How far is Lakeland, FL from Venice, FL?

The driving distance from Lakeland, FL to Venice, FL is about 95.4 miles (153.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 71.9 miles (115.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 47m 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
95.47 mi
01h 53m
Flight
71.91 mi
115.72 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
71.91 mi
Kilometers
115.72 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
95.47 mi
Kilometers
153.64 km
Drive Time
01h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Venice
Tue, May 5, 4:07 AM EDT
Return by in Lakeland
Tue, May 5, 6:01 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lakeland
2026-05-05T02:13
Arrive Venice
Tue, May 5, 4:07 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:42 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
Ruskin
FL

Census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida

From Lakeland
47.8 mi
00h 56m
To Venice
47.7 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph SE
Destination
Venice Weather
FL
Live fallback forecast
81°F
Tuesday
Using Nokomis as the closest live forecast in the Sarasota County weather hub.

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    60.9 mi · 1 hr 5 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on FL 681: Venice, Osprey

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Tamiami Trail

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Tamiami Trail

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Tamiami Trail

    1.1 km · 2 min · Tamiami Trail

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Venice Avenue

    1.3 km · 3 min · West Venice Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Armada Road North

    37 m · 11 sec · Armada Road North

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Venice Avenue

    963 ft · 27 sec · West Venice Avenue

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Venice Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
61.8 mi · 65%
Kathleen Road
23.6 mi · 25%
FL 681
3.9 mi · 4%
Tamiami Trail
3.3 mi · 3%
West Venice Avenue
0.98 mi · 1%
Sikes Boulevard
0.48 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Merge slight left

60.9 mi · 01h 05m

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 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.5 mi
71.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ruskin
00h 56m from Lakeland
Leave By
2:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lakeland and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny near Venice.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 95.4 miles (153.6 km) and usually takes 01h 53m 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?

Ruskin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47.8 miles from Lakeland and 47.7 miles from Venice.

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

The direct path is about 71.9 miles (115.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.5 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 2:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.98 one way or $27.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 29.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lakeland and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny near Venice.

Stop Ideas Near Ruskin

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

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

BUS

Bradenton, Florida

26 mi away
1115 Manatee Avenue West
RAIL

Union Station

26 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

28 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
BUS

Sarasota, Florida

44 mi away
1993 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lakeland and Venice. Straight-line distance: 71.91 mi (115.72 km).

Lakeland

#1 Lakeland

The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.

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

#2 Venice

City in Sarasota County, Florida, United States

Population24,634
Coordinates27.0997800, -82.4542600
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)
End: Venice (-82.45426, 27.09978)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 154 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.37 gal
12.75 L · about $13.98
Round trip
$27.96
6.74 gal · 25.5 L
Estimated CO2
29.9 kg one way
Round trip: 59.9 kg / 132 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $13.98 $27.96
Mid-grade $4.60 $15.49 $30.98
Premium $4.90 $16.50 $33.00
Diesel $4.35 $14.66 $29.32

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Lakeland and Venice. The current time is 02:13:29.

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.