Origin
Lakeland, FL
Afternoon in Lakeland on Saturday
Local time
4:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, FL to Cutler, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 58m
Distance
232.4 mi
374 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 45m
★
6 AM
4h 58m
8 AM
5h 25m
10 AM
5h 8m
12 PM
5h 5m
3 PM
5h 9m
5 PM
5h 24m
8 PM
4h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Cutler, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakeland, FL to Cutler, FL covers 232.4 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 27, Express Lanes, I 75 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 160.8 miles on US 27. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.99 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
116.2 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 160.8 mi | 3h 21m |
| Express Lanes | 15.7 mi | 17m |
| I 75 | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| FL 60 | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| Bartow Road | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| Palmetto Expressway | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| Southwest 77th Avenue | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| Old Cutler Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 160.8 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Cutler, 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
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 27
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South: Miami, Fort Lauderdale
22
Merge onto I 75
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 75
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 75
Toward Miami
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Express Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
26
Merge onto Express Lanes
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Express Lanes
27
Merge onto SR 826
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Palmetto Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 826
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Palmetto Expressway
Toward SR 826 South: Palmetto Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto US 1
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Dixie Highway
30
Turn left onto Southwest 104th Street
526 ft
·
25 sec
·
Southwest 104th Street
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto Southwest 77th Avenue
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Southwest 77th Avenue
Use the right lane.
32
Turn left onto Southwest 152nd Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Southwest 152nd Street
33
Enter roundabout onto Old Cutler Road
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Old Cutler Road
34
Continue on Old Cutler Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Cutler Road
35
Turn right onto Southwest 168th Street
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
Southwest 168th Street
36
Arrive at destination
Southwest 168th 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 116.2 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.8 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 51 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.2 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cutler, 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 232.4 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 160.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.2 miles from Lakeland, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 160.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 224.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
188.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples
6
188.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Miami, Fort Lauderdale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South: Miami, Fort Lauderdale
7
193.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Miami
7
224.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 42m in
|
SR 826 / Palmetto Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 826 / Palmetto Expressway toward SR 826 South: Palmetto Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward SR 826 South: Palmetto Expressway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.99 one way
$73.98 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $40.24 | $80.48 |
| premium | $4.72 | $43.21 | $86.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.31 | $102.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.40 | $11.16 |
| Efficient EV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.34 | $9.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93 | 1 | $32.54 | $14.87 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Destination
Cutler, FL
Afternoon in Cutler on Saturday
Local time
4:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
7 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 58m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 232.4
Caution: Boater Awareness
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
232.4 mi in 4h 58m, mostly highway — 160.8 mi of that is on US 27.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 160.8 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and Express Lanes. 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 Effort
10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 232.4 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 188.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
196 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
141 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
196 ft
Elevation Range
185 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Cutler, FL, road signs point toward Avon Park, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Miami and Express Lanes.
Avon Park
27.1 mi in
|
~38m
Fort Lauderdale
188.3 mi in
|
~4h 1m
Naples
188.3 mi in
|
~4h 1m
Miami
193.9 mi in
|
~4h 8m
|
via I 75
Express Lanes
204.5 mi in
|
~4h 19m
About the Cities
Starting in Lakeland, FL
Full guide →Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 232.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 160.8 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cutler, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 188.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Cutler, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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