge slight left onto Okeechobee Road
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Okeechobee Road
15
Continue straight
62 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
16
Continue straight
51 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
17
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
18
Continue straight
10 mi
·
12 min
19
Continue straight
37 mi
·
49 min
20
Take the exit left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
21
Merge slight left
15 mi
·
18 min
22
Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
23
Turn right onto Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
24
Continue on Bartow Road
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Bartow Road
25
Turn left onto East Lime Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lime Street
26
Turn left onto South Lake Avenue
269 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Lake Avenue
27
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
279 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Walnut Street
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.2 miles from Key West, FL, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 81 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.2 miles or 4h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 184.2 miles or 4h 11m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Key West, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Key West, FL
Aim for roughly 184 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lakeland, FL
Aim for roughly 184 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Key West, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 184.2 mi from Key West, FL · 4h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
184 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Country Club, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
184 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Country Club, FL after about 184 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.2 miles from Key West, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 184 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Lakeland, FL
The final approach into Lakeland, 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 Lakeland, FL.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Lakeland, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.56 one way
$123.11 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $66.68 | $133.36 |
| premium | $4.90 | $71.03 | $142.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $81.87 | $163.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$192–$302
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.6 | 1 | $38.69 | $17.69 |
| Efficient EV | 92.1 | 1 | $32.24 | $14.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.4 | 1 | $51.59 | $23.58 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Lakeland, FL
Morning in Lakeland on Monday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
13 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
8h 23m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Key West, FL to Lakeland, FL covers 368.5 miles and takes about 8h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Flagler Avenue, South Roosevelt Boulevard, Overseas Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 184 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 184.2 miles from Key West, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Key West, FL to Lakeland, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Key West, FL to Lakeland, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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