Leaving the preserve area and passing through farmland, the road later crosses US 301 in Orange Heights, although a realignment of SR 26 south of the existing intersection was built by the Florida Department of Transportation between 2010 and 2011 which includes an interchange. The next town along the route is Melrose, where the road enters the community's historic district, crosses the Alachua-Putnam County line and intersects SR 21, before it curves to the northeast and ends at SR 100 in Putnam Hall.
Leaving the preserve area and passing through farmland, the road crosses US 301 in Orange Heights. A realignment of SR 26 was built by the Florida Department of Transportation between 2010 and 2011, including an interchange. The next town is Melrose, where the road enters its historic district, crossing the Alachua-Putnam County line and intersecting SR 21 before curving northeast to end at SR 100 in Putnam Hall.