The drive from Lakeland, FL to Tamiami, FL covers 217.5 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 27, FL 60, Bartow Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 179.4 miles on US 27.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.7 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 217.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 38m highway drive covering 217.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 27 and FL 60. The longest continuous stretch is about 179.4 miles on US 27.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 27 is the longest continuous segment at about 179.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 217.5 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 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.2 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
6
198.2 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
214.6 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 836 Toll East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 836 Toll East
8
215.2 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 41 West: Homestead, Key West, Florida’s Turnpike South, Southwest 8th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 41 West: Homestead, Key West, Florida...
8
215.3 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 41 West: Southwest 8th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward US 41 West: Southwest 8th Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lakeland, FL to Tamiami, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Avon Park along the way.
Avon Park
27.1 mi in|~38m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
179.4 mi
3h 45m
FL 60
14.8 mi
18m
Bartow Road
10.7 mi
16m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
7.3 mi
7m
Southwest 8th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
1m
East Lime Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 179.4 mi, about 3h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Tamiami, 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 ParkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
272 ft·7 sec
12
Merge onto US 27
23 mi·28 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 27; US 98
10 mi·14 min·US 27; US 98
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 27; US 98
55 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 27; US 98
Use the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 27; FL 78
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 27; FL 78
16
Turn slight right
338 ft·4 sec
17
Continue on US 27
32 mi·42 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 27; FL 80
40 mi·48 min·US 27; FL 80
19
Continue on US 27
10 mi·12 min·US 27
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
8.6 mi·11 min·US 27
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
22
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
7.3 mi·7 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward SR 836 Toll EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward SR 836 Toll EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward US 41 West: Homestead, Key West, Florida’s Turnpike South, Southwest 8th StreetUse the straight / right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 25AToward US 41 West: Southwest 8th StreetUse the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto US 41
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest 8th Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto Southwest 125th Avenue
0.1 mi·41 sec·Southwest 125th Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto Southwest 9th Terrace
136 ft·5 sec·Southwest 9th Terrace
30
Arrive at destination
Southwest 9th Terrace
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 108.7 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 179.4 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 48 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.7 miles or 2h 21m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tamiami, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakeland, 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 Lakeland, FL
This is one driving day of about 217.5 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Lakeland, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 179.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.7 mi from Lakeland, FL
· 2h 21m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 217.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.62 one way
$69.24 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$37.66
$75.32
premium
$4.72
$40.44
$80.89
diesel
$5.61
$48.02
$96.04
Estimated Tolls: $0.44
Homestead Extension
(7.3 mi)$0.44
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
$35
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.3
0
$22.84
$10.44
Efficient EV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
EV Truck/SUV
87
1
$30.45
$13.92
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lakeland, FL
Afternoon
in Lakeland on Friday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tamiami, FL
Afternoon
in Tamiami on Friday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°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.
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
17 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
4h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Tamiami, FL covers 217.5 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 27, FL 60, Bartow 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 108.7 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 $34.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 217.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.2 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lakeland, FL to Tamiami, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Avon Park along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Biscayne National Park.
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.
