Wekiwa Springs to Tallahassee is 263.5 miles and takes about 5h via I-75, I-10, and Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you from Central Florida up into the Panhandle, mostly on major interstate highways. With a 90% highway share, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering distance efficiently. It's a solid one-day option if you're looking to get between these two points with minimal fuss.
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
131.7 miles from Wekiwa Springs, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
106.9 mi
1h 54m
I 10
87.7 mi
1h 34m
Florida's Turnpike
40 mi
42m
Western Beltway
7 mi
7m
Mahan Drive
6.7 mi
11m
Welch Road
2.5 mi
4m
Wekiva Springs Road
2.3 mi
4m
FL 451 Toll
1.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 106.9 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Wekiwa Springs, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on Green Lake Circle
0.1 mi·25 sec·Green Lake Circle
2
Turn right onto Blue Lake Drive
371 ft·21 sec·Blue Lake Drive
3
Turn left onto Green Lake Drive
395 ft·18 sec·Green Lake Drive
4
Turn right onto Sweetwater Boulevard South
0.4 mi·1 min·Sweetwater Boulevard South
5
Turn left onto Wekiva Springs Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Wekiva Springs Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Wekiwa Springs Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Wekiwa Springs Road
7
Turn right onto Welch Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Welch Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto CR 435
0.4 mi·38 sec·Rock Springs Road
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on CR 435
0.6 mi·1 min·N Park Avenue
10
Turn right onto Martin Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Martin Street
11
Turn left onto Vick Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Vick Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on FL 451 Toll
1.7 mi·1 min·FL 451 Toll
Use the left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi·1 min
Toward FL 429 Toll South: Orlando, TampaUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto FL 429 Toll
7.0 mi·7 min·Western Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 22Toward Florida’s Turnpike, Miami, OcalaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward Ocala, North Florida’s TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
40 mi·42 min·Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi·15 sec·Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: OcalaUse the straight lane.
19
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 10
88 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto US 90
6.7 mi·11 min·Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on US 90
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tennessee Street
25
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi·1 min·North Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Pensacola Street
27
Turn left onto CR 1559
210 ft·9 sec·South Calhoun Street
28
Turn right onto US 27
339 ft·12 sec·Apalachee Parkway
29
Turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft·1 sec·South Monroe Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Wekiwa Springs in the morning, perhaps around 8 or 9 AM, to arrive in Tallahassee with plenty of daylight. Since the route is mostly highway, you can comfortably complete it in one day without needing an overnight stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 106.9 miles on I-75, where services might be less frequent. Budget around $42 for fuel, and plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs or grab a snack. This route is flexible, so you can adjust your timing as needed.
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 131.7 miles from Wekiwa Springs, FL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.9 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 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.7 miles or 2h 32m 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 2m
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 Wekiwa Springs, 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 Wekiwa Springs, FL
This is one driving day of about 263.5 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Wekiwa Springs, 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 106.9 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 167.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.6 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 429 Toll South: Orlando, Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward FL 429 Toll South: Orlando, Tampa
8
19.3 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward Florida’s Turnpike, Miami, Ocala
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 22
Toward Florida’s Turnpike, Miami, Ocala
8
19.5 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Ocala, North Florida’s Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Ocala, North Florida’s Turnpike
8
167.2 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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
167.3 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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
$39.89 one way
$79.78 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$43.77
$87.54
premium
$4.55
$47.20
$94.40
diesel
$4.80
$49.75
$99.51
Estimated Tolls: $2.78
Florida's Turnpike
(39.7 mi)$2.78
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
$40
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.1
0
$27.67
$12.65
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.06
$10.54
EV Truck/SUV
105.4
1
$36.89
$16.86
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Wekiwa Springs, FL
Afternoon
in Wekiwa Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
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
Tallahassee, FL
Afternoon
in Tallahassee on Sunday
Local time
2:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph9% chanceLive forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 90% of the 263.5 miles on interstates like I-75 and I-10. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 106.9 miles on I-75 before you need to consider a significant change in direction or road type. Expect frequent exits and entry ramps as you navigate these major arteries across Florida. The bulk of the travel occurs on high-speed, controlled-access roads.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 263.5 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: at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
204 ft49 ft
Total Climb
344 ft
Total Descent
189 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
~263.5 mi in
Elevation Range
155 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wekiwa Springs, FL and Tallahassee, FL, road signs point toward Florida’s Turnpike, Miami and Ocala.
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: 263.5 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 (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.9 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.78 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tallahassee, FL before the return drive.
