How far is Lakeland, FL from West Palm Beach, FL?

The driving distance from Lakeland, FL to West Palm Beach, FL is about 171.1 miles (275.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148 miles (238.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
171.07 mi
03h 29m
Flight
148.01 mi
238.2 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lakeland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.01 mi
Kilometers
238.2 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
171.07 mi
Kilometers
275.31 km
Drive Time
03h 29m

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 03h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Palm Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 9:52 AM EDT
Return by in Lakeland
Sun, Apr 19, 1:21 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lakeland
2026-04-19T06:23
Arrive West Palm Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 9:52 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lakeland
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fellsmere
FL

City in Indian River County, Florida, United States of America

From Lakeland
85.6 mi
01h 44m
To West Palm Beach
85.5 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
92°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NW
Destination
85°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lakeland and West Palm Beach.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland and West Palm Beach.

  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

    2787 ft · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1427 ft · 27 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    10.8 mi · 14 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    4.3 mi · 6 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    46.4 mi · 59 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit left

    784 ft · 19 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    90 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Florida's Turnpike South: Miami

    926 ft · 23 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

    76.7 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Florida's Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 706: Jupiter

    2715 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Indiantown Road

    152 m · 19 sec · Indiantown Road

  17. 17

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South: West Palm Beach

    1.4 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    16 mi · 18 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 704: Okeechobee Boulevard, Downtown

    1391 ft · 34 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Okeechobee Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · Okeechobee Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn slight left

    597 ft · 24 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Tamarind Avenue

    3163 ft · 2 min · South Tamarind Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Banyan Boulevard

    2751 ft · 1 min · Banyan Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North Dixie Highway

    105 m · 9 sec · North Dixie Highway

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Dixie Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lakeland and West Palm Beach.

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
25 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Florida's Turnpike
76.7 mi · 45%
Van Fleet Drive
62.5 mi · 37%
I 95 South
16.9 mi · 10%
Bartow Road
10.7 mi · 6%
Okeechobee Boulevard
0.88 mi · 1%
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
Longest Stretch

Florida's Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike

76.7 mi · 01h 22m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.1 mi
148 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fellsmere
01h 44m from Lakeland
Leave By
10:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lakeland and Partly Sunny near West Palm Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lakeland to West Palm Beach?

The road trip is about 171.1 miles (275.3 km) and usually takes 03h 29m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fellsmere is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.6 miles from Lakeland and 85.5 miles from West Palm Beach.

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

The direct path is about 148 miles (238.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.1 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.05 one way or $50.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lakeland and Partly Sunny near West Palm Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Fellsmere

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

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

RAIL

Okeechobee

62 mi away
801 North Parrott Avenue
RAIL

Sebring

87 mi away
601 East Center St
RAIL

Kissimmee

98 mi away
111 East Dakin Ave.
RAIL

Orlando Health/Amtrak

114 mi away
1400 Sligh Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lakeland and West Palm Beach. Straight-line distance: 148.01 mi (238.2 km).

Lakeland

#1 Lakeland

The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.

Population115,283
Coordinates28.0394700, -81.9498000
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
West Palm Beach

#2 West Palm Beach

The most populous city in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Population112,782
Coordinates26.7153400, -80.0533700
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)
End: West Palm Beach (-80.05337, 26.71534)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 275 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.04 gal
22.85 L · about $25.05
Round trip
$50.11
12.08 gal · 45.7 L
Estimated CO2
53.7 kg one way
Round trip: 107.4 kg / 237 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $25.05 $50.11
Mid-grade $4.60 $27.76 $55.52
Premium $4.90 $29.57 $59.14
Diesel $4.35 $26.27 $52.55

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

There is no time difference between Lakeland and West Palm Beach. The current time is 06:23:41.

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.