Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Tallahassee, FL to Winter Haven, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 22m
Distance
274.7 mi
442 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 9m
★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 30m
3 PM
5h 34m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tallahassee, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Winter Haven, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tallahassee to Winter Haven is 274.7 miles and takes about 5h 22m via I-75 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Florida, primarily utilizing major interstates for most of the trip. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive best suited for a single day. Plan for a relatively quick transit between these two points in the Sunshine State.
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
137.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 107.2 mi | 1h 54m |
| I 10 | 86.9 mi | 1h 33m |
| FL 33 | 21.2 mi | 27m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 19.2 mi | 20m |
| CR 557A | 8.1 mi | 13m |
| Mahan Drive | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| FL 19 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Commonwealth Avenue North | 5.3 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 107.2 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,481 veh/hr typical · worst 3,558
Quietest
2 AM
~399 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Winter Haven, 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 City
Use 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 296A
Toward 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
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 289
Toward US 27, FL 19: Tavares, Clermont
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
Exit 289
Toward US 27, FL 19: Tavares, Clermont
13
Merge onto US 27
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 27
14
Turn right onto O'Brien Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
O'Brien Road
15
Turn right onto FL 19
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
FL 19
16
Turn left onto FL 50; FL 33
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Orange Street
17
Continue on FL 33
21 mi
·
27 min
·
FL 33
18
Enter roundabout onto FL 33
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Commonwealth Avenue North
19
Continue on FL 33
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue North
20
Turn left onto FL 559
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Boulevard Southeast
21
Continue on CR 557A
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
CR 557A
22
Turn right onto US 17; US 92
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Shinn Boulevard
23
Continue on US 17; US 92
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Shore Way
24
Turn straight onto US 17
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
US 17
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn left onto West Central Avenue
68 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
West Central Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Tallahassee in the morning to give yourself ample time. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but it's wise to stretch your legs at least once during the 107.2-mile stretch on I-75. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches where services might be further apart. The estimated $48 fuel cost is a good baseline for budgeting, but factor in potential price variations. Your primary roads are well-serviced, so finding fuel and rest stops should be manageable.
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 137.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.2 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 60 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.4 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winter Haven, 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 274.7 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 75 for about 107.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.2 miles.
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.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.1 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Madison County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.1 mi from route
Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.1 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Okahumpka Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
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
Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Madison County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Suwannee County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)
0.2 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Northbound
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
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Southbound
0.3 mi from route
10201
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.8 mi from route
10202
0.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 274.7 — 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
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
8
222.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 27, FL 19: Tavares, Clermont
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 289
Toward US 27, FL 19: Tavares, Clermont
6
274.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m in
|
West Central Avenue
Turn left onto West Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.58 one way
$83.17 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $45.63 | $91.26 |
| premium | $4.55 | $49.21 | $98.42 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $51.87 | $103.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Florida's Turnpike
(19.2 mi)
$1.35
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
$42
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.84 | $13.19 |
| Efficient EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.04 | $10.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.9 | 1 | $38.46 | $17.58 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Morning in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph
32% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 11:36PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Winter Haven, FL
Morning in Winter Haven on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 0 to 3 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 11:36PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM 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.
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
5h 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 90% of this 274.7-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 107.2 miles on I-75, so expect long periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, with FL-33 likely being the final segment into Winter Haven. Be prepared for dense exits and potential traffic merging as you enter more populated areas toward the end of your drive.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Pensacola Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 274.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 (East Pensacola Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft
73 ft
Total Climb
148 ft
Total Descent
187 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
Elevation Range
132 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Winter Haven, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando and Clermont.
Florida's Turnpike South
203 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
203 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via Florida's Turnpike
Clermont
222.3 mi in
|
~4h 5m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Winter Haven, FL
Full guide →Founded 1884
Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County, Florida. The city was an agricultural center, but in the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a largely residential and manufacturing city. Winter Haven is home to Legoland and the "Chain of Lakes".
Top landmarks
- • Legoland Florida — vacation resort in Winter Haven, Florida
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 274.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.35 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 34 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 Winter Haven, 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 34 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 203 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Winter Haven, 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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