Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Afternoon in Tallahassee on Saturday
Local time
2:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
251.4 mi
405 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tallahassee, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Daytona Beach, FL
Brent Singleton
The drive from Tallahassee, FL to Daytona Beach, FL covers 251.4 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, I 95, West Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 147.1 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.02 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
125.7 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 147.1 mi | 2h 37m |
| I 95 | 62.8 mi | 1h 7m |
| West Beltway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| Mahan Drive | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| US Highway 1 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Ridgewood Avenue | 4 mi | 9m |
| South Yonge Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Tennessee Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tallahassee, FL and Daytona Beach, FL.
Start on US 27; FL 61
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
Turn left onto CR 1555
Turn right onto US 90
Continue on US 90
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn left onto US 92
Arrive at destination
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.
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 55 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.7 miles or 2h 22m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Daytona Beach, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 251.4 miles and 4h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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.
A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 125.7 miles from Tallahassee, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 155.7 and 239.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 295: Daytona Beach, Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / West Beltway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Daytona Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 1: Ormond Beach, Bunnell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$40.02 one way
$80.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $43.53 | $87.06 |
| premium | $4.72 | $46.75 | $93.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.51 | $111.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.40 | $12.07 |
| Efficient EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.00 | $10.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.20 | $16.09 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Tallahassee on Saturday
Local time
2:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Daytona Beach on Saturday
Local time
2:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...
National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 251.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 147.1 miles on I 10.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 155.7 miles in.
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 251.4 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 155.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.2 miles (I 295 / West Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tallahassee, FL to Daytona Beach, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Savannah along the way.
Savannah
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 251.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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