Palmetto Estates to Tallahassee is 497.4 miles and takes about 9h 9m via Florida's Turnpike and I-75, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This trip stays within Florida, beginning in the southern part of the state and heading north towards the panhandle. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a fairly direct and efficient transit. This route is best suited for those prioritizing speed and a straightforward drive over frequent stops or scenic detours.
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
248.7 miles from Palmetto Estates, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 35m 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
29.7 mi
33m
Mahan Drive
6.7 mi
11m
State Road 821 Access Road
1.3 mi
2m
Southwest 160th Street
0.8 mi
2m
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 Palmetto Estates, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on Southwest 104th Avenue
260 ft·11 sec·Southwest 104th Avenue
2
Turn right onto Southwest 160th Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Southwest 160th Street
3
Turn right onto Southwest 112th Avenue
0.5 mi·59 sec·Southwest 112th Avenue
4
Turn left onto SR 992
0.3 mi·38 sec·Southwest 152nd Street
5
Turn right onto State Road 821 Access Road
1.3 mi·2 min·State Road 821 Access Road
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward Florida's Turnpike North: Miami International Airport, OrlandoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1.6 mi·2 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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 9h 9m duration, splitting this 497.4-mile drive over two days is a wise choice to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning if you plan to drive for a full day, or break it up by stopping around the halfway point. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 260 miles on Florida's Turnpike, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer highway portions, and budget around $76 for gas.
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 248.7 miles from Palmetto Estates, FL, or about 4h 35m 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 109 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 248.7 miles or 4h 35m 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 248.7 miles or 4h 35m
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 7h 58m
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 Palmetto Estates, 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 Palmetto Estates, FL
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tallahassee, FL
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Palmetto Estates, 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 3 and 401.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike North: Miami International Airport, Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike North: Miami Internat...
8
32.3 mi into trip|~39m 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
293.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m 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
401.1 mi into trip|~7h 19m 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
401.2 mi into trip|~7h 19m 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
$79.98 one way
$159.95 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg174 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.44
$86.99
$173.97
premium
$4.78
$93.57
$187.13
diesel
$6.18
$121.00
$242.00
Estimated Tolls: $20.02
Florida's Turnpike
(260.5 mi)$18.24
Homestead Extension
(29.7 mi)$1.78
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
$80
Tolls
$20
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$230–$340
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
149.2
1
$52.23
$23.88
Efficient EV
124.4
1
$43.52
$19.90
EV Truck/SUV
199
2
$69.64
$31.83
Gas CO2
174 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (67% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Palmetto Estates, FL
Evening
in Palmetto Estates on Sunday
Local time
5:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 12 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:56AM EDT until October 20 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:21AM EDT until October 18 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Evening
in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
5:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:56AM EDT until October 20 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:21AM EDT until October 18 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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.
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
23 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
9h 9m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a predominantly highway drive, with 98% of the 497.4 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike, indicating a significant period of consistent cruising. The profile is mostly highway, meaning you'll experience fewer turns and more straightforward travel. Expect dense exit activity as you navigate between these major arteries.
98% 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?
9/10
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 3 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 19 significant decision points across 497.4 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 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.3 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 293.9 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft8 ft
Total Climb
320 ft
Total Descent
123 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
~501.2 mi in
Elevation Range
196 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Palmetto Estates, FL and Tallahassee, FL, road signs point toward Orlando and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
Orlando
32.3 mi in|~39m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
32.3 mi in|~39m|via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
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 249 miles on day one.
Expect about $20.02 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 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.3 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 293.9 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 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.
