DeFuniak Springs to Jacksonville is 282 miles and takes about 5 hours 7 minutes via I 10 and US Highway 331 South, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily takes you across the state of Florida, moving from the Florida Panhandle towards Northeast Florida. Expect a straightforward highway-focused drive that's well-suited for a single day of travel. With 99% of the journey on highways, this is a journey where efficiency is key, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
141 miles from DeFuniak Springs, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
276.5 mi
4h 58m
US Highway 331 South
2.1 mi
3m
Union Street
0.7 mi
1m
I 95
0.7 mi
1m
US Highway 90 East
0.3 mi
<1m
US 17
0.2 mi
<1m
South 9th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 276.5 mi, about 4h 58m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,179 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,701
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
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 DeFuniak Springs, FL and Jacksonville, FL.
1
Start on South 9th Street
124 ft·13 sec·South 9th Street
2
Turn left onto US 90
0.3 mi·40 sec·US Highway 90 East
3
Turn left onto US 331
2.1 mi·3 min·US Highway 331 South
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 10 East: TallahasseeUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 10
276 mi·4 hr 58 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville Beaches, Daytona Beach
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, SavannahUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi·1 min·I 95
9
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 17; FL 228
Exit 353BToward Union Street, Beaver Street
10
Turn straight onto US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·Union Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
US 17
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, starting your journey in DeFuniak Springs in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Jacksonville with plenty of daylight. Plan for just one stop, as the longest stretch without a major road change is over 276 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the long stretch on I 10, as services can be spaced out. The $45 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor prices as you travel. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility if you decide to leave a little later.
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 141 miles from DeFuniak Springs, FL, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.5 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 62 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141 miles or 2h 33m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving DeFuniak Springs, 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 DeFuniak Springs, FL
This is one driving day of about 282 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from DeFuniak Springs, 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 276.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 281.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 90 / US Highway 90 East
Turn left onto US 90 / US Highway 90 East
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
5
2.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
279.7 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: International Airport, Savan...
6
281.1 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|US 17; FL 228
Take the exit onto US 17; FL 228 toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 353B
Toward Union Street, Beaver Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.69 one way
$85.38 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$46.84
$93.68
premium
$4.55
$50.52
$101.03
diesel
$4.80
$53.25
$106.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Efficient EV
70.5
0
$24.68
$11.28
EV Truck/SUV
112.8
1
$39.48
$18.05
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
DeFuniak Springs, FL
Afternoon
in DeFuniak Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
NW 0 to 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 9:53PM EDT until July 17 at 11:15PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
Afternoon
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 3 to 7 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 9:53PM EDT until July 17 at 11:15PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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 7m 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 overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 99% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 10 and US Highway 331 South. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 276.5 miles primarily on I 10. For the most part, expect consistent highway speeds and a predictable driving environment. The character of the drive remains largely the same across its 282 miles, emphasizing forward momentum over varied terrain or winding roads.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 276.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US Highway 331 South. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 90 / US Highway 90 East.
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 282 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (US 90 / US Highway 90 East): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
DeFuniak Springs is a city of 7,000 people (2019) on the Emerald Coast of Florida. DeFuniak Springs is home to Lake DeFuniak, one of two spring-fed lakes in the world that is nearly perfectly round. The surrounding landscape around the lake is often decorated for the holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year's to celebrate.
Top landmarks
•DeFuniak Springs Historic District — historic district in Florida
•Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood — building in the United States of America
•Sun Bright — historic residence in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida
Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
Top landmarks
•Fort Caroline — fort in Florida managed by the National Park Service
•Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville — museum in Jacksonville, Florida
•Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve — wetlands in Florida (U.S.) managed by the National Park Service
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 282 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 276.5 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 90 / US Highway 90 East): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jacksonville, FL before the return drive.
