Origin
Palm Bay, FL
Morning in Palm Bay on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
152.3 mi
245 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palm Bay, FL
Hetvi Patel
Avon Park, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Palm Bay to Avon Park covers 152.3 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $25 on fuel for the trip. The route primarily utilizes Florida's Turnpike, I-95, and Babcock Street Northeast to navigate through the Florida region. Whether you are heading inland for business or a change of scenery, the trip is straightforward and manageable for a solo driver or a small group. It serves as an efficient connection between the coastal area of Palm Bay and the interior landscape of Avon Park.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.2 miles from Palm Bay, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 152.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
With 92% of this trip spent on highways, the route is designed for steady, consistent cruising rather than winding backroads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 97.4 miles along Florida's Turnpike. The experience shifts from the initial local navigation on Babcock Street Northeast to the high-speed corridors of the turnpike and I-95. Expect a functional, interstate-heavy drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical turns or scenic detours. Staying alert is key, as the vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent maintaining highway speeds through the Florida landscape.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
8 ft
Total Descent
34 ft
Highest Point
30 ft
~32.6 mi in
Elevation Range
26 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 152.3 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 5.1 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 49 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn sharp left toward I 95 South: Miami
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FL 70: Okeechobee, Fort Pierce
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 70 West: Okeechobee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Miami, Florida's Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SR 818: Griffin Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Palm Bay, FL and Avon Park, FL, road signs point toward Fort Pierce, Miami and Florida's Turnpike South.
Fort Pierce
Miami
Florida's Turnpike South
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 97.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 95 | 43.4 mi | 46m |
| Babcock Street Northeast | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Griffin Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Palm Bay Road Northeast | 2 mi | 4m |
| Okeechobee Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Malabar Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 27th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Palm Bay, FL and Avon Park, FL.
Start on Palm Bay Road Northeast
Turn left onto FL 507
Turn right onto FL 514
Take the ramp
Turn sharp left
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto FL 70
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 818
Turn slight left
Turn left onto Southwest 27th Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a sub-three-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While you only strictly need one stop to complete the trip comfortably, taking a break during your 152.3-mile journey helps keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer stretches of the turnpike, as services can be spaced out. Because the route relies so heavily on major thoroughfares, checking local traffic conditions on I-95 before you pull out of your driveway can save you significant time. Planning your single stop in the middle of that 97.4-mile turnpike stretch is a smart way to break up the monotony of the highway driving.
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.
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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.2 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avon Park, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 152.3 miles and 2h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.2 mi from Palm Bay, FL · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 76.2 miles from Palm Bay, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.4 miles.
The final approach into Avon Park, 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 Avon Park, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$24.24 one way
$48.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $26.37 | $52.74 |
| premium | $4.72 | $28.32 | $56.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.63 | $67.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.82
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
$24
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.7 | 0 | $15.99 | $7.31 |
| Efficient EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.33 | $6.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.9 | 0 | $21.32 | $9.75 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Palm Bay on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Avon Park on Friday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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