How far is Lakeland, FL from Palmetto, FL?

The driving distance from Lakeland, FL to Palmetto, FL is about 65.7 miles (105.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 52.3 miles (84.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 40m 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
65.71 mi
01h 20m
Flight
52.24 mi
84.08 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lakeland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
52.24 mi
Kilometers
84.08 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
65.71 mi
Kilometers
105.75 km
Drive Time
01h 20m

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 01h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palmetto
Tue, May 12, 7:36 PM EDT
Return by in Lakeland
Tue, May 12, 8:56 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lakeland
2026-05-12T18:16
Arrive Palmetto
Tue, May 12, 7:36 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lakeland
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
Progress Village
FL

Census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida

From Lakeland
32.9 mi
00h 40m
To Palmetto
32.8 mi
00h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph NNE
Destination
92°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Walnut Street

    129 m · 19 sec · East Walnut Street

  2. 2

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

    1039 ft · 31 sec · Lake Morton Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Massachusetts Avenue

    72 m · 14 sec · South Massachusetts Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Lime Street

    1877 ft · 56 sec · East Lime Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Sikes Boulevard

    2528 ft · 58 sec · Sikes Boulevard

  6. 6

    Continue on Kathleen Road

    2.4 mi · 5 min · Kathleen Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    2373 ft · 60 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    21.1 mi · 23 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Ocala, Naples

    1759 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Naples

    1.3 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    31.9 mi · 34 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg

    1.6 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 41: Palmetto, Bradenton

    1678 ft · 41 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Palmetto, Bradenton

    109 m · 11 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Tamiami Trail

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Tamiami Trail

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto U.S. Business 41

    1.4 km · 1 min · U.S. Business 41

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Valencia Drive

    44 m · 3 sec · Valencia Drive

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto Valencia Drive

    155 m · 10 sec · Valencia Drive

  20. 20

    Continue on 8th Avenue West

    1.1 km · 2 min · 8th Avenue West

  21. 21

    Turn left onto 11th Street West

    95 m · 16 sec · 11th Street West

  22. 22

    Turn right onto 7th Avenue West

    97 m · 16 sec · 7th Avenue West

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 10th Street West

    37 m · 5 sec · 10th Street West

  24. 24

    Turn right

    17 m · 4 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
25 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
32.8 mi · 50%
Kathleen Road
23.6 mi · 36%
Tamiami Trail
3.57 mi · 5%
I 275 North
1.66 mi · 3%
U.S. Business 41
0.87 mi · 1%
8th Avenue West
0.7 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Merge slight left

31.9 mi · 00h 34m

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
01h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.4 mi
52.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Progress Village
00h 40m from Lakeland
Leave By
3:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lakeland and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Palmetto.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 65.7 miles (105.8 km) and usually takes 01h 20m 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?

Progress Village is a useful midpoint, sitting about 32.9 miles from Lakeland and 32.8 miles from Palmetto.

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

The direct path is about 52.3 miles (84.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.4 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 3:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.62 one way or $19.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 20.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lakeland and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Palmetto.

Stop Ideas Near Progress Village

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Progress Village, 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 Progress Village.

RAIL

Union Station

10 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

32 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
RAIL

Lakeland

44 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

44 mi away
600 East Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lakeland and Palmetto. Straight-line distance: 52.24 mi (84.08 km).

Lakeland

#1 Lakeland

The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.

Population115,283
Coordinates28.0394700, -81.9498000
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
Palmetto

#2 Palmetto

City in Manatee County, Florida, United States

Population13,796
Coordinates27.5214300, -82.5723200
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)
End: Palmetto (-82.57232, 27.52143)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 106 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.32 gal
8.78 L · about $9.62
Round trip
$19.25
4.64 gal · 17.56 L
Estimated CO2
20.6 kg one way
Round trip: 41.2 kg / 91 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $9.62 $19.25
Mid-grade $4.60 $10.66 $21.33
Premium $4.90 $11.36 $22.72
Diesel $4.35 $10.09 $20.18

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Lakeland and Palmetto. The current time is 18:16:11.

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.