How far is Lakeland, FL from Fort Walton Beach, FL?
The driving distance from Lakeland, FL to Fort Walton Beach, 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 22m 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 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 Lakeland and Fort Walton Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland and Fort Walton Beach.
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1
Start on East Walnut Street
129 m · 19 sec · East Walnut Street
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
727 ft · 22 sec · Lake Morton Drive
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3
Turn right onto South Iowa Avenue
1034 ft · 32 sec · South Iowa Avenue
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4
Continue on East Lemon Street
1307 ft · 46 sec · East Lemon Street
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5
Turn right onto South Florida Avenue
16.4 mi · 25 min · South Florida Avenue
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6
Turn right
34.8 mi · 46 min
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7
Keep slight left
89 m · 13 sec
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8
At the end of the road, turn left
1759 ft · 33 sec
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9
Turn right
2.5 mi · 4 min
-
10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 75 North: Ocala
1518 ft · 37 sec
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11
Merge slight left
114.4 mi · 2 hr 3 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
820 ft · 16 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee
1569 ft · 30 sec
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14
Merge slight right
226.4 mi · 4 hr 3 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward FL 285: Niceville, Eglin AFB
1694 ft · 42 sec
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16
Turn left
17.6 mi · 23 min
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17
Turn right onto East John Sims Parkway
1.2 km · 2 min · East John Sims Parkway
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18
Continue on John Sims Parkway
1 km · 1 min · John Sims Parkway
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19
Keep slight right
10.6 mi · 18 min
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20
Turn right onto Yacht Club Drive
1687 ft · 43 sec · Yacht Club Drive
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21
Turn sharp left onto Beal Parkway Northwest
806 ft · 22 sec · Beal Parkway Northwest
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22
Turn right onto Williams Street Northwest
1153 ft · 56 sec · Williams Street Northwest
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23
At the end of the road, turn left onto Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
47 m · 7 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lakeland and Fort Walton Beach.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 10 West
Merge slight right
226 mi · 04h 03m
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.
Sunny leaving Lakeland and Mostly Sunny near Fort Walton Beach.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lakeland to Fort Walton Beach?
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 Lakeland and 213.4 miles from Fort Walton Beach.
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 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 $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 Lakeland and Fort Walton Beach, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lakeland and Mostly Sunny near Fort Walton Beach.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lakeland and Fort Walton Beach. Straight-line distance: 325.93 mi (524.53 km).
#1 Lakeland
The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.
| Population | 115,283 |
| Coordinates | 28.0394700, -81.9498000 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fort Walton Beach
City in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
| Population | 22,396 |
| Coordinates | 30.4205900, -86.6170700 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fort Walton Beach (-86.61707, 30.42059)
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.