Origin
Tallahassee, FL
Afternoon in Tallahassee on Monday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tallahassee, FL to Key West, FL
Drive Time
12h 40m
Distance
637.8 mi
1,026 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$107
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
12h 29m
★
6 AM
12h 40m
8 AM
13h 3m
10 AM
12h 48m
12 PM
12h 46m
3 PM
12h 49m
5 PM
13h 2m
8 PM
12h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Key West, FL
Arian Fernandez
Trip Overview
The drive from Tallahassee, FL to Key West, FL covers 637.8 miles and takes about 12h 40m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on East Pensacola Street, South Franklin Boulevard, East Tennessee Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $106.54 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
318.9 miles from Tallahassee, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 637.8 miles and 12h 40m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are East Pensacola Street and South Franklin Boulevard.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 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?
At 12h 40m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 12h 40m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tallahassee, FL to Key West, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Pensacola Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Franklin Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Tennessee Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mahan Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Florida's Turnpike South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Florida's Turnpike Toll South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Pensacola Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tallahassee, FL and Key West, 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
261 mi
·
4 hr 43 min
·
Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
11
Take the exit slight right toward Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike Toll South, Homestead
12
Keep slight left to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
47 mi
·
54 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
13
Keep slight left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
14
Merge slight left onto Dixie Highway
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Dixie Highway
15
Continue on Overseas Highway
104 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
·
Overseas Highway
16
Turn right onto North Roosevelt Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Roosevelt Boulevard
17
Turn left onto George Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
George Street
18
Arrive at your destination
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 318.9 miles from Tallahassee, FL, or about 6h 20m into the drive.
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 140 miles or 2h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 318.9 miles or 6h 20m 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 318.9 miles or 6h 20m
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 11h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Key West, 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.
+
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 Tallahassee, FL
Aim for roughly 319 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Key West, FL
Aim for roughly 319 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 140 miles from Tallahassee, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 318.9 mi from Tallahassee, FL · 6h 20m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
210 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
421 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 Doral, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
319 mi · about 6.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Pembroke Pines, FL after about 319 miles or 6.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 140 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 318.9 miles from Tallahassee, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 319 miles or 6.3 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
Arriving in Key West, FL
The final approach into Key West, 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 Key West, FL.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Key West, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$106.54 one way
$213.09 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
223 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $115.41 | $230.81 |
| premium | $4.90 | $122.94 | $245.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $141.70 | $283.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$107
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$237–$347
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 223.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $67 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 191.3 | 2 | $66.97 | $30.61 |
| Efficient EV | 159.5 | 1 | $55.81 | $25.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 255.1 | 3 | $89.29 | $40.82 |
Gas CO2
223 kg
EV CO2
75 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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
Key West, FL
Afternoon in Key West on Monday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
14 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
12h 40m 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 Tallahassee, FL to Key West, FL covers 637.8 miles and takes about 12h 40m 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.
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 319 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 318.9 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 $106.54 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 12h 40m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tallahassee, FL to Key West, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tallahassee, FL to Key West, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Key West, FL
More trips to Key West, FL
Explore more options from Tallahassee, FL or browse trips ending in Key West, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.
Explore maps for Tallahassee, FL or Key West, FL on MapSof.net.