This 273.4-mile drive from Temple Terrace, Florida, to Tallahassee, Florida, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 2 minutes of pure driving time. With a fuel cost projected at $46, it's an economical choice for a single-day adventure, with one recommended stop. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, making it a more engaging, turn-heavy experience than a typical interstate journey. The route stays within Florida, offering a direct connection between these two vibrant cities. Its manageable length and cost make it an excellent option if you're looking for a straightforward trip without the need for an overnight stay.
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
135.1 miles from Temple Terrace, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
169.4 mi
3h 1m
I 10
87.7 mi
1h 34m
Mahan Drive
6.7 mi
11m
East Fowler Avenue
2.5 mi
3m
North 56th Street
1 mi
1m
East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Franklin Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Ridgedale Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 169.4 mi, about 3h 1m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,614 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,562
Quietest
2 AM
~338 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Temple Terrace, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on Ridgedale Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Ridgedale Road
2
Turn left onto Mission Hills Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·Mission Hills Avenue
3
Turn right onto FL 583
1.0 mi·1 min·North 56th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn slight right
132 ft·5 sec
5
Turn right onto FL 582
2.5 mi·3 min·East Fowler Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
7
Merge onto I 75
169 mi·3 hr 1 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse 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 4-hour driving duration and its local road nature, consider an early morning departure from Temple Terrace to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. The route involves 273.4 miles and is best tackled in one day with one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially since the projected cost is $46. A practical tip for this 'turn-heavy local drive' is to have your GPS readily available and be prepared for frequent turns and speed adjustments, as there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches to relax into.
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 135.1 miles from Temple Terrace, FL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.4 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.1 miles or 2h 28m 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 1m
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 Temple Terrace, 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 Temple Terrace, FL
This is one driving day of about 270.1 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Temple Terrace, 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 169.4 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 0.3 and 174 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Mission Hills Avenue
Turn left onto Mission Hills Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|FL 583 / North 56th Street
Turn right onto FL 583 / North 56th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|FL 582 / East Fowler Avenue
Turn right onto FL 582 / East Fowler Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
173.9 mi into trip|~3h 9m 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
174 mi into trip|~3h 9m 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
$43.43 one way
$86.86 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$47.37
$94.75
premium
$4.78
$50.85
$101.70
diesel
$6.28
$66.74
$133.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81
1
$28.36
$12.96
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
EV Truck/SUV
108
1
$37.81
$17.29
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Temple Terrace, FL
Morning
in Temple Terrace on Friday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
NNE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 22 at 9:36AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 22 at 9:36AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Morning
in Tallahassee on Friday
Local time
6:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
N 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 22 at 9:36AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 22 at 9:36AM 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.
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
2 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 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 273.4-mile journey, as the highway share is 0%. This means you'll be on surface streets and local roads for the entire trip, with Mission Hills Avenue, North 56th Street, and East Fowler Avenue being key segments. Without any long highway stretches, the drive will likely feel more connected to the communities you pass through, offering a different pace than high-speed cruising. The constant turns and varied road conditions will keep you engaged behind the wheel, making the 4-hour duration feel more dynamic.
95% 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: 169.4 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Mission Hills Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 270.1 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.3 miles (Mission Hills Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (FL 583 / North 56th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (FL 582 / East Fowler Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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. Total distance: 270.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 169.4 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Mission Hills Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (FL 583 / North 56th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (FL 582 / East Fowler Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Tallahassee, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
