How far is West Pensacola, FL from Lakeland, FL?
The driving distance from West Pensacola, FL to Lakeland, FL is about 462 miles (743.5 km), with a travel time of about 08h 40m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 361.1 miles (581.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 40m.
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.
Town 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 West Pensacola and Lakeland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Pensacola and Lakeland.
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1
Start on Lillian Highway
2638 ft · 1 min · Lillian Highway
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2
Turn left onto New Warrington Road
833 ft · 25 sec · New Warrington Road
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3
Turn left onto Mobile Highway
528 ft · 13 sec · Mobile Highway
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4
Turn slight right
1429 ft · 52 sec
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5
Turn straight onto New Warrington Spur
3275 ft · 1 min · New Warrington Spur
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6
Continue on West Fairfield Drive
1.9 mi · 4 min · West Fairfield Drive
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7
Keep slight left to continue on West Fairfield Drive
1.4 km · 2 min · West Fairfield Drive
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8
Turn right onto North Davis Highway
597 ft · 12 sec · North Davis Highway
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9
Take the ramp right toward I 110 North
993 ft · 24 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 East, FL 291: Tallahassee, Davis Highway
1328 ft · 28 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 East: Tallahassee
1.1 km · 1 min
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13
Merge slight left
282.9 mi · 5 hr 3 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
1959 ft · 37 sec
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15
Merge slight left
114.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward FL 470: Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee
2015 ft · 51 sec
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17
Turn sharp left
2.6 mi · 4 min
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18
At the end of the road, turn left
1598 ft · 27 sec
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19
Turn right
34.9 mi · 47 min
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20
Turn left onto US Highway 98 North
13.9 mi · 20 min · US Highway 98 North
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21
Continue on North Florida Avenue
1.7 mi · 3 min · North Florida Avenue
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22
Turn left onto East Memorial Boulevard
1105 ft · 37 sec · East Memorial Boulevard
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23
Turn right onto North Massachusetts Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · North Massachusetts Avenue
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24
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Morton Drive
1039 ft · 32 sec · Lake Morton Drive
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25
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
129 m · 19 sec · East Walnut Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Walnut Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between West Pensacola and Lakeland.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 10 East
Merge slight left
283 mi · 05h 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.
Mostly Sunny leaving West Pensacola and Sunny near Lakeland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from West Pensacola to Lakeland?
The road trip is about 462 miles (743.5 km) and usually takes 08h 40m 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?
Greenville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 231 miles from West Pensacola and 231 miles from Lakeland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 361.1 miles (581.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 100.9 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 CDT. 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 $67.61 one way or $135.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 144.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between West Pensacola and Lakeland, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around West Pensacola and Sunny near Lakeland.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between West Pensacola and Lakeland. Straight-line distance: 361.15 mi (581.21 km).
#1 West Pensacola
Census-designated place in Escambia County, Florida
| Population | 21,339 |
| Coordinates | 30.4265900, -87.2796900 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lakeland
The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.
| Population | 115,283 |
| Coordinates | 28.0394700, -81.9498000 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lakeland (-81.9498, 28.03947)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 744 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 14m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 45m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $67.61 | $135.22 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $74.91 | $149.83 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $79.80 | $159.61 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $70.91 | $141.81 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.