How far is Fort Walton Beach, FL from Lakeland, FL?
The driving distance from Fort Walton Beach, FL to Lakeland, FL is about 426.9 miles (687 km), with a travel time of about 08h 11m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 325.9 miles (524.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08h 11m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Madison County, Florida, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Walton Beach and Lakeland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Walton Beach and Lakeland.
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1
Start on Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
47 m · 9 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
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2
Turn right onto Williams Street Northwest
1153 ft · 56 sec · Williams Street Northwest
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Beal Parkway Northwest
806 ft · 28 sec · Beal Parkway Northwest
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4
Turn sharp right onto Yacht Club Drive
1687 ft · 41 sec · Yacht Club Drive
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5
Turn left onto Eglin Parkway Northeast
7 mi · 12 min · Eglin Parkway Northeast
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6
Continue on Eglin Parkway
2.9 mi · 4 min · Eglin Parkway
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7
Continue on Government Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min · Government Avenue
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8
Turn left onto West John Sims Parkway
1.4 mi · 3 min · West John Sims Parkway
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9
Turn left onto North Partin Drive
17.4 mi · 23 min · North Partin Drive
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10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
2289 ft · 56 sec
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11
Merge slight left
226.1 mi · 4 hr 2 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
1959 ft · 37 sec
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13
Merge slight left
114.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward FL 470: Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee
2015 ft · 51 sec
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15
Turn sharp left
2.6 mi · 4 min
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16
At the end of the road, turn left
1598 ft · 27 sec
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17
Turn right
34.9 mi · 47 min
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18
Turn left onto US Highway 98 North
13.9 mi · 20 min · US Highway 98 North
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19
Continue on North Florida Avenue
1.7 mi · 3 min · North Florida Avenue
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20
Turn left onto East Memorial Boulevard
1105 ft · 37 sec · East Memorial Boulevard
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21
Turn right onto North Massachusetts Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · North Massachusetts Avenue
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22
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Morton Drive
1039 ft · 32 sec · Lake Morton Drive
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23
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
129 m · 19 sec · East Walnut Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Walnut Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Walton Beach and Lakeland.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 10 East
Merge slight left
226 mi · 04h 02m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Walton Beach and Sunny near Lakeland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Walton Beach to Lakeland?
The road trip is about 426.9 miles (687 km) and usually takes 08h 11m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Madison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 213.5 miles from Fort Walton Beach and 213.4 miles from Lakeland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 325.9 miles (524.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 101 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $62.47 one way or $124.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Walton Beach and Lakeland, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Walton Beach and Sunny near Lakeland.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Walton Beach and Lakeland. Straight-line distance: 325.93 mi (524.53 km).
#1 Fort Walton Beach
City in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
| Population | 22,396 |
| Coordinates | 30.4205900, -86.6170700 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lakeland
The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.
| Population | 115,283 |
| Coordinates | 28.0394700, -81.9498000 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 687 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $62.47 | $124.94 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $69.22 | $138.43 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $73.73 | $147.47 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $65.51 | $131.02 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.