Jacksonville to Pensacola drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Jacksonville to Pensacola by car is 358 miles, with a 5h7m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Jacksonville to Pensacola drive are White Springs FL, Tallahassee and Falling Waters State Park.
Planning a Jacksonville to Pensacola road trip itinerary
The Jacksonville to Pensacola connects northern Florida’s largest city to the western end of the Florida Panhandle.
Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.
For cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum, where the strength tends to be the rotating temporary exhibitions.
The westernmost city on the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola is home to a major US Naval Station. But for most visitors, interest will lie in the white sand beaches and barrier islands.
Top Pensacola activities include nighttime kayaking with colourful LEDs lighting up the kayaks, and dolphin-watching cruises around the bay.
Other ways of exploring include downtown food tours, ghost and graveyard tours, guided pub crawls, Segway tours and sunset cruises.
For beachside Pensacola accommodation with great guest reviews, take a look at the Pensacola Beach Resort and the SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach.
Jacksonville to Pensacola distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Jacksonville to Pensacola is 358 miles. That makes for a driving time of around five hours and seven minutes. The quickest route is mostly along the I-10.
The best stops on a Jacksonville to Pensacola road trip itinerary are White Springs FL, Tallahassee and Falling Waters State Park. For more suggestions, check out the guides to the Jacksonville to Tallahassee drive and Tallahassee to Pensacola drive.
Jacksonville to Pensacola road trip attractions: White Springs FL
The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs is named in honour of the composer who wrote Old Folks At Home. The park features a museum that goes into Foster’s work, plus a 97-bell carillon that plays his songs throughout the day.
Several hiking trails also have their trailheads in and around White Springs. Stephen Foster’s Hammock Loop Trail is perhaps the best, taking in several scenic riverside spots, such as Catfish Hole and the Overlook. The 8-mile trail is also suitable for mountain biking.
Best stops between Jacksonville and Pensacola: Tallahassee
Top Tallahassee experiences include the Museum of Florida History, which tells the tale of the Sunshine State. That covers everything from prehistoric mastodons to the Spanish conquest and Disney.
The Tallahassee Museum, meanwhile, flits all over the place, from sculpture to birds of prey. For natural beauty, head to the Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park.
Jacksonville to Pensacola drive: Falling Waters State Park
Florida’s highest waterfall is just a short detour off the I-10. In Falling Waters State Park, a small stream plunges into a 100ft-deep and 20ft-wide hole. The stream drops 73ft, and the really strange thing is that no-one really knows where the water ends up.
Within the state park are gentle walking trails, a picnic area and a butterfly garden. You can also go for a swim in the lake.
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