Traveling from Ormond Beach to Tallahassee covers 247 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 38 minutes of drive time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a one-day trip if you prefer a steady pace without the intensity of high-speed highway travel. You should budget approximately $41 for fuel to complete the journey. While the trip remains entirely within Florida, the transition from the coastal environment of Ormond Beach toward the state capital offers a distinct shift in scenery. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, factor in extra time if you plan to make your one suggested stop along the way. Ultimately, this journey is manageable for a single day, provided you are prepared for a consistent drive through local corridors.
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
123.5 miles from Ormond Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
148.3 mi
2h 39m
I 95
62.8 mi
1h 7m
West Beltway
19.7 mi
22m
Mahan Drive
6.7 mi
11m
US Highway 1
4.9 mi
7m
East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Yonge Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Franklin Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ormond Beach, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on this road
29 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Granada Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·West Granada Boulevard
3
Turn right onto US 1
0.6 mi·1 min·North Yonge Street
4
Continue on US 1
4.9 mi·7 min·US Highway 1
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: JacksonvilleUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 337Toward I 295 North: Beltway, Orange Park, Jacksonville BeachesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 295 North: Orange Park, West Beltway
9
Merge onto I 295
20 mi·22 min·West Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 21BToward I 10 West: Lake CityUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 10
148 mi·2 hr 39 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 90
6.7 mi·11 min·Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 90
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tennessee Street
14
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi·1 min·North Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Pensacola Street
16
Turn left onto CR 1559
210 ft·9 sec·South Calhoun Street
17
Turn right onto US 27
339 ft·12 sec·Apalachee Parkway
18
Turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 247-mile trek, try to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion that can accumulate on non-highway routes. Since you have one recommended stop, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive can be more tiring than a straight interstate shot. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout the trip, keeping the $41 estimate in mind as a baseline for your expenses. Because the route relies on local roads, remain flexible with your arrival time, as turns and local traffic signals will impact your speed. A pro tip for this specific drive is to pre-check your navigation for the initial segments on Granada and Yonge, as these local turns can be easy to miss when you are just starting out.
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 123.5 miles from Ormond Beach, FL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.5 miles or 2h 18m 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 43m
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 Ormond Beach, 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 Ormond Beach, FL
This is one driving day of about 247 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Ormond Beach, 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 148.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 90.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Jacksonville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Jacksonville
5
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Beltway, Orange Park, Jacksonville Beaches
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 337
Toward I 295 North: Beltway, Orange Park, Jacks...
6
69.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 North: Orange Park, West Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 North: Orange Park, West Beltway
7
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21B
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.32 one way
$78.63 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$42.77
$85.54
premium
$4.72
$45.93
$91.86
diesel
$5.61
$54.53
$109.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.1
0
$25.93
$11.86
Efficient EV
61.8
0
$21.61
$9.88
EV Truck/SUV
98.8
1
$34.58
$15.81
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ormond Beach, FL
Afternoon
in Ormond Beach on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Afternoon
in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
19 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
4h 38m 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 turn-heavy experience on this route, as it avoids high-speed interstates entirely in favor of local roads like West Granada Boulevard, North Yonge Street, and Highway 1. With a highway share of 0%, you won't encounter the typical monotonous interstate grind; instead, you will navigate a series of local transitions that demand your full attention. The road's personality is defined by its winding local nature rather than long, open stretches of pavement. You should be ready for frequent turns and a slower, more deliberate pace compared to a standard highway drive. This is a hands-on trip that requires you to stay engaged with the steering wheel as you navigate away from the coast.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 95. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
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 247 miles you will encounter 15 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 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ormond Beach, FL and Tallahassee, FL, road signs point toward Orange Park, Jacksonville Beaches and Beltway.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 247 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tallahassee, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
