Origin
Lakeland, FL
Late night in Lakeland on Saturday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, FL to Apollo Beach, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
45.4 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Apollo Beach, FL
Chris The Island
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakeland, FL to Apollo Beach, FL covers 45.4 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 4, I 75, Kathleen Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.1 miles on I 4. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 45.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 58m highway drive covering 45.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 4 and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.1 miles on I 4.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 4 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lake Morton Drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 45.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lake Morton Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
Navigation decision point
8
25.2 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Ocala, Naples
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward I 75: Ocala, Naples
7
25.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Naples
7
40.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward CR 672: Apollo Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 246
Toward CR 672: Apollo Beach
6
40.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 672 West: Apollo Beach, Manatee Viewing Centre
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR 672 West: Apollo Beach, Manatee Viewi...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakeland, FL and Apollo Beach, FL, road signs point toward Naples, Cr 672: Apollo Beach, Cr 672 West: Apollo Beach and Manatee Viewing Centre.
Naples
25.2 mi in
|
~31m
Cr 672: Apollo Beach
40.1 mi in
|
~48m
Cr 672 West: Apollo Beach
40.7 mi in
|
~50m
Manatee Viewing Centre
40.7 mi in
|
~50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 21.1 mi | 22m |
| I 75 | 13.8 mi | 14m |
| Kathleen Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Tamiami Trail | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Big Bend Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Apollo Beach Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Sikes Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Lime Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 21.1 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Apollo Beach, FL.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
422 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Lake Morton Drive
3
Turn right onto South Massachusetts Avenue
236 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Massachusetts Avenue
4
Turn left onto East Lime Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Lime Street
5
Turn right onto FL 563
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Sikes Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on FL 539
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Kathleen Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
8
Merge onto I 4
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 9
Toward I 75: Ocala, Naples
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South: Naples
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 75
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 246
Toward CR 672: Apollo Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CR 672 West: Apollo Beach, Manatee Viewing Centre
14
Turn straight onto CR 672
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Big Bend Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto US 41
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Tamiami Trail
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Apollo Beach Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Apollo Beach Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Fairway Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Fairway Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
Fairway Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Lakeland, FL · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Lakeland, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apollo Beach, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Apollo Beach, 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
$7.23 one way
$14.45 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.44 | $16.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Apollo Beach, FL
Late night in Apollo Beach on Saturday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
2 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
58m 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 Lakeland, FL to Apollo Beach, FL covers 45.4 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 4, I 75, Kathleen Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 miles from Lakeland, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.23 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 short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 45.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lakeland, FL and Apollo Beach, FL, road signs point toward Naples, Cr 672: Apollo Beach, Cr 672 West: Apollo Beach and Manatee Viewing Centre.
Yes. Nearby national parks include De Soto National Memorial.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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