Origin
North Key Largo, FL
Morning in North Key Largo on Monday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Key Largo, FL to Tallahassee, FL
Drive Time
9h 52m
Distance
531.1 mi
855 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$89
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 44m
★
6 AM
9h 53m
8 AM
10h 10m
10 AM
9h 59m
12 PM
9h 57m
3 PM
10h 0m
5 PM
10h 10m
8 PM
9h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from North Key Largo, FL to Tallahassee, FL covers 531.1 miles and takes about 9h 52m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, I 75, I 10 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 260.8 miles on Florida's Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $88.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
265.5 miles from North Key Largo, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 531.1 miles and 9h 52m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Florida's Turnpike and I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Florida's Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 260.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 19.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 531.1 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 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327.6 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
8
66.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
7
327.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 7m in
|
Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
8
434.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 2m 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
435 mi into trip
|
~8h 2m 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
Towns Along This Route
Between North Key Largo, FL and Tallahassee, FL, road signs point toward Orlando and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
Orlando
66.1 mi in
|
~1h 22m
|
via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike Toll North
66.1 mi in
|
~1h 22m
|
via Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 260.8 mi | 4h 43m |
| I 75 | 106.9 mi | 1h 54m |
| I 10 | 87.7 mi | 1h 34m |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 47.4 mi | 55m |
| Card Sound Road | 16.5 mi | 23m |
| Mahan Drive | 6.7 mi | 11m |
| CR 905 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Dixie Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 260.8 mi, about 4h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Key Largo, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
1
Start on CR 905
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
CR 905
2
Turn left onto CR 905A
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Card Sound Road
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward US 1 North: Miami
4
Merge onto US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Dixie Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
261 mi
·
4 hr 43 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 75
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 10
88 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 90
6.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Mahan Drive
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 90
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Tennessee Street
19
Turn left onto CR 1555
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Pensacola Street
21
Turn left onto CR 1559
210 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Calhoun Street
22
Turn right onto US 27
339 ft
·
12 sec
·
Apalachee Parkway
23
Turn right onto US 27; FL 61
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Monroe Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 27; FL 61
Trip Plan
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 265.5 miles from North Key Largo, FL, or about 4h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.8 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 117 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 265.5 miles or 4h 59m 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 265.5 miles or 4h 59m
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 8h 41m
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 North Key Largo, 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 North Key Largo, FL
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tallahassee, FL
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from North Key Largo, 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 260.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 265.5 mi from North Key Largo, FL · 4h 59m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
175 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
351 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Orlando, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
266 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Palm Bay, FL after about 266 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 265.5 miles from North Key Largo, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 260.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 266 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.
Arriving in Tallahassee, FL
The final approach into Tallahassee, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tallahassee, FL.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Tallahassee, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$88.72 one way
$177.44 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
186 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $96.10 | $192.20 |
| premium | $4.90 | $102.37 | $204.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $117.99 | $235.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $21.08
Florida's Turnpike
(260.5 mi)
$18.24
Homestead Extension
(47.4 mi)
$2.84
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
$89
Tolls
$21
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$240–$350
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 185.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 159.3 | 1 | $55.77 | $25.49 |
| Efficient EV | 132.8 | 1 | $46.47 | $21.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 212.4 | 2 | $74.35 | $33.99 |
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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.
Destination
Tallahassee, FL
Morning in Tallahassee on Monday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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.
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
4 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
9h 52m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from North Key Largo, FL to Tallahassee, FL covers 531.1 miles and takes about 9h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Florida's Turnpike, I 75, I 10. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 266 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 265.5 miles from North Key Largo, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $88.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 531.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327.6 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between North Key Largo, FL and Tallahassee, FL, road signs point toward Orlando and Florida's Turnpike Toll North.
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