Tallahassee to DeBary is 248.6 miles and takes about 5h 3m via I 10, I 75, and Fort Brooks Road, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving generally southeast from the panhandle toward the central part of the state. With most of the drive on major highways, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. Expect a relatively quick transit time, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
124.3 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
86.9 mi
1h 33m
I 75
77.4 mi
1h 22m
Fort Brooks Road
39.2 mi
54m
Northeast 70th Street
7.6 mi
10m
Mahan Drive
6.5 mi
11m
South US Highway 1
5.5 mi
7m
North Spring Garden Avenue
5.1 mi
8m
Volusia Avenue
4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 33m
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
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 Tallahassee, FL and DeBary, FL.
1
Start on US 27; FL 61
181 ft·8 sec·South Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·East Pensacola Street
3
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi·1 min·South Franklin Boulevard
4
Turn right onto US 90
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tennessee Street
5
Continue on US 90
6.5 mi·11 min·Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Lake CityUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 10
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 10
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
9
Merge onto I 75
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 358Toward FL 326
11
Keep slight left at fork
177 ft·11 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto SR 326
0.2 mi·24 sec·SR 326
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on FL 326
1.2 mi·1 min·FL 326
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on FL 326
2.4 mi·3 min·Northwest 70th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on FL 326
7.6 mi·10 min·Northeast 70th Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto FL 40
39 mi·54 min·Fort Brooks Road
17
Turn right onto US 17
5.5 mi·7 min·South US Highway 1
Use the right lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto US 17
117 ft·1 sec·North US Highway 17
19
Continue on US 17
3.8 mi·5 min·North US Highway 17
20
Take the exit
254 ft·6 sec
21
Continue on FL 15A
5.1 mi·8 min·North Spring Garden Avenue
22
Continue on FL 15A
1.4 mi·2 min·South State Road 15a
23
Continue on FL 15A
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Taylor Road
24
Turn right onto US 17; US 92
1.4 mi·2 min·South Woodland Boulevard
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on US 17; US 92
0.7 mi·57 sec·South Woodland Boulevard
26
Continue on US 17; US 92
4.0 mi·6 min·Volusia Avenue
27
Continue on US 17; US 92
2.0 mi·3 min·Charles Richard Beall Boulevard
28
Arrive at destination
US 17; US 92
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Tallahassee in the morning should allow you to reach DeBary with plenty of daylight. There's only one recommended stop, so plan to refuel before you depart or when you're about halfway through the 86.9-mile stretch on I 10. The $39 fuel estimate is based on the total mileage, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 124.3 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 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 55 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.3 miles or 2h 20m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near DeBary, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tallahassee, 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 Tallahassee, FL
This is one driving day of about 248.6 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Tallahassee, 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 86.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 173.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Pensacola Street
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.9 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Lake City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Lake City
5
95.5 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I-75 South: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 296A
Toward I-75 South: Tampa
6
173.7 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
173.8 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|SR 326
Turn left onto SR 326
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.63 one way
$75.27 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.29
$82.59
premium
$4.55
$44.53
$89.07
diesel
$4.80
$46.94
$93.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.6
0
$26.10
$11.93
Efficient EV
62.2
0
$21.75
$9.94
EV Truck/SUV
99.4
1
$34.80
$15.91
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Night
in Tallahassee on Monday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSE 10 mph55% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 3:43PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 3:39PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Destination
DeBary, FL
Night
in DeBary on Monday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 3:43PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 3:39PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin 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
3 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
5h 3m 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?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 70% of the total mileage on interstates. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on I 10, covering 86.9 miles. After the interstate sections, the route transitions to Fort Brooks Road, which is a surface road. Expect a high number of exits and interchanges during the highway portions of this drive.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.9 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Pensacola Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 248.6 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: near the start (East Pensacola Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 95.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 5h 3m. Total distance: 248.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.9 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 DeBary, 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Pensacola Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 95.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at DeBary, FL before the return drive.
