Origin
Longwood, FL
Afternoon in Longwood on Monday
Local time
4:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
125.8 mi
202 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longwood, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 125.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Grant Street, I 4, I 4 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.9 miles from Longwood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 125.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Grant Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL is easy. At 2h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 4 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| FL 414 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| FL 414 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maitland Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Apopka Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John Land Apopka Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Grant Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longwood, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on Palmetto Avenue
72 ft
·
5 sec
·
Palmetto Avenue
2
Turn right onto Grant Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grant Street
3
Turn right
1.7 mi
·
3 min
4
Continue straight
1.3 mi
·
2 min
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 4: Daytona Beach, Tampa
397 ft
·
10 sec
·
I 4: Daytona Beach, Tampa
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 4 West: Tampa
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 4 West: Tampa
7
Merge slight left
3.5 mi
·
4 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward FL 414: Maitland Boulevard, Lake Destiny Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
FL 414: Maitland Boulevard, Lake Destiny Road
9
Keep slight left to continue on FL 414: Maitland Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
FL 414: Maitland Boulevard
10
Keep slight right to continue on FL 414 West: Maitland Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
FL 414 West: Maitland Boulevard
11
Merge slight left onto Maitland Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Maitland Boulevard
12
Continue on Apopka Expressway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Apopka Expressway
13
Continue on John Land Apopka Expressway
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
John Land Apopka Expressway
14
Take the exit slight right toward FL 429 South Toll: Tampa
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
FL 429 South Toll: Tampa
15
Merge slight left onto Western Beltway
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Western Beltway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Florida’s Turnpike, Miami, Ocala
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Florida’s Turnpike, Miami, Ocala
17
Keep slight right to continue on Ocala, North Florida’s Turnpike
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ocala, North Florida’s Turnpike
18
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
40 mi
·
42 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
19
Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
20
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
49 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward CR 234: Micanopy
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CR 234: Micanopy
22
Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast County Road 234
23
Turn left
420 ft
·
15 sec
24
Turn straight
8.0 mi
·
9 min
25
Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Williston Road
26
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
28
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Main Street
29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Main Street
30
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.9 miles from Longwood, FL, or about 1h 3m 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.9 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 Longwood, 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 Longwood, FL
This is one driving day of about 125.8 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Longwood, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.9 mi from Longwood, FL · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.9 miles from Longwood, 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
$21.01 one way
$42.03 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $22.76 | $45.53 |
| premium | $4.90 | $24.25 | $48.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.95 | $55.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.21 | $6.04 |
| Efficient EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.01 | $5.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.3 | 0 | $17.61 | $8.05 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Monday
Local time
4:27 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
6 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
2h 6m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL covers 125.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Grant Street, I 4, I 4 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.9 miles from Longwood, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL is easy. At 2h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Longwood, FL to Gainesville, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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