Origin
Lighthouse Point, FL
Afternoon in Lighthouse Point on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lighthouse Point, FL to Gainesville, FL
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
304.1 mi
489 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 31m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Lighthouse Point, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 304.1 miles and takes about 4h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, Orlando, CR 234 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.80 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
152 miles from Lighthouse Point, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 44m drive with frequent turns across 304.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Florida's Turnpike is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 44m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lighthouse Point, FL to Gainesville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orlando | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR 234 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast County Road 234 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest Williston Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lighthouse Point, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on East Sample Road
4.9 mi
·
10 min
·
East Sample Road
2
Turn left onto Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando
456 ft
·
13 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando
3
Keep slight right to continue on Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North Toll
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North Toll
4
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
239 mi
·
4 hr 18 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
5
Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
6
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
49 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward CR 234: Micanopy
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CR 234: Micanopy
8
Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast County Road 234
9
Turn left
420 ft
·
15 sec
10
Turn straight
8.0 mi
·
9 min
11
Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Williston Road
12
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
14
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Main Street
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Main Street
16
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
17
Arrive at your destination
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 152 miles from Lighthouse Point, FL, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lighthouse Point, 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 Lighthouse Point, FL
This is one driving day of about 304.1 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lighthouse Point, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 152 mi from Lighthouse Point, FL · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 152 miles from Lighthouse Point, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gainesville, FL
The final approach into Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.80 one way
$101.60 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $55.03 | $110.05 |
| premium | $4.90 | $58.62 | $117.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $67.56 | $135.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.2 | 1 | $31.93 | $14.60 |
| Efficient EV | 76 | 0 | $26.61 | $12.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.6 | 1 | $42.57 | $19.46 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gainesville, FL
Afternoon in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
11 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
4h 44m 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 Lighthouse Point, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 304.1 miles and takes about 4h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, Orlando, CR 234. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152 miles from Lighthouse Point, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.80 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 straightforward 4h 44m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lighthouse Point, FL to Gainesville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lighthouse Point, FL to Gainesville, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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