Trip from Tallahassee, FL to Apollo Beach, FL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 21m

Distance

288.8 mi

465 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 8m ★

6 AM

5h 21m

8 AM

5h 48m

10 AM

5h 31m

12 PM

5h 28m

3 PM

5h 32m

5 PM

5h 47m

8 PM

5h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Tallahassee, FL to Apollo Beach, FL covers 288.8 miles and takes about 5h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, I 10, Mahan Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 187.7 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.97 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

144.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 288.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 21m highway drive covering 288.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and I 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 187.7 miles on 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 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 187.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near East Pensacola Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 288.8 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: near the start (East Pensacola Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 256.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 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 | 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

7

256.4 mi into trip | ~4h 42m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward South I 75: Naples

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward South I 75: Naples

7

283.6 mi into trip | ~5h 11m in

Take the exit toward CR 672: Apollo Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 246 Toward CR 672: Apollo Beach

6

284.1 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CR 672 West: Apollo Beach, Manatee Viewing Centre

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CR 672 West: Apollo Beach, Manatee Viewi...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 75	187.7 mi	3h 21m
I 10	86.9 mi	1h 33m
Mahan Drive	6.5 mi	11m
Tamiami Trail	1.8 mi	2m
Big Bend Road	1.5 mi	2m
Apollo Beach Boulevard	1 mi	1m
East Tennessee Street	0.6 mi	1m
South Franklin Boulevard	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 75 — 187.7 mi, about 3h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tallahassee, FL and Apollo Beach, 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

161 mi · 2 hr 52 min · I 75

Use the straight lane.

10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

27 mi · 29 min · I 75

Toward South I 75: Naples Use the straight / slight right lanes.

11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 246 Toward CR 672: Apollo Beach Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward CR 672 West: Apollo Beach, Manatee Viewing Centre

13

Turn straight onto CR 672

1.5 mi · 2 min · Big Bend Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

14

Turn left onto US 41

1.8 mi · 2 min · Tamiami Trail

Use the left lane.

15

Turn right onto Apollo Beach Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Apollo Beach Boulevard

16

Turn left onto Fairway Boulevard

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Fairway Boulevard

17

Arrive at destination

Fairway Boulevard

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 144.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.7 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 64 miles or 1h 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 144.4 miles or 2h 42m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apollo Beach, 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 288.8 miles and 5h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 187.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 144.4 mi from Tallahassee, FL · 2h 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gainesville, FL

144 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

Live Oak, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gainesville, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 187.7 miles.

Arriving in Apollo Beach, FL

The final approach into Apollo Beach, 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 Apollo Beach, FL.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

De Soto National Memorial

National Memorial

In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...

23 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 288.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.97 one way

$91.94 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$50.01	$100.01
premium	$4.72	$53.70	$107.40
diesel	$5.61	$63.76	$127.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 101 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	86.6	1	$30.32	$13.86
Efficient EV	72.2	0	$25.27	$11.55
EV Truck/SUV	115.5	1	$40.43	$18.48

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Tallahassee, FL

Afternoon in Tallahassee on Thursday

Local time

3:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Apollo Beach, FL

Afternoon in Apollo Beach on Thursday

Local time

3:51 PM

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

17 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 21m 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 Tallahassee, FL to Apollo Beach, FL covers 288.8 miles and takes about 5h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 75, I 10, Mahan Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 144.4 miles from Tallahassee, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.97 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 is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 288.8 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: near the start (East Pensacola Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 256.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Tallahassee, FL to Apollo Beach, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include De Soto National Memorial.

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