How far is Gonzalez, FL from Lakeland, FL?

The driving distance from Gonzalez, FL to Lakeland, FL is about 461.9 miles (743.3 km), with a travel time of about 08h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 366.5 miles (589.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
461.88 mi
08h 40m
Flight
366.56 mi
589.92 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gonzalez.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
366.56 mi
Kilometers
589.92 km
Flight Time
00h 44m

Driving Distance

Road route
461.88 mi
Kilometers
743.32 km
Drive Time
08h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lakeland
Thu, Apr 23, 10:36 AM EDT
Return by in Gonzalez
Thu, Apr 23, 6:16 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gonzalez
2026-04-23T00:56
Arrive Lakeland
Thu, Apr 23, 9:36 AM CDT
Route Timing
08h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:40 PM to 5:10 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gonzalez
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Greenville
FL

Town in Madison County, Florida, United States

From Gonzalez
231 mi
04h 20m
To Lakeland
231 mi
04h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SE
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gonzalez and Lakeland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gonzalez and Lakeland.

  1. 1

    Start on 3rd Avenue

    25 m · 9 sec · 3rd Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Old Chemstrand Road

    1655 ft · 42 sec · Old Chemstrand Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left

    5.5 mi · 10 min

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    775 ft · 20 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right

    285.7 mi · 5 hr 7 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa

    1959 ft · 37 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    114.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 470: Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee

    2015 ft · 51 sec

  9. 9

    Turn sharp left

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1598 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right

    34.9 mi · 47 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto US Highway 98 North

    13.9 mi · 20 min · US Highway 98 North

  13. 13

    Continue on North Florida Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Florida Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto East Memorial Boulevard

    1105 ft · 37 sec · East Memorial Boulevard

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Massachusetts Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · North Massachusetts Avenue

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Morton Drive

    1039 ft · 32 sec · Lake Morton Drive

  17. 17

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    129 m · 19 sec · East Walnut Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Walnut Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gonzalez and Lakeland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
18 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Old Chemstrand Road
286 mi · 62%
I-75 South
115 mi · 25%
US Highway 98 North
13.9 mi · 3%
North Florida Avenue
1.68 mi
North Massachusetts Avenue
1.04 mi
FL 470
0.38 mi
Longest Stretch

Old Chemstrand Road

Merge slight right

286 mi · 05h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
08h 40m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95.4 mi
366.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greenville
04h 20m from Gonzalez
Leave By
6:40 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gonzalez and Mostly Sunny near Lakeland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gonzalez to Lakeland?

The road trip is about 461.9 miles (743.3 km) and usually takes 08h 40m 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?

Greenville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 231 miles from Gonzalez and 231 miles from Lakeland.

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

The direct path is about 366.5 miles (589.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 95.4 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 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 $67.61 one way or $135.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 144.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Gonzalez and Lakeland, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gonzalez and Mostly Sunny near Lakeland.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gonzalez and Lakeland. Straight-line distance: 366.56 mi (589.92 km).

Gonzalez

#1 Gonzalez

Census designated place

Population13,273
Coordinates30.5815800, -87.2913600
Altitude46
CountryUnited States
Lakeland

#2 Lakeland

The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.

Population115,283
Coordinates28.0394700, -81.9498000
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
Start: Gonzalez (-87.29136, 30.58158)
End: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 743 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.3 gal
61.7 L · about $67.61
Round trip
$135.22
32.6 gal · 123.4 L
Estimated CO2
144.9 kg one way
Round trip: 289.7 kg / 639 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $67.61 $135.22
Mid-grade $4.60 $74.91 $149.83
Premium $4.90 $79.80 $159.61
Diesel $4.35 $70.91 $141.81

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Gonzalez, FL and Lakeland, FL. The current time in Gonzalez is 00:56:47, although it is 01:56:47 in Lakeland.

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.