Getting Around Tallahassee
Tallahassee is a sprawling Southern capital and college town, and how easily you get around depends heavily on where you stay. Downtown, Midtown, and Lake Ella are the most picturesque and convenient areas for walking, and neighborhoods like Levy Park and Frenchtown are pedestrian-friendly enough for some errands on foot. Elsewhere, the city's spread-out layout means you will likely want a car or another mode of transport to reach everyday amenities. A practical strategy for visitors is to base yourself in a walkable district and use buses, taxis, or ride-hailing for everything beyond it.
Rail, Metro, and Tram
Tallahassee has no metro, tram, or light rail network, and no local passenger rail service within the city. Travelers arriving by train must connect via Amtrak stations in Orlando, New Orleans, Jacksonville, or Atlanta, which are reachable by intercity bus rather than by rail into Tallahassee itself. For getting around town, plan on road-based transport.
Buses and Public Transport
Public transit in Tallahassee is provided by StarMetro, the city's bus system. It covers the city with routes serving the major universities — Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College — as well as Downtown.
- Hours: Buses typically run from about 6AM to 7 or 8PM on weekdays and roughly 7AM to 7PM on weekends. Routes and hours are limited after 7PM and on Sundays.
- Connections: Reaching anywhere other than Downtown or a university campus usually requires at least one transfer.
- Hub: The central bus station is the C.K. Steele Bus Plaza in Downtown, where routes converge.
- Tickets and passes: There are no longer ticket vending machines at the bus plaza, but tickets, passes, and cards can be purchased at a kiosk by cash or credit card during business hours.
- Airport service: StarMetro does not serve Tallahassee Regional Airport, so you will need another option for the airport leg.
Keep in mind that StarMetro has limitations in frequency and coverage, especially at night and on weekends, so build extra time into any trip that depends on it.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Several taxi companies serve Tallahassee. Outside the airport there are not many taxi stands around the city, so it is better to call ahead and arrange a pickup rather than expect to hail a cab on the street. Ride-hailing apps are a convenient complement to this, particularly for evening trips and weekend travel when bus service is thin.
Walking and Biking
Tallahassee is not as pedestrian-friendly as some cities, but some areas are more conducive to walking than others. Downtown, Midtown, and Lake Ella stand out as the most picturesque and convenient for strolling, and Levy Park and Frenchtown are also reasonably walkable for short errands.
For cyclists, the city has invested in bike infrastructure, including bike lanes, paths, and shared-use trails, making biking viable for short commutes and leisure rides. Be aware that the hilly terrain can be challenging.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) sits south of the Florida State University campus, on the west side of town, and is reached via Lake Bradford Road. It is served by non-stop flights from Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington DC, and South Florida, with airlines including American Eagle/American Airlines, Delta/Delta Connection, and Breeze Airways.
Because StarMetro does not serve the airport, your options for reaching the city are taxis, ride-hailing, rental cars, and shuttle companies — the airport maintains lists of taxi, car rental, and shuttle operators on site. Arrange a taxi pickup in advance or book a ride-hailing car on arrival.
Arriving by Intercity Bus or Car
If you are coming into Tallahassee by long-distance bus, Greyhound, Flixbus, and Redcoach all serve the city. Greyhound and Flixbus stop at the C.K. Steele Bus Plaza at 111 E Tennessee St, with bus stops near West Tennessee and North Adams Street; Greyhound's stops are at Gates 3 and 4 toward the northeast corner of the transit center. Redcoach stops at 1021 St Augustine St, at the Parking Garage on the FSU campus, with an additional stop at 329 Marriott Dr in Downtown. These services connect Tallahassee to Atlanta, Nashville, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Houston, among other cities, with transfers available for onward destinations.
By car, Tallahassee sits on Interstate 10, accessed from exits 199 to 209, with connections via Tennessee Street, Monroe Avenue and Apalachee Parkway. Capital Parkway loops around town along the east and south sides, linking Thomasville, Georgia, through Tallahassee to US Highway 98 on the Gulf Coast.