How far is Lakeland, FL from San Carlos Park, FL?

The driving distance from Lakeland, FL to San Carlos Park, FL is about 118.4 miles (190.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 109 miles (175.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 27m 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
118.44 mi
02h 43m
Flight
109.01 mi
175.43 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
109.01 mi
Kilometers
175.43 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
118.44 mi
Kilometers
190.61 km
Drive Time
02h 43m

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 02h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Carlos Park
Wed, Jun 3, 2:08 AM EDT
Return by in Lakeland
Wed, Jun 3, 4:52 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lakeland
2026-06-02T23:24
Arrive San Carlos Park
Wed, Jun 3, 2:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:02 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
Arcadia
FL

City in Florida

From Lakeland
59.4 mi
01h 21m
To San Carlos Park
59 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph WNW
Destination
78°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lakeland and San Carlos Park.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland and San Carlos Park.

  1. 1

    Start on East Walnut Street

    85 m · 17 sec · East Walnut Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Lake Avenue

    82 m · 16 sec · South Lake Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Lime Street

    1878 ft · 56 sec · East Lime Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Bartow Road

    10.7 mi · 16 min · Bartow Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Broadway Avenue

    3183 ft · 1 min · Broadway Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive

    1.2 km · 2 min · Van Fleet Drive

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Spessard Holland Parkway

    30.1 mi · 44 min · Spessard Holland Parkway

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    2.5 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    14.7 mi · 18 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Dickhaut Street

    688 ft · 21 sec · Dickhaut Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Mills Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · North Mills Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Magnolia Street

    1250 ft · 26 sec · East Magnolia Street

  14. 14

    Continue on East Oak Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East Oak Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Hog Bay Avenue

    36.3 mi · 46 min · Hog Bay Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Palm Beach Boulevard

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Palm Beach Boulevard

  17. 17

    Take the exit straight toward I 75 South

    2836 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 840: San Carlos Park, Southwest Florida International Airport

    2780 ft · 44 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on CR 840: Hertz Arena, San Carlos Park

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on CR 840: Hertz Arena, San Carlos Park

    2418 ft · 55 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Alico Road

    1225 ft · 25 sec · Alico Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Three Oaks Parkway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Three Oaks Parkway

  24. 24

    Turn right onto San Carlos Boulevard

    2532 ft · 1 min · San Carlos Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Tampa Road

    1138 ft · 50 sec · Tampa Road

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tampa Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lakeland and San Carlos Park.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
26 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Spessard Holland Parkway
48.4 mi · 41%
Hog Bay Avenue
36.3 mi · 31%
I 75 South
11.4 mi · 10%
Bartow Road
10.7 mi · 9%
Palm Beach Boulevard
2.52 mi · 2%
CR 840
2.17 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Hog Bay Avenue

Turn right onto Hog Bay Avenue

36.3 mi · 00h 46m

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
02h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.4 mi
109 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcadia
01h 21m from Lakeland
Leave By
1:02 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lakeland and Mostly Cloudy near San Carlos Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lakeland to San Carlos Park?

The road trip is about 118.4 miles (190.6 km) and usually takes 02h 43m 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?

Arcadia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 59.4 miles from Lakeland and 59 miles from San Carlos Park.

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

The direct path is about 109 miles (175.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.4 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 1:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.34 one way or $34.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms around Lakeland and Mostly Cloudy near San Carlos Park.

Stop Ideas Near Arcadia

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

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

BUS

Port Charlotte, Florida

30 mi away
909 King Highway
RAIL

Sebring

52 mi away
601 East Center St
BUS

Fort Myers, Florida

59 mi away
6050 Plaza Drive
BUS

Bradenton, Florida

68 mi away
1115 Manatee Avenue West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lakeland and San Carlos Park. Straight-line distance: 109.01 mi (175.43 km).

Lakeland

#1 Lakeland

The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.

Population115,283
Coordinates28.0394700, -81.9498000
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
San Carlos Park

#2 San Carlos Park

Census-designated place in Lee County, Florida

Population16,824
Coordinates26.4673000, -81.8014700
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)
End: San Carlos Park (-81.80147, 26.4673)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 191 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.18 gal
15.82 L · about $17.34
Round trip
$34.68
8.36 gal · 31.64 L
Estimated CO2
37.1 kg one way
Round trip: 74.3 kg / 164 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $17.34 $34.68
Mid-grade $4.60 $19.21 $38.42
Premium $4.90 $20.47 $40.93
Diesel $4.35 $18.18 $36.37

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 · Jun 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Lakeland and San Carlos Park. The current time is 23:24:48.

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.