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Trip from Palm Bay, FL to Highland City, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 22m

Distance

109.7 mi

177 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 13m ★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 17m

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 Palm Bay, FL, FL

Palm Bay, FL

Hetvi Patel

Downtown Highland City, FL, FL

Highland City, FL

Larry Milligan

Trip Overview

The drive from Palm Bay, FL to Highland City, FL covers 109.7 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on New Haven Avenue, I 4, Southern Connector Extension for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on New Haven Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.46 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.

Midpoint

54.9 miles from Palm Bay, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New Haven Avenue 37 mi 44m
I 4 22.7 mi 24m
Southern Connector Extension 8.2 mi 9m
North Combee Road 7.6 mi 13m
Florida's Turnpike 5.5 mi 5m
Central Florida GreeneWay 5.2 mi 5m
Palm Bay Road Northeast 4 mi 7m
Bartow Road 3.7 mi 5m
Longest stretch: New Haven Avenue — 37 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palm Bay, FL and Highland City, FL.

1

Start on Palm Bay Road Northeast

4.0 mi · 7 min · Palm Bay Road Northeast
2

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 North: Daytona Beach
3

Merge onto I 95

3.6 mi · 3 min · I 95
4

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 180 Toward US 192: West Melbourne, Melbourne Use the slight right lane.
5

Continue on US 192

37 mi · 44 min · New Haven Avenue
Use the right lane.
6

Continue on US 192; US 441

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
7

Continue on US 192; US 441

2.6 mi · 5 min · 13th Street
8

Continue on US 192; US 441

0.2 mi · 21 sec · East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
9

Continue on US 192; US 441

3.3 mi · 5 min · Bronson Highway
Use the right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward Ocala, Miami, Florida's Turnpike Toll
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike North: Ocala
12

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

5.5 mi · 5 min · Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 251 Toward FL 417 Toll: Tampa, Daytona Beach Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto FL 417 Toll

5.2 mi · 5 min · Central Florida GreeneWay
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 417 Toll

8.2 mi · 9 min · Southern Connector Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 4

23 mi · 24 min · I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 38 Toward FL 33: Polk City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn left onto FL 33

415 ft · 6 sec · Commonwealth Avenue
20

Continue on FL 33

1.6 mi · 2 min · Lakeland Hills Boulevard
21

Turn left onto FL 659

7.6 mi · 13 min · North Combee Road
Use the left lane.
22

Turn left onto US 98

3.6 mi · 5 min · Bartow Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
23

Continue on US 98

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Bartow Road
24

Arrive at destination

US 98

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 54.9 miles from Palm Bay, FL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 24 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 54.9 miles or 1h 13m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland City, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Palm Bay, 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 Palm Bay, FL

This is one driving day of about 109.7 miles and 2h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Palm Bay, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Haven Avenue for about 37 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orlando, FL

55 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

Kissimmee, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Poinciana, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.9 miles from Palm Bay, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Foxtail Coffee & Kelly’s Ice Cream - Celebration at 192

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kissimmee, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 70.5

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+14076760211

Visit website

Susana's Cafe - Kissimmee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.9

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14072012627

Visit website

Café Barista - Kissimmee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.9

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14079351384

Visit website

CFS Coffee For The Soul, Celebration

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 70.5

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+14072719145

Visit website

XO Coffee Shop

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 62.7

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14075075607

Visit website

Foxtail Coffee & Kelly’s Ice Cream - Celebration at 192

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 70.5

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+14076760211

Visit website

Castro's Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 94.1

Polk City, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524670378

Visit website

Black & Brew

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 101.9

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18635009500

Visit website

Pressed Books & Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 101.9

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+18636033166

Visit website

World of Coffee

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62.7

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 8:30 am–9 pm

+14072399262

Concord Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 101.9

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Foxtail Coffee Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 62.7

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14073900219

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 109.7

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

White Gator Swamp

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 62.7

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14078555496

Visit website

Disney's Hollywood Studios

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 70.5

Bay Lake, Florida

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+14079395277

Visit website

Disney’s Boardwalk

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 70.5

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14079395277

Visit website

Discovery Cove

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour Very expen mile 62.7

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+14075134600

Visit website

The Land

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 70.5

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+14079395277

Visit website

Dare 2 Escape - Escape Room Games

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 70.5

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 11:30 am–10:30 pm

+14075070018

Visit website

Wallaby Ranch

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 78.4

Davenport, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–7 pm

+18635574600

Visit website

Bonnet Springs Park

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 101.9

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 6 am–7:30 pm

+18637327000

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 96.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
8 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward US 192: West Melbourne, Melbourne

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 180 Toward US 192: West Melbourne, Melbourne
8
59.1 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Take the exit toward FL 417 Toll: Tampa, Daytona Beach

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 251 Toward FL 417 Toll: Tampa, Daytona Beach
8
59.4 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Keep slight left at fork toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World
6
65.5 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
96.4 mi into trip | ~2h in

Take the exit toward FL 33: Polk City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 38 Toward FL 33: Polk City

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.46 one way

$34.92 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $18.99 $37.99
premium $4.72 $20.40 $40.80
diesel $5.61 $24.22 $48.44

Estimated Tolls: $0.38

Florida's Turnpike (5.5 mi) $0.38

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

$17

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.9 0 $11.52 $5.27
Efficient EV 27.4 0 $9.60 $4.39
EV Truck/SUV 43.9 0 $15.36 $7.02

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Palm Bay, FL

Afternoon in Palm Bay on Saturday

Local time

2:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Highland City, FL

Afternoon in Highland City on Saturday

Local time

2:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

15 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 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

109.7 mi in 2h 22m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on New Haven Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 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 15 significant decision points across 109.7 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 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Palm Bay, FL and Highland City, FL, road signs point toward Melbourne, Ocala, Miami, Florida's Turnpike Toll, Florida's Turnpike North: Ocala and Daytona Beach - among others.

Melbourne

8 mi in | ~12m

Ocala

52.9 mi in | ~1h 10m

Miami

52.9 mi in | ~1h 10m

Florida's Turnpike Toll

52.9 mi in | ~1h 10m

Florida's Turnpike North: Ocala

53 mi in | ~1h 11m

Daytona Beach

59.1 mi in | ~1h 18m

Disney World

59.4 mi in | ~1h 18m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 109.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 37 miles on New Haven Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.38 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Highland City, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Highland City, FL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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