Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Scott Lake, FL to Tallahassee, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 36m
Distance
468.5 mi
754 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 29m
★
6 AM
8h 36m
8 AM
8h 52m
10 AM
8h 42m
12 PM
8h 40m
3 PM
8h 43m
5 PM
8h 51m
8 PM
8h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scott Lake, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Tallahassee, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Scott Lake, FL to Tallahassee, FL is 468.5 miles and takes about 8h 36m via Florida's Turnpike, I 75, and I 10, with a fuel budget near $82 and likely requiring an overnight stay. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from one part of the state to another. With a recommended two days for the drive, you can expect a mostly highway experience that covers a significant distance. It's a straightforward path if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
234.2 miles from Scott Lake, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 261.8 mi | 4h 44m |
| I 75 | 106.9 mi | 1h 54m |
| I 10 | 87.7 mi | 1h 34m |
| Mahan Drive | 6.7 mi | 11m |
| Northwest 27th Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Northwest 183rd Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Northwest 199th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Tennessee Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 261.8 mi, about 4h 44m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,188 veh/hr typical · worst 1,861
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Scott Lake, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on SR 860
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 183rd Street
2
Turn right onto SR 817
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 27th Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 199th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.9 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
262 mi
·
4 hr 44 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10
88 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 90
6.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 90
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Tennessee Street
13
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Pensacola Street
15
Turn left onto CR 1559
210 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Calhoun Street
16
Turn right onto US 27
339 ft
·
12 sec
·
Apalachee Parkway
17
Turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Monroe Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 36m driving time, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize your mileage, perhaps covering around 261.8 miles to align with the longest highway stretch. This pace should bring you to a logical stopping point with plenty of services. Your second day will be shorter, allowing for a more relaxed arrival in Tallahassee. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $82 estimate is based on covering 468.5 miles, and plan your stops accordingly, especially during the longer highway segments.
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 234.2 miles from Scott Lake, FL, or about 4h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.8 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 103 miles or 1h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234.2 miles or 4h 17m 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 234.2 miles or 4h 17m
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 25m
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 Scott Lake, 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 Scott Lake, FL
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tallahassee, FL
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Scott Lake, 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 261.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
234 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Orlando, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
234 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Orlando, FL after about 234 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 234.2 miles from Scott Lake, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 261.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 234 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Turkey Lake Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Fort Drum Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pompano Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Madison County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Madison County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Okahumpka Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Port Saint Lucie - Fort Pierce Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.2 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.2 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Busy Bee Truck Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
West Palm Beach Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Canoe Creek Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Suwannee County Rest Area Eastbound
0.3 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Northbound
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
40392
0.8 mi from route
40391
1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.5 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 372.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 817 / Northwest 27th Avenue
Turn right onto SR 817 / Northwest 27th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Northwest 199th Street
Turn right onto Northwest 199th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
265 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m 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
372.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 46m 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
372.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 46m 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
$70.92 one way
$141.84 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
164 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $77.82 | $155.64 |
| premium | $4.55 | $83.92 | $167.85 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $88.46 | $176.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $18.31
Florida's Turnpike
(261.6 mi)
$18.31
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
$71
Tolls
$18
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 140.6 | 1 | $49.19 | $22.49 |
| Efficient EV | 117.1 | 1 | $40.99 | $18.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 187.4 | 2 | $65.59 | $29.98 |
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Origin
Scott Lake, FL
Afternoon in Scott Lake on Monday
Local time
12:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 8 mph
30% chance
Live 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
Afternoon in Tallahassee on Monday
Local time
12:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
WNW 0 to 5 mph
15% chance
Live 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.
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
5 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
8h 36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway, with 97% of the driving on major roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway, 261.8 miles, on Florida's Turnpike. The transition from the turnpike to I-75, and then to I-10, means you'll be dealing with a high volume of exits and traffic merging for much of the trip. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of the 468.5 miles.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.8 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.8 miles in near SR 817 / Northwest 27th Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 468.5 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 0.8 miles (SR 817 / Northwest 27th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (Northwest 199th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 265 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft
7 ft
Total Climb
337 ft
Total Descent
139 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
~468.5 mi in
Elevation Range
198 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Scott Lake, FL
Full guide →Arriving in Tallahassee, FL
Full guide →Founded 1824
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.8 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 234 miles on day one.
Expect about $18.31 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 43 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 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (SR 817 / Northwest 27th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (Northwest 199th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 265 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.2 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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