De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
296.9 mi
478 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
16 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Land O' Lakes, FL
Jose Valverde
Miami, FL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Land O' Lakes, FL to Miami, FL covers 296.9 miles and takes about 5h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Florida's Turnpike, Port Everglades Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 256.6 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.26 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
148.4 miles from Land O' Lakes, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
Miami is a major city in the southeastern United States and the second most populous city in Florida. The Greater Miami metropolitan area is the largest in the state with an estimated population just under 6.1 million (2021), which makes it the 9th most populous metro area in the United States. Although tourists generally consider Miami Beach to be part of Miami, it is its own municipality. Miami Beach sits on a barrier island east of Miami and Biscayne Bay. It is home to lots of beach resorts, and is one of the most popular spring break party destinations in the world. This article only covers the city of Miami, not Miami Beach.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 296.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 5h 30m highway drive covering 296.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Florida's Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 256.6 miles on I 75.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Florida's Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near I 75.
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 21 significant decision points across 296.9 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 8.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 264.1 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward South I 75: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 441: Orlando, Miami, Florida's Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Northwest 8th Street, Port of Miami
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Land O' Lakes, FL and Miami, FL, road signs point toward Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Turnpike, Orlando, Miami South, Orlando North and Florida's Turnpike South.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
Miami South
Orlando North
Florida's Turnpike South
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 256.6 mi | 4h 35m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Port Everglades Expressway | 9 mi | 10m |
| I 95 | 9 mi | 11m |
| State Road 54 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Land O' Lakes Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Miami Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| State Road 56 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Land O' Lakes, FL and Miami, FL.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Bell Lake Road
Turn left onto US 41
Turn left onto FL 54
Continue on FL 56
Continue on FL 56
Turn slight right
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
Take the exit
Turn straight onto SR 84
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto Northwest 8th Street
Turn right onto North Miami Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 65 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.4 miles or 2h 43m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miami, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Land O' Lakes, 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 Land O' Lakes, FL
This is one driving day of about 296.9 miles and 5h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.4 mi from Land O' Lakes, FL · 2h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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.
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148.4 miles from Land O' Lakes, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 256.6 miles.
The final approach into Miami, 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 Miami, 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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$47.26 one way
$94.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $51.41 | $102.82 |
| premium | $4.72 | $55.21 | $110.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.55 | $131.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
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
$47
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Station
Fort Myers, Florida
1 DCFC
Mercedes-Benz Charging Station
Venice, Florida
1 DCFC
7Charge Charging Station
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
FPL EVolution Charging Station
Venice, Florida
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Nokomis, Florida
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Naples, Florida
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Fort Myers, Florida
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Fort Myers, Florida
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.1 | 1 | $31.17 | $14.25 |
| Efficient EV | 74.2 | 0 | $25.98 | $11.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.8 | 1 | $41.57 | $19.00 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Land O' Lakes on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Miami on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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