Callaway, FL to Gainesville, FL is 247.9 miles and takes about 4h 55m via I 10 and I 75, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, primarily traveling on major interstates for most of the way. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal turns, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct path between these two points. The route is designed for a single day of travel, so you can plan to arrive in Gainesville the same day you depart Callaway.
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
123.9 miles from Callaway, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
121.5 mi
2h 10m
I 75
47.2 mi
50m
FL 20
28.4 mi
39m
FL 12
18.1 mi
24m
US 231
16.1 mi
20m
North Star Avenue
6.7 mi
10m
West University Avenue
3.4 mi
8m
West Newberry Road
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 121.5 mi, about 2h 10m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,501 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,043
Quietest
2 AM
~173 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Callaway, FL and Gainesville, FL.
1
Start on FL 22
0.2 mi·31 sec·Wewa Highway
2
Turn left onto CR 2315
6.7 mi·10 min·North Star Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 231
16 mi·20 min·US 231
4
Turn right onto FL 20
28 mi·39 min·FL 20
5
Turn left onto FL 12
18 mi·24 min·FL 12
6
Turn right onto FL 12; CR 270
0.6 mi·1 min·Selman Street
7
Continue on FL 12
2.2 mi·3 min·Greensboro Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
9
Merge onto I 10
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
11
Merge onto I 75
47 mi·50 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 387Toward FL 26: Gainesville, Newberry, Newberry RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto FL 26
2.4 mi·5 min·West Newberry Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on FL 26
3.4 mi·8 min·West University Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 329
115 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
CR 329
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 55m drive, consider leaving Callaway in the morning to give yourself ample daylight for the entire trip. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $39, you can easily complete this route in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 121.5-mile stretch on I 10, as services might be more spread out. Planning a brief stop around the halfway point will help break up the drive and ensure you arrive in Gainesville refreshed.
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 123.9 miles from Callaway, FL, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.5 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 55 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.9 miles or 2h 34m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Callaway, 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 Callaway, FL
This is one driving day of about 247.9 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Callaway, 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 I 10 for about 121.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 241.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 2315 / North Star Avenue
Turn left onto CR 2315 / North Star Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
194.2 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward I-75 South: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 296A
Toward I-75 South: Tampa
5
194.6 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
241.8 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Take the exit toward FL 26: Gainesville, Newberry, Newberry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 387
Toward FL 26: Gainesville, Newberry, Newberry R...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.53 one way
$75.05 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.18
$82.35
premium
$4.55
$44.41
$88.81
diesel
$4.80
$46.81
$93.62
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: 86.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.4
0
$26.03
$11.90
Efficient EV
62
0
$21.69
$9.92
EV Truck/SUV
99.2
1
$34.71
$15.87
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Callaway, FL
Late night
in Callaway on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 5 mph74% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gainesville, FL
Morning
in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 2 to 12 mph15% chanceLive forecast
89°F
Quincy, FL
124 mi in
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
4h 55m 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?
You'll be on the highway for 93% of this drive, covering 121.5 miles consecutively on I 10. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the trip as you approach Gainesville. Given the extensive highway mileage, anticipate a consistent cruising speed for the majority of your travel time. This setup means you'll encounter relatively few intersections for a significant portion of the route.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR 2315 / North Star Avenue.
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 247.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (CR 2315 / North Star Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 247.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 121.5 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR 2315 / North Star Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Gainesville, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
