Origin
Lake Wales, FL
Night in Lake Wales on Wednesday
Local time
11:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Wales, FL to Auburndale, FL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
34m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Wales, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Auburndale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Wales, FL to Auburndale, FL covers 21.2 miles and takes about 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on FL 60, Rifle Range Road, Recker Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.4 miles on FL 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.37 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
10.6 miles from Lake Wales, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Lake Wales, FL to Auburndale, FL covers 21.2 miles and takes about 34m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
FL 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 34m drive. You will face about 5 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 (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (FL 60): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (CR 655 / Rifle Range Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Central Avenue
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
FL 60
Turn right onto FL 60
Navigation decision point
4
8.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
CR 655 / Rifle Range Road
Turn right onto CR 655 / Rifle Range Road
Navigation decision point
5
15.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
FL 655 / Recker Highway
Turn right onto FL 655 / Recker Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| FL 60 | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| Rifle Range Road | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| Recker Highway | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| East Central Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Lake Shipp Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Bartow Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
FL 60
— 7.4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Wales, FL and Auburndale, FL.
1
Start on this road
58 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto FL 60
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
FL 60
4
Turn right onto CR 655
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Rifle Range Road
5
Continue on Lake Shipp Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Shipp Drive
6
Turn right onto FL 655
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Recker Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
North Bartow Avenue
Trip Plan
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 10.6 miles from Lake Wales, FL, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.4 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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.6 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburndale, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Lake Wales, FL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Wales, FL
This is one driving day of about 21.2 miles and 34m.
At 21.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on FL 60 for about 7.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.6 mi from Lake Wales, FL · 15m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.6 miles from Lake Wales, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Auburndale, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Auburndale, FL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.37 one way
$6.75 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $3.67 | $7.34 |
| premium | $4.72 | $3.94 | $7.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Auburndale, FL
Night in Auburndale on Wednesday
Local time
11:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
34m 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 Lake Wales, FL to Auburndale, FL covers 21.2 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are FL 60, Rifle Range Road, Recker Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.6 miles from Lake Wales, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.37 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 34m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (FL 60): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (CR 655 / Rifle Range Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Lake Wales, FL to Auburndale, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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