Jacksonville to Seffner is 200.9 miles and takes about 3h 59m via I 75 and US 301, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the northern part of the state down towards the Tampa Bay area. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward route if you're looking for a direct connection between these two cities. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.5 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
96.8 mi
1h 43m
Sid Martin Highway
39 mi
48m
US 301
37.5 mi
47m
I 10
17.1 mi
20m
East Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
3.3 mi
5m
Northwest 70th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Northwest 77th Street
1.2 mi
2m
US 17
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 96.8 mi, about 1h 43m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,234 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,928
Quietest
2 AM
~339 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Jacksonville, FL and Seffner, FL.
1
Start on US 17
210 ft·12 sec·Union Street
2
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
281 ft·15 sec·Ocean Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.3 mi·36 sec·Kings Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17; FL 228
Toward I 95 South: JacksonvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 351AToward I 10 West: Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
17 mi·20 min·I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto US 301
0.1 mi·11 sec·US 301
11
Continue on US 301
37 mi·47 min·US 301
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301
39 mi·48 min·Sid Martin Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on FL 326
1.2 mi·2 min·Northwest 77th Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
16
Merge onto I 75
83 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
14 mi·15 min·I 75
Toward South I 75: NaplesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 260Toward FL 574: Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward FL 574 East: MangoUse the left / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto FL 574
3.2 mi·5 min·East Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on FL 574
72 ft·9 sec·East Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
FL 574
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3h 59m drive, you can easily complete it in a single day. Aim to leave Jacksonville in the morning to give yourself ample daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic in the Seffner area. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so plan accordingly. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; however, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 96.8 miles on I 75 with a brief rest to stay alert. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Seffner, as services can become less frequent on certain stretches of US 301.
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 100.5 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.8 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 44 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.5 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seffner, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 200.9 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Jacksonville, 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 75 for about 96.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 197.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 351A
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
6
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|US 301 / Sid Martin Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301 / Sid Martin Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
183.1 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward South I 75: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South I 75: Naples
7
197.2 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward FL 574: Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 260
Toward FL 574: Martin Luther King Junior Boulev...
8
197.5 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL 574 East: Mango
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 574 East: Mango
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.30 one way
$64.60 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$35.24
$70.47
premium
$4.78
$37.82
$75.65
diesel
$6.28
$49.64
$99.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.09
$9.64
Efficient EV
50.2
0
$17.58
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.13
$12.86
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Jacksonville, FL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Friday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Sunny
N 16 mph2% 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
Seffner, FL
Morning
in Seffner on Friday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
NNE 13 to 18 mph6% 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
9 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
3h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 mostly highway, with 76% of the 200.9 miles on major roads like I 75. You'll experience a long stretch of 96.8 miles on I 75 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a good number of exits on the highway portion, indicating active commercial and residential areas along the way. The shift from highway to Sid Martin Highway and US 301 will bring a change in scenery and speed.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sid Martin Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 200.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles (US 301 / Sid Martin Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
•Downtown Jacksonville — central business district of Jacksonville, Florida, United States
•Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville — museum in Jacksonville, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 200.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Seffner, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles (US 301 / Sid Martin Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Seffner, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
