Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Morning in Tallahassee on Thursday
Local time
9:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tallahassee, FL to Haines City, FL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 13m
Distance
269.3 mi
433 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 0m
★
6 AM
5h 14m
8 AM
5h 41m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 25m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tallahassee, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Haines City, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tallahassee, FL to Haines City, FL covers 269.3 miles and takes about 5h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Pensacola Street, South Franklin Boulevard, East Tennessee Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.87 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
134.7 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 269.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 13m drive with frequent turns across 269.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Pensacola Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tallahassee, FL to Haines City, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Pensacola Street | — | — |
| South Franklin Boulevard | — | — |
| East Tennessee Street | — | — |
| Mahan Drive | — | — |
| I 10 East | — | — |
| I-75 South | — | — |
| Florida's Turnpike South | — | — |
| Minneola | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Pensacola Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tallahassee, FL and Haines City, FL.
1
Start on South Monroe Street
180 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto East Pensacola Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Pensacola Street
3
Turn left onto South Franklin Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Franklin Boulevard
4
Turn right onto East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Tennessee Street
5
Continue on Mahan Drive
6.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Mahan Drive
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Lake City
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 East: Lake City
7
Merge slight left
87 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
I-75 South: Tampa
9
Merge slight left
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
10
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
11
Take the exit slight right toward Minneola
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Minneola
12
Turn right onto North Hancock Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Hancock Road
13
Turn right onto North Ridge Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Ridge Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Citrus Tower Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Citrus Tower Boulevard
15
Continue on Citrus Tower Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Citrus Tower Road
16
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
17
Continue straight
11 mi
·
14 min
18
Continue straight
13 mi
·
18 min
19
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
20
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
21
Continue straight
2.5 mi
·
3 min
22
Turn left onto Bates Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bates Road
23
At the end of the road, turn right
1.5 mi
·
2 min
24
Turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Johnson Avenue
25
Arrive at your destination
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 134.7 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
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 59 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.7 miles or 2h 36m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Haines City, 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 269.3 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 134.7 mi from Tallahassee, FL · 2h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 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
Arriving in Haines City, FL
The final approach into Haines City, 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 Haines City, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.87 one way
$85.73 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $46.63 | $93.26 |
| premium | $4.72 | $50.07 | $100.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.46 | $118.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.8 | 0 | $28.28 | $12.93 |
| Efficient EV | 67.3 | 0 | $23.56 | $10.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.7 | 1 | $37.70 | $17.24 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Haines City, FL
Morning in Haines City on Thursday
Local time
9:21 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.
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
20 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 13m 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 Haines City, FL covers 269.3 miles and takes about 5h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Pensacola Street, South Franklin Boulevard, East Tennessee Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 134.7 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 $42.87 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 straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tallahassee, FL to Haines City, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tallahassee, FL to Haines City, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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