This 236.9-mile drive from Clearwater to Tallahassee is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 21 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 97% of the journey on major roads like US 19 and the Apalachee Parkway. You can expect a fuel cost of around $38 for this journey within Florida. While it's a single day's drive, planning for a single stop is recommended to break up the longest stretch of 208.1 miles on US 19. This route offers a straightforward path through the Florida landscape, connecting two distinct points within the state.
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
118.5 miles from Clearwater, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m 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
North Belcher Road
1.1 mi
1m
North Fort Harrison Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Countryside Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Douglas Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 208.1 mi, about 4h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on North Fort Harrison Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·North Fort Harrison Avenue
2
Turn right onto Marshall Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Marshall Street
3
Continue on Marshall Street
118 ft·2 sec·Marshall Street
4
Continue on Fulton Avenue
0.1 mi·12 sec·Fulton Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto Fairmont Street
32 ft·0 sec·Fairmont Street
6
Continue on Fairmont Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·Fairmont Street
7
Continue on Douglas Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Douglas Avenue
8
Turn right onto CR 576
2.6 mi·4 min·Sunset Point Road
9
Turn left onto CR 501
1.1 mi·1 min·North Belcher Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Countryside Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·Countryside Boulevard
11
Turn left onto US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 19 North
13
Merge onto US 19
208 mi·4 hr 36 min·US 19
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 27
5.3 mi·6 min·US 27
15
Continue on US 27
12 mi·15 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi·18 sec·Apalachee Parkway
17
Continue on US 27
4.2 mi·7 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
For this 236.9-mile trip, leaving Clearwater in the morning will allow you to arrive in Tallahassee with plenty of daylight. Since the drive is about 5 hours and 21 minutes with one recommended stop, you can comfortably complete it in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 208.1-mile stretch on US 19, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is $38, so budget accordingly. Enjoy the straightforward nature of this highway-focused drive through Florida.
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 118.5 miles from Clearwater, FL, or about 2h 42m 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 52 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.5 miles or 2h 42m 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 23m
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 Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, FL
This is one driving day of about 236.9 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Clearwater, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 236.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|Fairmont Street
Enter roundabout onto Fairmont Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|CR 576 / Sunset Point Road
Turn right onto CR 576 / Sunset Point Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.7 mi into trip|~13m in|US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
Turn left onto US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
7.5 mi into trip|~14m in|US 19
Merge onto US 19
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
236.9 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|US 27; FL 61 / South Monroe Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 27; FL 61 / South Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.09 one way
$76.18 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$41.55
$83.10
premium
$4.78
$44.60
$89.20
diesel
$6.28
$58.53
$117.07
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: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.17
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 22, 2026
Origin
Clearwater, FL
Night
in Clearwater on Thursday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Night
in Tallahassee on Thursday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
N 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 21m 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?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this route, with 97% of your travel occurring on major roads. US 19 will be your primary companion for the longest continuous segment, covering 208.1 miles. This means you'll encounter mostly higher-speed driving, characteristic of a direct transit rather than a winding scenic byway. The Apalachee Parkway and US 27 will also feature, offering a consistent driving feel for most of the 5-hour and 21-minute journey. This isn't a route defined by varied terrain or frequent changes in road type, but rather a steady progression.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 19 and Apalachee Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near Fairmont Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 21m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Fairmont Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.2 miles (CR 576 / Sunset Point Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (US 19 Northbound Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida.
Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
Top landmarks
•Belleview-Biltmore Hotel — hotel in Clearwater, United States of America
•Donald Roebling Estate — historic residential estate in Clearwater, within Pinellas County, FL
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
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 1.4 miles (Fairmont Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.2 miles (CR 576 / Sunset Point Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (US 19 Northbound Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 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.
