Pembroke Pines to Citrus Hills is 284.7 miles and takes about 5h 24m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, primarily following the Florida's Turnpike for most of its length. Given its highway-focused profile and manageable duration, this route is best suited for a single-day journey. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the highway, making it a straightforward drive for those prioritizing efficiency. The estimated fuel cost of $45 offers a good starting point for budgeting.
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
142.4 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
258.3 mi
4h 40m
FL 44
21.2 mi
30m
South Kensington Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
North Citrus Hills Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi
1m
East Reehill Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Glassboro Court
0.3 mi
1m
Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 258.3 mi, about 4h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pembroke Pines, FL and Citrus Hills, FL.
1
Start on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi·58 sec·Southwest 8th Street
2
Continue on Southwest 64th Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 64th Way
3
Turn right onto SR 820
0.2 mi·31 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, OrlandoUse the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
6
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
258 mi·4 hr 40 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 307Toward FL 44: Inverness, WildwoodUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto FL 44
15 mi·20 min·FL 44
Use the left lane.
9
Turn slight right onto FL 44
6.2 mi·10 min·FL 44
10
Turn right onto South Kensington Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·South Kensington Avenue
11
Continue on East Reehill Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Reehill Street
12
Turn right onto North Citrus Hills Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·North Citrus Hills Boulevard
13
Turn left onto East Glassboro Court
0.3 mi·1 min·East Glassboro Court
14
Arrive at destination
East Glassboro Court
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 5 hours and 24 minutes, this trip is comfortably achievable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave Pembroke Pines in the morning to take advantage of daylight and ensure you arrive in Citrus Hills with ample time. The longest stretch of driving is 258.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so plan for at least one substantial stop about halfway through to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long stretch on the turnpike, as services can be spaced out.
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 142.4 miles from Pembroke Pines, FL, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258.3 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 63 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.4 miles or 2h 37m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Citrus Hills, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pembroke Pines, 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 Pembroke Pines, FL
This is one driving day of about 284.7 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Pembroke Pines, 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.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 258.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 260.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Florida's Turnpike North, Orlando
5
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in|Florida's Turnpike
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
259.7 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 44: Inverness, Wildwood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 307
Toward FL 44: Inverness, Wildwood
5
260.7 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|FL 44
Turn left onto FL 44
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.32 one way
$90.63 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$49.30
$98.59
premium
$4.72
$52.94
$105.88
diesel
$5.61
$62.86
$125.72
Estimated Tolls: $18.08
Florida's Turnpike
(258.3 mi)$18.08
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
$45
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.4
1
$29.89
$13.67
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.91
$11.39
EV Truck/SUV
113.9
1
$39.86
$18.22
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Pembroke Pines, FL
Afternoon
in Pembroke Pines on Saturday
Local time
3:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
E 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Citrus Hills, FL
Afternoon
in Citrus Hills on Saturday
Local time
3:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
16 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
5h 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive for 98% of the journey, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for almost the entire 284.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 258.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the majority of the route is on the turnpike, it does transition to FL 44 and South Kensington Avenue closer to your destination. Expect a consistent, efficient pace for the bulk of this trip, with minimal deviations from the main thoroughfares.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 258.3 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 44. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 284.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pembroke Pines, FL to Citrus Hills, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Wildwood along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 284.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 258.3 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.08 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Citrus Hills, FL before the return drive.
