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Trip from Lakeland, FL to Westwood Lake, FL

Drive Time

4h 41m

Distance

219.6 mi

353 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 28m ★
6 AM
4h 42m
8 AM
5h 8m
10 AM
4h 51m
12 PM
4h 48m
3 PM
4h 52m
5 PM
5h 7m
8 PM
4h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lakeland, FL, FL

Lakeland, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Downtown Westwood Lake, FL, FL

Westwood Lake, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Trip Overview

The drive from Lakeland, FL to Westwood Lake, FL covers 219.6 miles and takes about 4h 41m 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, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike 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 $36.68 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

109.8 miles from Lakeland, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 41m highway drive covering 219.6 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 29 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 0.5 miles in near US 98 / Bartow Road.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 219.6 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 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; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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 right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

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.
8
218.1 mi into trip | ~4h 37m in

Take the exit toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road

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 23 Toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road

Towns Along This Route

Between Lakeland, FL and Westwood Lake, FL, road signs point toward Avon Park, Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead and Key West.

Avon Park

27.1 mi in | ~38m

Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead

206.9 mi in | ~4h 24m

Key West

206.9 mi in | ~4h 24m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 27 179.4 mi 3h 45m
FL 60 14.8 mi 18m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike 11 mi 12m
Bartow Road 10.7 mi 16m
Southwest 40th 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 Westwood Lake, 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 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

11 mi · 12 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 23 Toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Turn left onto SR 976

0.7 mi · 1 min · Southwest 40th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25

Turn right onto Southwest 112th Avenue

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Southwest 112th Avenue
26

Turn left onto Southwest 41st Terrace

258 ft · 15 sec · Southwest 41st Terrace
27

Turn right onto Southwest 111th Avenue

201 ft · 14 sec · Southwest 111th Avenue
28

Turn left onto Southwest 42nd Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Southwest 42nd Street
29

Arrive at destination

Southwest 42nd Street

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 109.8 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 2h 22m 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 109.8 miles or 2h 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 3h 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Westwood Lake, 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 219.6 miles and 4h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 109.8 mi from Lakeland, FL · 2h 22m into the drive

Downtown Eagle Lake, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eagle Lake, FL

110 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

Eagle Lake, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bonita Springs, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 109.8 miles from Lakeland, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 179.4 miles.

Arriving in Westwood Lake, FL

The final approach into Westwood Lake, 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 Westwood Lake, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Biscayne National Park

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...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour Free near mile 219.6
Caution: Boater Awareness
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.68 one way

$73.37 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $39.74 $79.47
premium $4.90 $42.33 $84.66
diesel $5.64 $48.79 $97.58

Estimated Tolls: $0.66

Homestead Extension (11 mi) $0.66

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

$37

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.9 0 $23.06 $10.54
Efficient EV 54.9 0 $19.22 $8.78
EV Truck/SUV 87.8 1 $30.74 $14.05

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Lakeland, FL

Morning in Lakeland on Monday

Local time

11:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Westwood Lake, FL

Morning in Westwood Lake on Monday

Local time

11:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

E 14 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Along the Route

63°F

Eagle Lake, FL

110 mi in

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

18 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 41m 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 Westwood Lake, FL covers 219.6 miles and takes about 4h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 27, FL 60, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.8 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 $36.68 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 17 significant decision points across 219.6 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 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; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Lakeland, FL and Westwood Lake, FL, road signs point toward Avon Park, Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead and Key West.

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Return Trip

Westwood Lake, FL to Lakeland, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

219.9 mi 4h 42m

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