Tallahassee to Surfside is 476.6 miles and takes about 8h 53m via Florida's Turnpike, I 75, and I 10, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight stop is recommended. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the Panhandle down to the southern part of the state. Given its mostly highway profile, it's a fairly direct trip, but the substantial distance and duration suggest breaking it up for a more relaxed experience. Plan for a solid day of driving if you aim to complete it in one go.
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
238.3 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
264.2 mi
4h 46m
I 75
107.2 mi
1h 54m
I 10
86.9 mi
1h 33m
Mahan Drive
6.5 mi
11m
Northeast 125th Street
1.7 mi
4m
I 95
1.7 mi
2m
Northeast 123rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
96th Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 264.2 mi, about 4h 46m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 19 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,207 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,073
Quietest
2 AM
~284 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.3×
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 Surfside, 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
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
264 mi·4 hr 46 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95, US 441, SR 826 West
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 95, US 441
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
1.7 mi·2 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 10AToward SR 922: Northwest 125th StreetUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto SR 922
0.7 mi·1 min·Northwest 125th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on SR 922
1.7 mi·4 min·Northeast 125th Street
18
Continue on SR 922
0.1 mi·19 sec·North Miami Boulevard
19
Continue on SR 922
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast 123rd Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on SR 922
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Causeway
21
Continue on SR 922
1.0 mi·2 min·96th Street
22
Turn right onto SR A1A
0.5 mi·1 min·Harding Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto 92nd Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·92nd Street
24
Turn left onto Carlyle Avenue
459 ft·20 sec·Carlyle Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Carlyle Avenue
Trip Plan
With an 8h 53m estimated drive time, this trip is best split over two days. Consider leaving Tallahassee in the morning and aiming for an overnight stop around the halfway point, perhaps near the junction of I 75 and I 10. This allows for a less rushed second day. Monitor your fuel levels, especially during the 264.2-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. Keeping your tank at least half full will provide peace of mind.
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 238.3 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 4h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.2 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 105 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 238.3 miles or 4h 23m 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 238.3 miles or 4h 23m
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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surfside, 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.
+
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 Tallahassee, FL
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Surfside, FL
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 miles from Tallahassee, 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 264.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 470.2 — 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
8
203 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
6
467.6 mi into trip|~8h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, US 441
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, US 441
7
468.4 mi into trip|~8h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 South
7
470.2 mi into trip|~8h 36m in
Take the exit toward SR 922: Northwest 125th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10A
Toward SR 922: Northwest 125th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$72.15 one way
$144.29 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg167 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$79.16
$158.33
premium
$4.55
$85.38
$170.75
diesel
$4.80
$89.99
$179.98
Estimated Tolls: $18.49
Florida's Turnpike
(264.2 mi)$18.49
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
$72
Tolls
$18
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$221–$331
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 166.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
143
1
$50.04
$22.88
Efficient EV
119.2
1
$41.70
$19.06
EV Truck/SUV
190.6
2
$66.72
$30.50
Gas CO2
167 kg
EV CO2
56 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.
Forecast as of Jul 13, 2026
Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Morning
in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
11:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 13 at 3:33AM EDT until July 14 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 12 at 7:09PM CDT until July 15 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Surfside, FL
Morning
in Surfside on Sunday
Local time
11:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 13 at 3:33AM EDT until July 14 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 12 at 7:09PM CDT until July 15 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
7 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
8h 53m 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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 476.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 97% highway, so expect continuous driving on major roads for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 264.2 miles on Florida's Turnpike. You'll notice dense exit activity as you transition between I 75 and I 10, requiring attention to navigation and traffic. Surface roads will only become prevalent in the final few miles as you approach your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 264.2 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near East Pensacola Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 476.6 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 203 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 467.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft2 ft
Total Climb
189 ft
Total Descent
391 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
Elevation Range
202 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tallahassee, FL and Surfside, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
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 264.2 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 238 miles on day one.
Expect about $18.49 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.
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 Surfside, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Pensacola Street): Navigation decision point; at 203 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 467.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Surfside, FL before the return drive.
