Lely to Tallahassee is 432.8 miles and takes about 7h 59m via I 75 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, beginning in the southwest and heading north towards the state capital. Most of this drive is on major interstates, making it a straightforward option for a single-day transit. With a recommended one-day travel time, you can expect a consistent pace for most of the 432.8 miles. The route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing highway travel to cover ground quickly.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
216.4 miles from Lely, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
329.1 mi
5h 53m
I 10
87.7 mi
1h 34m
Mahan Drive
6.7 mi
11m
Santa Barbara Boulevard
4.5 mi
8m
Augusta Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Golden Gate Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Franklin Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 329.1 mi, about 5h 53m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 174 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,596 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,353
Quietest
2 AM
~335 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
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 Lely, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on this road
102 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left
19 ft·2 sec
3
Turn right
176 ft·14 sec
4
At end of road, turn right onto Forest Hills Boulevard
341 ft·11 sec·Forest Hills Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Augusta Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·Augusta Boulevard
6
At end of road, turn right onto CR 864
0.2 mi·25 sec·Rattlesnake Hammock Road
7
Turn left onto Santa Barbara Boulevard
4.5 mi·8 min·Santa Barbara Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto CR 886
0.8 mi·1 min·Golden Gate Parkway
9
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: TampaUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 75
329 mi·5 hr 53 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 10
88 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 90
6.7 mi·11 min·Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 90
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tennessee Street
16
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi·1 min·North Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Pensacola Street
18
Turn left onto CR 1559
210 ft·9 sec·South Calhoun Street
19
Turn right onto US 27
339 ft·12 sec·Apalachee Parkway
20
Turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
For this 7h 59m drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Tallahassee. With two planned stops, you can break up the 432.8 miles into manageable segments. Budget around $75 for fuel, and keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the long 329.1-mile stretch on I 75. The route is well-suited for a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an early afternoon departure and an overnight stop roughly halfway. The final approach on Mahan Drive will require attention to local traffic patterns.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 216.4 miles from Lely, FL, or about 3h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 329.1 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 95 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216.4 miles or 3h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 47m
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 Lely, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lely, FL
This is one driving day of about 432.8 miles and 7h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Lely, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 329.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 336.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Forest Hills Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Forest Hills Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|CR 864 / Rattlesnake Hammock Road
At end of road, turn right onto CR 864 / Rattlesnake Hammock Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North: Tampa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
8
336.5 mi into trip|~6h 8m 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
336.7 mi into trip|~6h 8m 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
$65.52 one way
$131.03 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg151 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$71.89
$143.78
premium
$4.55
$77.53
$155.06
diesel
$4.80
$81.72
$163.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
129.8
1
$45.44
$20.77
Efficient EV
108.2
1
$37.87
$17.31
EV Truck/SUV
173.1
2
$60.59
$27.70
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lely, FL
Late night
in Lely on Monday
Local time
1:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
N 2 to 7 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Late night
in Tallahassee on Monday
Local time
1:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
WNW 0 to 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 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
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
7h 59m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 119.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 329.1 miles on I 75, meaning extended periods of cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur late in the drive, as you approach Tallahassee and transition to Mahan Drive. Expect a steady stream of exits and potential traffic merges as you navigate these major arteries.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 329.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Forest Hills Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 432.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (Forest Hills Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles (CR 864 / Rattlesnake Hammock Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 59m. Total distance: 432.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 59m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 329.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 48 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 48 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Forest Hills Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles (CR 864 / Rattlesnake Hammock Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 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.
