Florida A&M in 2 Days: A Tallahassee College Visit Fly-In Trip
A parent-first plan for visiting Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee: how to book a family tour with an Orange & Green Guide, the Welcome Center as your first stop, the $5 visitor parking pass, the Hampton Inn & Suites about a 10-minute walk from the Welcome Center plus Budget, Mid-range and Upscale options, drive times from Tallahassee International, the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Tallahassee Museum and Cascades Park for siblings, and Tallahassee weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.
Lee Hall on the Florida A&M University campus in Tallahassee (November 2018). Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
School
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU, Tallahassee, FL)
Days
2 days: fly into Tallahassee, then a FAMU family tour on a weekday.
Fly into
Tallahassee International (TLH), about 22 minutes from the FAMU Welcome Center with no traffic.
Best base
Hampton Inn & Suites Tallahassee Capitol - University on Railroad Avenue, about a 10-minute walk or 2-minute drive to the Welcome Center.
Car or no car
Plan on a car from the airport. The Hampton Inn & Suites is walkable to the Welcome Center; the other hotels here are 4 to 9 minutes away by car.
Registration
Families of 5 or fewer book a tour date and time on FAMU's Family Tour Portal.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see Florida A&M University, home of the Rattlers, in Tallahassee.
FAMU's campus tours are led by Orange & Green Guides (OGGs), student guides who point out places of interest and talk about student life, from the "Set" and the Quadrangle to the "Orange Room."
Why this order
Day 1: fly into Tallahassee International and reach a hotel near campus in about 23 to 28 minutes, with no traffic.
Day 2: stop at the FAMU Welcome Center first, as FAMU asks, then take your family tour with an Orange & Green Guide.
With extra time, the free Meek-Eaton Black Archives museum is on FAMU's campus, Cascades Park is about 4 minutes away by car and the Tallahassee Museum about 9 minutes.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
Families of 5 or fewer register on FAMU's Family Tour Portal: pick a date on the calendar, pick an available tour time, then complete the registration form. Groups of 8 or more use the Group Tour Portal.
Tours run on weekdays throughout each semester, excluding holidays and some blackout dates. Visiting in spring? FAMU says March and April dates fill up quickly, so book well in advance.
Interested in engineering? The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is in Innovation Park, about three miles between the two campuses, and needs a separate tour.
Can't make the trip yet? FAMU offers a virtual campus tour.
Tour availability varies by season.
Summers are hot and wet: July averages about 92°F highs and 73°F lows at the Tallahassee airport, and June is the wettest month at about 7.8 inches.
Fall and spring are the most comfortable for walking campus: October averages about 82°F highs, November about 73°F and March about 74°F.
Winters are mild: January averages about 64°F highs and 41°F lows.
Check the Rattlers schedule before you book if you'd like to catch a game.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the FAMU Welcome Center, 1420 Wahnish Way, which FAMU asks visitors to make their first stop.
We list drive times only; check which airlines serve Tallahassee for your dates. Tallahassee International (TLH) is about 22 minutes (about 7 miles) from the Welcome Center with no traffic.
Day 1: fly into Tallahassee
Tallahassee International (TLH) → Hampton Inn & Suites Tallahassee Capitol - University
Driving (no traffic)
~23 min, 7.3 mi
Driving
Rental car
Tallahassee International (TLH) → AC Hotel Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol
Driving (no traffic)
~24 min, 8.2 mi
Driving
Rental car
Tallahassee International (TLH) → Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown
Driving (no traffic)
~25 min, 8.3 mi
Driving
Rental car
Tallahassee International (TLH) → Holiday Inn Tallahassee E Capitol - Univ
Driving (no traffic)
~28 min, 10.2 mi
Driving
Rental car
Tallahassee International (TLH) → Hotel Duval
Driving (no traffic)
~27 min, 8.7 mi
Driving
Rental car
Arriving with time to spare? Cascades Park's Imagination Fountain is open for play 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, about a 6-minute walk from the AC Hotel (there are no evening fountain shows at the moment).
Day 2: FAMU family tour
Hampton Inn & Suites Tallahassee Capitol - University → FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way)
Driving (no traffic)
~2 min, 0.5 mi (or ~10 min walk)
Driving
Walk or drive
AC Hotel Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol → FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.2 mi
Driving
Drive
Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown → FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.4 mi
Driving
Drive
Holiday Inn Tallahassee E Capitol - Univ → FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way)
Driving (no traffic)
~9 min, 3.7 mi
Driving
Drive
Hotel Duval → FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way)
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 1.8 mi
Driving
Drive
FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way) → Tallahassee Museum
Driving (no traffic)
~9 min, 4.5 mi
Driving
Drive
FAMU Welcome Center (1420 Wahnish Way) → Tallahassee International (TLH)
Driving (no traffic)
~22 min, 6.9 mi
Driving
Drive
Driving to campus? Every visitor needs a visitor's permit ($5.00 per day), and parking is enforced 24 hours a day. You can get one online or in person at the Office of Parking and Transportation, 2400 Wahnish Way; with it you can park in any "General Parking" lot, or use a paid meter.
Make the Welcome Center your first stop: staff there offer directions, campus maps, parking suggestions and tours. It's open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.
Flying out the same day? Allow about 22 minutes from the Welcome Center to the airport with no traffic, plus time to return the car.
3. Campus by campus
Lee Hall on the Florida A&M University campus in Tallahassee (November 2018). Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
FAMU asks visitors to make the Welcome Center their first stop. It's at 1420 Wahnish Way, at the corner of Wahnish and Gamble, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays); call (850) 599-8254 or email welcomecenter@famu.edu.
Family tours are for 5 or fewer people and are led by an Orange & Green Guide; choose your date and tour time on the Family Tour Portal.
Visitor parking
All visitors need a visitor's permit to park on campus; passes are $5.00 per day, online or at the Office of Parking and Transportation (2400 Wahnish Way). Park in a "General Parking" lot or at a paid meter. Parking is enforced 24/7, and violations can mean a boot or a tow.
Getting there
The Welcome Center is about 22 minutes by car from Tallahassee International with no traffic, and 2 to 9 minutes from the hotels here. FAMU's Maps and Directions page has directions from the airport and a printable campus map.
What to know
Look for the "Set," where students gather, the Quadrangle and the "Orange Room" on your tour.
The Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum is on campus; it's free, self-guided and open to the public Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday hours may change; entry closes an hour before closing). Call ahead at (850) 599-3020.
Engineering students should book the separate FAMU-FSU College of Engineering tour in Innovation Park.
Contact
FAMU Undergraduate Admissions: 1735 Althea Gibson Way, CASS Building Suite 207; (850) 599-3796, ugrdadmissions@famu.edu. Welcome Center: (850) 599-8254.
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: Tallahassee hotels 2 to 9 minutes from FAMU
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickBudget
Hampton Inn & Suites Tallahassee Capitol - University
824 Railroad Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Why here
It's the closest hotel here to FAMU: about a 10-minute walk or 2-minute drive to the Welcome Center, with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free self-serve breakfast, an outdoor pool, a gym, self-parking (fee) and pet-friendly rooms (fee). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
AC Hotel by Marriott Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol
801 South Gadsden Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Why here
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's about a 4-minute drive to the Welcome Center and a 6-minute walk to Cascades Park, with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists two on-site restaurants, two bars, a 24-hour gym, a buffet breakfast (fee), valet parking (fee) and pet-friendly rooms (fee). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's downtown, about a 4-minute drive to the Welcome Center with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists an outdoor pool, Juicy Blue restaurant (breakfast, lunch and dinner), a gym and free self-parking. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's east of downtown, about a 9-minute drive to the Welcome Center with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists an indoor pool, Capitol Cafe & Bar (breakfast, dinner and kids' meals), free breakfast for children 12 and younger, a 24-hour gym and free self-parking. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's downtown near the Florida State Capitol, about a 6-minute drive to the Welcome Center with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists Shula's 347 Grill, a rooftop terrace, two bars, a coffee shop, valet parking (fee) and pet-friendly rooms (fee). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
The Hampton Inn & Suites is walkable to FAMU's Welcome Center and includes breakfast; the AC Hotel sits by Cascades Park; the Four Points and Holiday Inn list free self-parking; and Hotel Duval is the upscale downtown choice. All five are 2 to 9 minutes from the Welcome Center by car.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotels
The Hampton Inn & Suites includes a free breakfast; the Four Points has Juicy Blue (breakfast through dinner), the Holiday Inn has Capitol Cafe & Bar, the AC Hotel has two restaurants and Hotel Duval has Shula's 347 Grill.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum
On the FAMU campus, Tallahassee, FL 32307
FAMU's museum of Black history and culture. Free and self-guided; open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday hours may change, and entry closes an hour before closing). Visitors need a parking decal from Parking Services; call ahead at (850) 599-3020.
A largely outdoor museum on 52 acres, with free parking. Open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Day). General admission is $18.50 for adults and $13.50 for children 4–15; children 3 and under are free with family. About 9 minutes from the Welcome Center by car.
A city park whose Imagination Fountain has 73 jets for kids to play in, with changing rooms next to it. Interactive play runs 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. About 4 minutes from the Welcome Center by car.
Get your $5 visitor's permit before you park, then head to the Welcome Center at 1420 Wahnish Way for directions, a campus map and parking suggestions.
Flying in and out
Tallahassee International (TLH) is about 23 to 28 minutes from the hotels here and about 22 minutes from the Welcome Center with no traffic.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Tallahassee Regional Airport)
Spring: March averages about 74°F highs and 49°F lows, April about 80°F/54°F and May about 87°F/63°F.
Summer: June averages about 91°F/71°F and is the wettest month at about 7.8 inches; July averages about 92°F/73°F and August about 92°F/73°F.
Fall: September averages about 89°F/70°F, October about 82°F/59°F and November about 73°F/48°F.
Winter: December averages about 66°F/43°F, January about 64°F/41°F and February about 68°F/44°F.
Parent checklist
Book a family tour date and time on FAMU's Family Tour Portal (and the separate engineering tour if your student wants it).
Book flights into Tallahassee International and a rental car.
Book the Hampton Inn & Suites, AC Hotel, Four Points, Holiday Inn or Hotel Duval.
Get a $5 visitor's parking permit for visit day, online or at Parking and Transportation.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
1 Division I
Athletics
Florida A&M University
NCAA Division I Southwestern Athletic Conf.
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (Florida A&M University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: Hampton Inn & Suites Tallahassee Capitol - University (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Tallahassee-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Suites-Tallahassee-Capitol-University.h20869033.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: AC Hotel by Marriott Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Tallahassee-Hotels-AC-Hotel-By-Marriott-Tallahassee-Universities-At-The-Capitol.h59190338.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Tallahassee-Hotels-Four-Points-By-Sheraton-Tallahassee-Downtown.h201165.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Holiday Inn Tallahassee E Capitol - Univ by IHG (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Tallahassee-Hotels-Holiday-Inn-Tallahassee-E-Capitol-Univ.h24367473.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hotel Duval, Autograph Collection (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Tallahassee-Hotels-Hotel-Duval.h9568.Hotel-Information)
