Origin
Lake Wales, FL
Evening in Lake Wales on Friday
Local time
5:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
191.7 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Wales, FL
Wikimedia Commons
This 191.7-mile drive from Lake Wales, Florida, to Hollywood, Florida, is a manageable day trip, estimated to take around 3 hours and 44 minutes. Primarily utilizing Florida's Turnpike and I-95, with a short segment on FL 60, this route is almost entirely highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, it's an economical journey for a single day. You'll spend the majority of your time on the well-maintained Florida's Turnpike, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
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
95.9 miles from Lake Wales, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 191.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for 97% of this journey, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the bulk of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 125.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, this route is designed for efficiency rather than scenic exploration. You'll primarily be navigating major interstates and turnpikes, so prepare for a steady, predictable driving environment.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.1 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 191.7 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: at 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Coconut Creek Parkway, Martin Luther King Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SR 820: Hollywood Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820 / Hollywood Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake Wales, FL to Hollywood, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 125.3 mi | 2h 15m |
| FL 60 | 45.2 mi | 57m |
| I 95 | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Hollywood Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Andrews Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Scenic Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Palm Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Wales, FL and Hollywood, FL.
Start on this road
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
Turn left onto FL 17
Turn slight left onto East Polk Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Street
Continue on Palm Avenue
Take the ramp onto Palm Avenue
Merge onto FL 60
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
Turn left onto SR 814
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 820
Continue on SR 820
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour 44-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. Consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the South Florida metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 125.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike, you can easily plan your fuel and rest breaks. The $31 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always keep an eye on your gauge, particularly during that long stretch on the Turnpike where services might be spaced out.
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.
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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hollywood, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lake Wales, 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 Lake Wales, FL
This is one driving day of about 191.7 miles and 3h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.9 mi from Lake Wales, FL · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.9 miles from Lake Wales, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.3 miles.
The final approach into Hollywood, 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 Hollywood, FL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.31 one way
$62.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $34.69 | $69.37 |
| premium | $4.90 | $36.95 | $73.90 |
| diesel | $4.35 | $32.83 | $65.66 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.77
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.13 | $9.20 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.77 | $7.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.7 | 0 | $26.84 | $12.27 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Lake Wales on Friday
Local time
5:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Hollywood on Friday
Local time
5:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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