Origin
Lakeland, FL
Night in Lakeland on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, FL to Lake Wales, FL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
42m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Wales, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 28.5-mile drive from Lakeland to Lake Wales in Florida is easily manageable as a day trip, taking only about 42 minutes. The route primarily utilizes FL 60 and Bartow Road, with a highway share of 52%, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. You'll be traveling within the same region of Florida, so no significant environmental shifts are expected. This is a straightforward journey perfect for a quick relocation or an easy addition to a larger itinerary.
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
14.3 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about half of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 14.8 miles along FL 60. As you transition from FL 60 to Bartow Road and then West Central Avenue, the character of the drive will likely change, moving from potentially faster highway speeds to more local road conditions. This blend means you'll experience varying traffic patterns and speed limits throughout the 42-minute trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 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 14.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lake Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 98 / Bartow Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Lake Avenue
Turn left onto South Lake Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 98 / Bartow Road
Turn right onto US 98 / Bartow Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
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.
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
5
27.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
28.5 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
East Stuart Avenue
Turn right onto East Stuart Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| FL 60 | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| Bartow Road | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| West Central Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Broadway Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Van Fleet Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Lime Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 27 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Scenic Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
FL 60
— 14.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Lake Wales, FL.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
279 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto South Lake Avenue
269 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Lake Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Lime Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Lime Street
4
Turn right onto US 98
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
FL 60
8
Continue on FL 60
11 mi
·
13 min
·
FL 60
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on FL 60
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
FL 60
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
280 ft
·
11 sec
12
Turn left onto US 27
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 27
13
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Central Avenue
14
Turn left onto FL 17
284 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Scenic Highway
15
Turn right onto East Stuart Avenue
113 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Stuart Avenue
16
Turn right
226 ft
·
16 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 42-minute duration and 28.5-mile distance, this trip offers great flexibility. You can leave Lakeland at your leisure without needing to worry about splitting the drive. The estimated fuel cost is a low $5, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing to avoid unnecessary stops. Keep an eye on road signs as you transition between FL 60, Bartow Road, and West Central Avenue to ensure you stay on the most direct path to Lake Wales. Enjoy the ease of this quick Florida hop.
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 14.3 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.8 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 28.5 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.3 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Wales, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Lakeland, FL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeland, FL
This is one driving day of about 28.5 miles and 42m.
At 28.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on FL 60 for about 14.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.3 mi from Lakeland, FL · 22m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.3 miles from Lakeland, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Wales, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Lake Wales, 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
$4.54 one way
$9.07 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $4.93 | $9.87 |
| premium | $4.72 | $5.30 | $10.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Lake Wales, FL
Night in Lake Wales on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
42m 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 Lake Wales, FL covers 28.5 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are FL 60, Bartow Road, West Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.3 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 $4.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 98 / Bartow Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lakeland, FL to Lake Wales, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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