Key Largo to Tallahassee is 540.5 miles and takes about 10 hours 7 minutes via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $84 and best split over two days. This lengthy drive traverses the length of Florida, beginning in the Keys and heading north through diverse landscapes. Given the 10-hour driving time, it's best treated as an overnight trip rather than a single-day marathon. You'll mainly be on major highways, making for efficient travel across the state.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
270.2 miles from Key Largo, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
260.8 mi
4h 43m
I 75
106.9 mi
1h 54m
I 10
87.7 mi
1h 34m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
47.4 mi
55m
Dixie Highway
19.4 mi
26m
Overseas Highway
9.3 mi
15m
Mahan Drive
6.7 mi
11m
East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 260.8 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,262 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,481
Quietest
2 AM
~387 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Key Largo, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on Harbor Drive
308 ft·15 sec·Harbor Drive
2
Turn right onto US 1
9.3 mi·15 min·Overseas Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 1
19 mi·26 min·Dixie Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13 mi·15 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi·4 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi·3 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
27 mi·30 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1.0 mi·1 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
12
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10
88 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 90
6.7 mi·11 min·Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 90
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tennessee Street
18
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi·1 min·North Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Pensacola Street
20
Turn left onto CR 1559
210 ft·9 sec·South Calhoun Street
21
Turn right onto US 27
339 ft·12 sec·Apalachee Parkway
22
Turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
Given the 10-hour duration, splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended. Plan to depart early on your first day to cover roughly half the distance, aiming for a stop around the halfway point. This allows for more relaxed driving and time to find accommodations and meals. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially during the longest highway stretches, and utilize the recommended 2 stops to stretch your legs and refuel. The $84 fuel estimate can help you budget for your gas. On Florida's Turnpike, be aware of toll plazas.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 270.2 miles from Key Largo, FL, or about 5h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 119 miles or 2h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 270.2 miles or 5h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 270.2 miles or 5h 9m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 56m
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 Key Largo, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Key Largo, FL
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tallahassee, FL
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Key Largo, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 260.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.7 and 444.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
28.7 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
8
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
7
337 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
8
444.2 mi into trip|~8h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
444.3 mi into trip|~8h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.91 one way
$173.81 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg189 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.44
$94.52
$189.05
premium
$4.78
$101.67
$203.35
diesel
$6.18
$131.49
$262.97
Estimated Tolls: $21.08
Florida's Turnpike
(260.5 mi)$18.24
Homestead Extension
(47.4 mi)$2.84
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Tolls
$21
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$238–$348
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 189.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
162.2
2
$56.75
$25.94
Efficient EV
135.1
1
$47.29
$21.62
EV Truck/SUV
216.2
2
$75.67
$34.59
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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 18, 2026
Origin
Key Largo, FL
Night
in Key Largo on Sunday
Local time
9:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
N 10 to 15 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Night
in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
9:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
25 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
10h 7m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 37.3
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and anima...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
$35
near mile 18.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 93% of the drive on major interstates and turnpikes. You'll experience a longest stretch of 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike before transitioning to other highways. Expect a significant amount of continuous driving on these high-speed roads, with fewer opportunities for surface street navigation until you're closer to your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 260.8 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 540.5 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 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.4 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 337 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft7 ft
Total Climb
322 ft
Total Descent
127 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
~546.9 mi in
Elevation Range
197 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Key Largo, FL and Tallahassee, FL, road signs point toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
Miami
28.7 mi in|~42m
Orlando
28.7 mi in|~42m
Florida's Turnpike North
28.7 mi in|~42m
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
75.4 mi in|~1h 37m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Key Largo is an island in the Florida Keys. It is perhaps also known as the setting for the eponymous film starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in 1948, as well as the eponymous hit song by Bertie Higgins in 1981.
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 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.
Expect about $21.08 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 44 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.
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 Tallahassee, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.4 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 337 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.2 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.
