Tallahassee to Shady Hills is 207 miles and takes about 4 hours 28 minutes via US 27 and US 19, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Florida, taking you from the state capital region down towards the Tampa Bay area. Given its mostly highway nature and manageable duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making for a straightforward transit between these two points.
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
103.5 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
94.1 mi
1h 58m
US 19
55.2 mi
1h 10m
Suncoast Parkway
30 mi
32m
Apalachee Parkway
16.1 mi
23m
Gulf to Lake Highway
4.7 mi
7m
County Line Road
3.4 mi
6m
Monteverde Drive
1.6 mi
6m
Northeast 5th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 94.1 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tallahassee, FL and Shady Hills, FL.
1
Start on US 27; FL 61
31 ft·3 sec·South Monroe Street
2
Turn left onto US 27
16 mi·23 min·Apalachee Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 27
94 mi·1 hr 58 min·US 27
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
55 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto FL 44
0.9 mi·1 min·Northeast 5th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on FL 44
4.7 mi·7 min·Gulf to Lake Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway
8
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
30 mi·32 min·Suncoast Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 37Toward CR 578: County Line RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
11
Turn straight onto CR 578
3.4 mi·6 min·County Line Road
12
Turn left onto Monteverde Drive
1.6 mi·6 min·Monteverde Drive
13
Turn left onto Dalberg Drive
137 ft·6 sec·Dalberg Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Dalberg Drive
Trip Plan
For this 207-mile drive, leaving Tallahassee in the morning will give you ample time to reach Shady Hills before evening. With a duration of around 4 hours and 28 minutes, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Consider making your single planned stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Since the longest continuous stretch is over 94 miles on US 27, be sure to fill up your tank before you hit that segment, especially if you're trying to stay within the estimated $36 fuel cost.
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 103.5 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.1 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 46 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.5 miles or 2h 13m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shady Hills, 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 207 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 US 27 for about 94.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 201.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 27 / Apalachee Parkway
Turn left onto US 27 / Apalachee Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
165.4 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|FL 44 / Northeast 5th Street
Turn left onto FL 44 / Northeast 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
171 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Take the ramp toward FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway
Navigation decision point
Toward FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway
7
201.4 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Take the exit toward CR 578: County Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 37
Toward CR 578: County Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.34 one way
$62.67 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.38
$68.77
premium
$4.55
$37.08
$74.16
diesel
$4.80
$39.09
$78.17
Estimated Tolls: $1.80
Suncoast Parkway
(30 mi)$1.80
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
$31
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.1
0
$21.74
$9.94
Efficient EV
51.8
0
$18.11
$8.28
EV Truck/SUV
82.8
1
$28.98
$13.25
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Morning
in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
ESE 0 to 5 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shady Hills, FL
Morning
in Shady Hills on Sunday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 6 to 12 mph72% chanceLive 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 28m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 207 miles on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 94.1 miles on US 27 before transitioning to other highways. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the majority of the trip. The route concludes with a shift from highway driving to more local roads as you approach Shady Hills.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.1 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and US 19. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 27 / Apalachee Parkway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 207 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (US 27 / Apalachee Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.4 miles (FL 44 / Northeast 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft8 ft
Total Climb
91 ft
Total Descent
240 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
Elevation Range
196 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 4h 28m. Total distance: 207 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.1 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.80 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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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: near the start (US 27 / Apalachee Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.4 miles (FL 44 / Northeast 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Shady Hills, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
