Traveling from Lutz to Tallahassee covers 228.4 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 47 minutes of drive time. Because this is a relatively straightforward journey, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate via the Suncoast Parkway, Young Boulevard, and Suncoast Boulevard, experiencing a mixed driving profile that transitions through the Florida landscape. Budgeting around $38 for fuel should cover your trip expenses, making this an affordable excursion. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, the route is well-suited for those who prefer a single-day commitment over a multi-day trek.
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
114.2 miles from Lutz, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Young Boulevard
89.3 mi
1h 53m
Suncoast Parkway
48.5 mi
52m
Suncoast Boulevard
47 mi
59m
Apalachee Parkway
16.1 mi
23m
US 19
13 mi
16m
State Road 54
5 mi
7m
Gulf to Lake Highway
4.8 mi
7m
US 41
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Young Boulevard
— 89.3 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lutz, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on US 41
2.9 mi·4 min·US 41
2
Turn left onto FL 54
5.0 mi·7 min·State Road 54
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward North FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway, Brooksville
4
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
49 mi·52 min·Suncoast Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward FL 44: Gulf to Lake Highway
6
Turn left onto FL 44
4.8 mi·7 min·Gulf to Lake Highway
7
Continue on FL 44
0.9 mi·1 min·Northeast 5th Street
8
Turn right onto US 19; US 98
47 mi·59 min·Suncoast Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
89 mi·1 hr 53 min·Young Boulevard
10
Continue on US 19; US 27
13 mi·16 min·US 19; US 27
11
Continue on US 27
12 mi·15 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi·18 sec·Apalachee Parkway
13
Continue on US 27
4.2 mi·7 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
For the smoothest trip, plan your departure to account for the nearly 5-hour duration, keeping in mind that you only need one scheduled stop to stay refreshed. Since the total distance is 228.4 miles, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions. Given the $38 fuel estimate, it is wise to check your levels before hitting the longest 89.3-mile stretch on Young Boulevard to avoid unnecessary anxiety. Use that single planned stop as a mid-trip reset to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Prioritizing an early start will help you reach Tallahassee well before sunset, maximizing your time once you arrive at your destination.
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 114.2 miles from Lutz, FL, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.3 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.2 miles or 2h 19m 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 52m
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 Lutz, 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 Lutz, FL
This is one driving day of about 228.4 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Lutz, 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 Young Boulevard for about 89.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
$1 to $10
Tallahassee, Florida
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+18505659955
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 228.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in|FL 54 / State Road 54
Turn left onto FL 54 / State Road 54
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
7.9 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward North FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway, Brooksville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward North FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway, Bro...
5
8.4 mi into trip|~12m in|FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway
Merge onto FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
63 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|US 19; US 98 / Suncoast Boulevard
Turn right onto US 19; US 98 / Suncoast Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
228.4 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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
$36.36 one way
$72.71 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$39.55
$79.09
premium
$4.72
$42.47
$84.94
diesel
$5.61
$50.43
$100.86
Estimated Tolls: $2.91
Suncoast Parkway
(48.5 mi)$2.91
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
$36
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.5
0
$23.98
$10.96
Efficient EV
57.1
0
$19.99
$9.14
EV Truck/SUV
91.4
1
$31.98
$14.62
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Lutz, FL
Morning
in Lutz on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Morning
in Tallahassee on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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
1 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
4h 47m 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 varied experience behind the wheel, as this 228.4-mile route is categorized as a mixed drive. Roughly 35% of your travel occurs on highways, balanced by local stretches that keep the journey engaging. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 89.3 miles along Young Boulevard, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm. The transition between fast-paced parkways and local boulevards ensures the drive does not feel like a monotonous interstate grind. By switching road types, the route keeps you alert and provides a practical look at the infrastructure connecting these two Florida locations.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.3 mi on Young Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near FL 54 / State Road 54.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (FL 54 / State Road 54): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles (FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
The longest stretch is about 89.3 miles on Young Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.91 in tolls one way, starting with Suncoast Parkway. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (FL 54 / State Road 54): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles (FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Tallahassee, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
