How far is Key West, FL from Gainesville, FL?
The driving distance from Key West, FL to Gainesville, FL is about 496.8 miles (799.6 km), with a travel time of about 08h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 353.7 miles (569.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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 09m.
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 Palm Beach County, Florida, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Key West and Gainesville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Key West and Gainesville.
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1
Start on George Street
112 m · 21 sec · George Street
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Flagler Avenue
2.1 mi · 5 min · Flagler Avenue
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Roosevelt Boulevard
1367 ft · 41 sec · South Roosevelt Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto Overseas Highway
36.1 mi · 57 min · Overseas Highway
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5
Continue on New Seven Mile Bridge
68.1 mi · 1 hr 46 min · New Seven Mile Bridge
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6
Continue on Dixie Highway
19.4 mi · 27 min · Dixie Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
1785 ft · 38 sec
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8
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13.2 mi · 16 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi · 5 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi · 3 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
27.1 mi · 30 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1 mi · 1 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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13
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
260.5 mi · 4 hr 43 min · Florida's Turnpike
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike
1281 ft · 16 sec · Florida's Turnpike
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15
Merge slight left
46.1 mi · 49 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CR 234: Micanopy
1213 ft · 32 sec
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17
Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234
1.3 mi · 2 min · Southeast County Road 234
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18
Turn left
128 m · 15 sec
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19
Turn straight
8 mi · 10 min
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20
Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road
2889 ft · 1 min · Southwest Williston Road
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21
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
28 m · 2 sec · South Main Street
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23
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · South Main Street
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street
54 m · 4 sec · South Main Street
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25
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
2512 ft · 1 min · South Main Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Key West and Gainesville.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Florida's Turnpike
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
261 mi · 04h 43m
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.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Key West 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 Key West to Gainesville?
The road trip is about 496.8 miles (799.6 km) and usually takes 08h 09m 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?
Tequesta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 246.9 miles from Key West and 249.9 miles from Gainesville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 353.7 miles (569.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 143.1 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 EDT. 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 $72.71 one way or $145.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 155.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Key West and Mostly Sunny near Gainesville.
Stop Ideas Near Tequesta
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tequesta.
West Palm Beach
Delray Beach
Deerfield Beach
Okeechobee
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Key West and Gainesville. Straight-line distance: 353.7 mi (569.23 km).
#1 Key West
County seat city of Monroe County, Florida, United States; island in Florida Keys
| Population | 23,767 |
| Coordinates | 24.5552400, -81.7816300 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Gainesville
The third most populous city in Florida.
| Population | 135,004 |
| Coordinates | 29.6516300, -82.3248300 |
| Altitude | 54 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Main Street (-82.32501, 29.65163)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 800 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 25m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $72.71 | $145.43 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $80.57 | $161.14 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $85.83 | $171.65 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $76.26 | $152.51 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.