How far is Daytona Beach, FL from Gainesville, FL?

The driving distance from Daytona Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL is about 98.5 miles (158.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.1 miles (135.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
98.47 mi
02h 04m
Flight
84.06 mi
135.28 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Daytona Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.06 mi
Kilometers
135.28 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.47 mi
Kilometers
158.47 km
Drive Time
02h 04m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gainesville
Sat, Apr 18, 7:55 AM EDT
Return by in Daytona Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 10:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Daytona Beach
2026-04-18T05:51
Arrive Gainesville
Sat, Apr 18, 7:55 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:05 AM to 12:05 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:20 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Daytona Beach
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
East Palatka
FL

Census-designated place in Putnam County, Florida

From Daytona Beach
48.5 mi
01h 02m
To Gainesville
50 mi
01h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
94°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Daytona Beach and Gainesville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Daytona Beach and Gainesville.

  1. 1

    Start on International Speedway Boulevard

    10 m · 8 sec · International Speedway Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Ridgewood Avenue

    4 mi · 9 min · North Ridgewood Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on South Yonge Street

    2 mi · 4 min · South Yonge Street

  4. 4

    Continue on US Highway 1

    4.9 mi · 7 min · US Highway 1

  5. 5

    Continue on Us Highway 1

    608 ft · 14 sec · Us Highway 1

  6. 6

    Continue on US Highway 1

    6.5 mi · 8 min · US Highway 1

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    46 m · 2 sec

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout

    6 mi · 8 min

  9. 9

    Turn right

    23.7 mi · 31 min

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right

    5.7 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    1719 ft · 1 min · 9th Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Crill Avenue

    42.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Crill Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on East University Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · East University Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    35 m · 3 sec · South Main Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Daytona Beach and Gainesville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Crill Avenue
42.6 mi · 43%
US Highway 1
23.2 mi · 24%
North Ridgewood Avenue
4.03 mi · 4%
South Yonge Street
2.04 mi · 2%
East University Avenue
1.07 mi · 1%
9th Street
0.33 mi
Longest Stretch

Crill Avenue

Continue on Crill Avenue

42.6 mi · 01h 01m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 04m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.4 mi
84.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Palatka
01h 02m from Daytona Beach
Leave By
2:20 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Daytona Beach and Mostly Sunny near Gainesville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Daytona Beach to Gainesville?

The road trip is about 98.5 miles (158.5 km) and usually takes 02h 04m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

East Palatka is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.5 miles from Daytona Beach and 50 miles from Gainesville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 84.1 miles (135.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:20 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.39 one way or $28.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Daytona Beach and Mostly Sunny near Gainesville.

Stop Ideas Near East Palatka

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around East Palatka, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to East Palatka.

RAIL

Palatka

4 mi away
220 North 11th Street
BUS

Waldo, Florida

57 mi away
14648 NE 147th Avenue
BUS

Gainesville, Florida

70 mi away
201 East University Ave.
BUS

Ocala, Florida

73 mi away
531 Northeast First Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Daytona Beach and Gainesville. Straight-line distance: 84.06 mi (135.28 km).

Daytona Beach

#1 Daytona Beach

The most populous city in Volusia County, Florida.

Population70,143
Coordinates29.2108100, -81.0228300
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Gainesville

#2 Gainesville

The third most populous city in Florida.

Population135,004
Coordinates29.6516300, -82.3248300
Altitude54
CountryUnited States
Start: International Speedway Boulevard (-81.022839, 29.210826)
End: South Main Street (-82.32501, 29.65163)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 158 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.47 gal
13.15 L · about $14.39
Round trip
$28.79
6.94 gal · 26.3 L
Estimated CO2
30.8 kg one way
Round trip: 61.7 kg / 136 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $14.39 $28.79
Mid-grade $4.60 $15.95 $31.90
Premium $4.90 $16.99 $33.98
Diesel $4.35 $15.09 $30.19

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Daytona Beach and Gainesville. The current time is 05:51:11.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.