Hi there!
Driving directly from Tallahassee to Orlando is around 4 hours.
You would be driving along I-10 and I-75 for much of the way.
The distance from Tallahassee to Orlando is around 260 miles by driving this quickest route.
Explore the map.
Or, you can also mostly skip the interstate and take your time and make stops along the way!
Of course there are many different ways to get from Tallahassee to Orlando.
And a 4 hour drive is doable in one day.
Consider the list below some ideas of stops to make along the way if you want to make it a multi-day drive!
Or you might even be able to make it a long day with just 1 stop, or more if you’re quick!
And you might even have a chance to see turtles and alligators!
You can go to state parks and a national forest.
Florida road trip to state parks between Tallahassee and Orlando
The Tallahassee to Orlando driving route below includes a few Florida state parks.
The Florida Park Service says that you can see the “real Florida” when you go to state parks.
In general, Florida state parks have an entry fee. This may be around $4 to $6 per car for the trip below.
If you plan on making this the year of visiting many Florida state parks, then there is also an annual Florida state park pass that you can buy when you arrive at any Florida state park that is staffed.
Florida state parks also have picnic tables so they can also make for a perfect stop for a picnic.
So stop by a Publix grocery store for prepared food or picnic food and eat your meal outdoors with views!
🌞
Now…
What is there to see between Tallahassee to Orlando?
Explore the map. Play around with this map by adding and removing destinations to see how much of a detour (aka how much extra driving time) each stop requires!
Now, starting the drive from Tallahassee…
1. Wakulla Springs State Park
Cost: $6 per car for state park entry + $7.50 per person for Wakulla Springs State Park boat tour
This starts as a 20 minute drive from Tallahassee.
So if you have a few days in Tallahassee, you can do this on another day, instead of spending time on your driving day to go here.
Or, you can make this your first stop on your way to Orlando!
Wakulla Springs are one of the Florida springs that you can go swimming in.
But the reason to go to Wakulla Springs State Park is for the boat tour!
You have a chance to see some wildlife, including possibly alligators in Wakulla Springs State Park!
Unfortunately when I went, the weather wasn’t the best for alligator sightings, but I still saw around 5 alligators.
👆 Spot the alligator!
Although 5 alligators is nothing compared to another boat tour I did near Orlando. But how many alligators you see on these boat tours is always all about the weather: water temperature, air temperature, and sunny vs overcast will affect whether alligators are out or not!
Apparently there is a stretch that the Wakulla Springs boat goes by that a ton of alligators like to lay around, but because of the weather conditions, they stayed in the water the time the boat went by and there were none in that particular spot.
But despite not seeing as many alligators as you can in optimal conditions, I still thought the boat tour was worth it.
It was a nice boat ride through the “real Florida” as the people of Florida State Parks like to say!
There have also been jungle movies filmed in what is now Wakulla Springs State Park.
There is no camping in Wakulla Springs State Park, but there is the Lodge at Wakulla Springs for overnight lodging in Wakulla Springs State Park.
You can also go dining at the lodge after your boat tour.
You also make the Wakulla Springs boat tour reservations through the lodge.
Explore the map of Tallahassee to Wakulla Springs State Park to Orlando.
2. Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
Cost: $6 per car
There are said to be over 1,000 springs in Florida!
Many of these Florida springs are for swimming, and the reason to stop by Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park can be for swimming or kayaking… or just the views!
According to Florida State Parks, the water temperature of Gilchrist Blue Springs is a constant 72 degrees year-round.
This means that in theory, you can go swimming in Florida springs any time of year, as long as you don’t mind the cooler air temperature outside of summer!
Bring goggles so you can see the underwater life! (You can bring snorkeling gear if you have it!)
You may also consider wearing a swimming shirt with UV protection for swimming in the Florida springs too.
See more about what to pack for a trip to Florida springs.
I saw turtles swimming at Gilchrist Blue Springs!
For camping, there is the Glichrist Blue Springs State Park campground and the O’Leno State Park campground (30 minutes away).
For hotels near Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, there are chain hotels in Alachua FL (20 minutes away).
If you are looking to drive only halfway from Tallahassee to Orlando, then Alachua FL and Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park can be a good breakup point.
Gainesville FL, home of the University of Florida, is also 45 minutes away from Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park.
Explore the map of Tallahassee to Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Tallahassee and Orlando:
👆 Driving towards Orlando from Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park to Ocala National Forest.
3. Ocala National Forest
Cost: $8 per person on weekdays and $11 per person on weekends and holidays
Another option for Florida springs to stop off at on your drive from Tallahassee to Orlando is the Ocala National Forest springs.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the water temperature of at least one of the springs is a constant 74 degrees year-round.
There are several “recreation areas” in Ocala National Forest with springs, so you can take your pick:
- Salt Springs Recreation Area
- Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area
- Juniper Springs Recreation Area
- Alexander Springs Recreation Area
Explore the map of Ocala National Forest springs.
You can go camping at Salt Springs, Juniper Springs, and Alexander Springs.
There are more campgrounds throughout Ocala National Forest if you don’t care about being near springs.
If you are RV camping and looking for full-service hook-up, then you will want to go camping at the Salt Springs campground.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, this is the only campground in Ocala National Forest with full hook-ups for RVs.
Explore the map of Tallahassee to Ocala National Forest to Orlando.
See more about this stop between Tallahassee and Orlando:
And driving to Ocala National Forest will take you 1.5 hours away from Orlando.
And then you can continue driving to Orlando!
And that’s a bit about driving from Tallahassee to Orlando!
I did a drive in the areas of Tallahassee and Orlando in March 2022. Your experience may vary! Things may change!
Things to do near Orlando:
- Kissimmee Swamp Tour to see alligators
- Lake Louisa State Park for lakes and glamping
- Wekiwa Springs State Park swimming
If you are driving from the west, then also see: Driving from Pensacola to Tallahassee
HAPPY DRIVING FROM TALLAHASSEE TO ORLANDO!
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