Belleair to Tallahassee is 239.4 miles and takes about 5h 26m via US 19 and Apalachee Parkway, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the Gulf Coast inland toward the state capital. With 96% highway driving, expect a relatively fast-paced trip. You'll cover over 200 miles on US 19 before transitioning to other roads. Plan for a straightforward drive that's manageable in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
119.7 miles from Belleair, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 19
208.1 mi
4h 36m
Apalachee Parkway
16.1 mi
23m
US 27
5.3 mi
6m
Sunset Point Road
2.6 mi
4m
South Myrtle Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
North Belcher Road
1.1 mi
1m
North Myrtle Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Countryside Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 208.1 mi, about 4h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belleair, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on Gardenia Street
135 ft·11 sec·Gardenia Street
2
Turn left onto Indian Rocks Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Indian Rocks Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Belleview Boulevard
0.2 mi·43 sec·Belleview Boulevard
4
Turn left onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·South Ft Harrison Avenue
5
Turn right onto Lakeview Road
0.2 mi·25 sec·Lakeview Road
6
Keep slight left at fork onto South Myrtle Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·South Myrtle Avenue
7
Continue on US-19 ALT
1.1 mi·2 min·North Myrtle Avenue
8
Turn right onto Marshall Street
0.1 mi·10 sec·Marshall Street
9
Continue on Marshall Street
118 ft·2 sec·Marshall Street
10
Continue on Fulton Avenue
0.1 mi·12 sec·Fulton Avenue
11
Enter roundabout onto Fairmont Street
32 ft·0 sec·Fairmont Street
12
Continue on Fairmont Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·Fairmont Street
13
Continue on Douglas Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Douglas Avenue
14
Turn right onto CR 576
2.6 mi·4 min·Sunset Point Road
15
Turn left onto CR 501
1.1 mi·1 min·North Belcher Road
16
Keep slight right at fork onto Countryside Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·Countryside Boulevard
17
Turn left onto US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 19 North
19
Merge onto US 19
208 mi·4 hr 36 min·US 19
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 27
5.3 mi·6 min·US 27
21
Continue on US 27
12 mi·15 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi·18 sec·Apalachee Parkway
23
Continue on US 27
4.2 mi·7 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 26m drive, aim to depart in the morning to ensure you arrive with ample daylight. Since the route is mostly highway, you can cover significant ground quickly. The longest stretch is over 200 miles, so plan for at least one substantial stop for fuel and a break. Consider stopping around the halfway point to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on US 19, as services can be spread out between larger towns. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so factor that into your budget.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 119.7 miles from Belleair, FL, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.7 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tallahassee, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belleair, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belleair, FL
This is one driving day of about 239.4 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Belleair, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 19 for about 208.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 9.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Belleview Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Belleview Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|South Ft Harrison Avenue
Turn left onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|Lakeview Road
Turn right onto Lakeview Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.9 mi into trip|~8m in|Fairmont Street
Enter roundabout onto Fairmont Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
9.2 mi into trip|~18m in|US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
Turn left onto US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.49 one way
$76.99 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$41.99
$83.98
premium
$4.78
$45.07
$90.14
diesel
$6.28
$59.15
$118.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.8
0
$25.14
$11.49
Efficient EV
59.9
0
$20.95
$9.58
EV Truck/SUV
95.8
1
$33.52
$15.32
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Belleair, FL
Late night
in Belleair on Saturday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
NE 12 to 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Late night
in Tallahassee on Saturday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NNE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 239.4 miles on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 208.1 miles, primarily on US 19. You'll experience the feeling of highway cruising for most of the trip, with the transition to surface roads like Apalachee Parkway and US 27 occurring later in the drive. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach urban areas.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 208.1 mi on US 19.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 19 and Apalachee Parkway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Belleview Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 239.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Belleview Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South Ft Harrison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Lakeview Road): Navigation decision point.
Tallahassee is the capital city of Florida, in the Florida Panhandle region of the state. In addition to housing the state government, it is a university town home to Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College. Tallahassee has a good selection of restaurants for a city of its size. The universities' theater, art, and music programs, in addition to an active Council of Culture and Arts, also make for an unusually vibrant arts scene.
Top landmarks
•Florida State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Florida
•Florida Governor's Mansion — official residence of the governor of Florida
•Tallahassee — railway station in Tallahassee, the United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 239.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 208.1 miles on US 19. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Belleview Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South Ft Harrison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Lakeview Road): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tallahassee, FL before the return drive.
