The drive from Jacksonville, FL to Apalachicola, FL covers 242 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, US 319, US 98 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 136.3 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
121 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 242 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 (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h highway drive covering 242 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and US 319. The longest continuous stretch is about 136.3 miles on I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 136.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 319. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street.
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 242 miles you will encounter 12 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 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (US 17; FL 228): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 17; FL 228
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228 toward I 95 South: Jacksonville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South: Jacksonville
7
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 351A
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
6
150.8 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|FL 59 / Gamble Road
Turn left onto FL 59 / Gamble Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jacksonville, FL and Apalachicola, FL, road signs point toward Perry and Thomasville.
Perry
139.1 mi in|~2h 33m
Thomasville
139.1 mi in|~2h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
136.3 mi
2h 27m
US 319
32.5 mi
49m
US 98
23.8 mi
31m
Gamble Road
17.6 mi
24m
Sopchoppy Highway
17 mi
24m
US 27
6.6 mi
8m
Florida Georgia Parkway
4.8 mi
6m
US 17
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 136.3 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, FL and Apalachicola, FL.
1
Start on US 17
210 ft·12 sec·Union Street
2
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
281 ft·15 sec·Ocean Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.3 mi·36 sec·Kings Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17; FL 228
Toward I 95 South: JacksonvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 351AToward I 10 West: Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
136 mi·2 hr 27 min·I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 19: Monticello, Perry, Thomasville
9
Turn left onto US 19
4.8 mi·6 min·Florida Georgia Parkway
10
Turn right onto US 27
6.6 mi·8 min·US 27
11
Turn left onto FL 59
4.6 mi·6 min·Gamble Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on FL 59
13 mi·18 min·Gamble Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 98
24 mi·31 min·US 98
14
Turn slight right onto US 319
6.5 mi·9 min·Sopchoppy Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 319
11 mi·14 min·Sopchoppy Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 319
32 mi·49 min·US 319
17
Turn left onto Avenue C
456 ft·22 sec·Avenue C
18
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·5th Street
19
Arrive at destination
5th Street
Trip Plan
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 121 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.3 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 53 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121 miles or 2h 14m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apalachicola, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 242 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Jacksonville, 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 10 for about 136.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121 mi from Jacksonville, FL
· 2h 14m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.6
0
$25.41
$11.62
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
EV Truck/SUV
96.8
1
$33.88
$15.49
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Friday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Apalachicola, FL
Morning
in Apalachicola on Friday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live 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
4 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jacksonville, FL to Apalachicola, FL covers 242 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, US 319, US 98. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121 miles from Jacksonville, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 242 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (US 17; FL 228): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Jacksonville, FL and Apalachicola, FL, road signs point toward Perry and Thomasville.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
