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Trip from South Venice, FL to Lakeland, FL

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

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

97.3 mi

157 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

6 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m

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 South Venice, FL, FL

South Venice, FL

Arian Fernandez

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Lakeland, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from South Venice, FL to Lakeland, FL covers 97.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, I 4, FL 681 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.49 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

48.7 miles from South Venice, FL

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 59.2 mi 1h 4m
I 4 19 mi 20m
FL 681 4.3 mi 5m
Tamiami Trail 3.8 mi 6m
Memorial Boulevard 3.4 mi 5m
US 41 By-Pass 3 mi 5m
North Massachusetts Avenue 1 mi 2m
West Seminole Drive 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 59.2 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Venice, FL and Lakeland, FL.

1

Start on Hudson Road

168 ft · 12 sec · Hudson Road
2

Turn left onto Sterling Road

498 ft · 24 sec · Sterling Road
3

Turn right onto Jamaica Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Jamaica Road
4

Continue on West Seminole Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Seminole Drive
5

Turn left onto US 41

1.0 mi · 1 min · Tamiami Trail
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 41

3.0 mi · 5 min · US 41 By-Pass
Use the left lane.
7

Turn straight onto US 41

2.8 mi · 4 min · Tamiami Trail
8

Turn slight right onto FL 681

4.3 mi · 5 min · FL 681
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Merge onto I 75

59 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 1 min
Toward I 4: Tampa, Orlando Use the right lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 4 East: Orlando Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 4

19 mi · 20 min · I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 28 Toward Lakeland Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Turn straight onto FL 546

3.4 mi · 5 min · Memorial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15

Continue on US 92

0.2 mi · 28 sec · East Memorial Boulevard
16

Turn right onto North Massachusetts Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Massachusetts Avenue
Use the right lane.
17

At end of road, turn left onto Lake Morton Drive

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Lake Morton Drive
18

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

422 ft · 18 sec · East Walnut Street
19

Arrive at destination

East Walnut Street

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 48.7 miles from South Venice, FL, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.2 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 21 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving South Venice, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from South Venice, FL

This is one driving day of about 97.3 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from South Venice, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 59.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

county seat of Manatee County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bradenton, FL

49 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

Lake Sarasota, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apollo Beach, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.7 miles from South Venice, 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

Black & Brew

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lakeland, Florida

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 97.3

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18635009500

Visit website

Concord Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lakeland, Florida

0.8 mi

Pressed Books & Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lakeland, Florida

0.6 mi

Black & Brew

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 97.3

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18635009500

Visit website

Concord Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 97.3

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Pressed Books & Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 97.3

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+18636033166

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 7

Nokomis, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Mercedes-Benz Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336224743

Visit website

FPL EVolution Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 7

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Jule Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Venice, Florida

+18555675853

Visit website

Bonnet Springs Park

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 97.3

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 6 am–7:30 pm

+18637327000

Visit website

Big Cat Habitat

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 20.9

Sarasota, Florida

Hours: 12–4 pm

+19413716377

Visit website

Tom Bennett Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 34.8

Bradenton, Florida

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Visit website

Showmen's Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 62.6

Riverview, Florida

Hours: 12–5 pm

+18136713503

Visit website

Dinosaur World

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 83.4

Plant City, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18137179865

Visit website

Cracker Country

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 69.5

Tampa, Florida

+18136274225

Visit website

Oscar Scherer State Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 7

Osprey, Florida

+19414835956

Visit website

Basketball (John H. Marble Rec Center)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 27.8

Bradenton, Florida

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19417456030

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 96 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 41 / US 41 By-Pass

Keep slight right at fork onto US 41 / US 41 By-Pass

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
71.3 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward I 4: Tampa, 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 I 4: Tampa, Orlando
7
72.4 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 4 East: Orlando

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 4 East: Orlando
7
92 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward Lakeland

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 28 Toward Lakeland
6
96 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | North Massachusetts Avenue

Turn right onto North Massachusetts Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.49 one way

$30.98 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $16.85 $33.69
premium $4.72 $18.09 $36.18
diesel $5.61 $21.48 $42.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.2 0 $10.22 $4.67
Efficient EV 24.3 0 $8.51 $3.89
EV Truck/SUV 38.9 0 $13.62 $6.23

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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

South Venice, FL

Afternoon in South Venice on Saturday

Local time

2:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakeland, FL

Afternoon in Lakeland on Saturday

Local time

2:27 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

4 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

1h 59m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

De Soto National Memorial

De Soto National Memorial

National Memorial

In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 36.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

97.3 mi in 1h 59m, mostly highway — 59.2 mi of that is on I 75.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.2 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 41 / US 41 By-Pass.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.9 miles (US 41 / US 41 By-Pass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 South Venice, FL to Lakeland, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Orlando along the way.

Orlando

71.3 mi in | ~1h 26m

About the Cities

Arriving in Lakeland, FL

Full guide →

Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 97.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 59.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Lakeland, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (US 41 / US 41 By-Pass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakeland, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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