Trip from Apollo Beach, FL to St. Petersburg, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

49m

Distance

37.4 mi

60 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 46m ★

6 AM

0h 50m

8 AM

0h 58m

10 AM

0h 52m

12 PM

0h 52m

3 PM

0h 53m

5 PM

0h 57m

8 PM

0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Apollo Beach, FL

Chris The Island

city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States

St. Petersburg, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 37.4 miles, this direct route between Apollo Beach and St. Petersburg typically takes about 49 minutes to navigate. Because of the quick transit time, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via the Tamiami Trail, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and I-275 to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this is a highly economical trip for those looking to cross the bay. Expect a transition from the local atmosphere of Apollo Beach into the coastal urban setting of St. Petersburg.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Tamiami Trail	16.9 mi	23m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge	14.3 mi	16m
I 275	3 mi	3m
Apollo Beach Boulevard	1 mi	1m
31st Street South	0.4 mi	<1m
34th Street South	0.3 mi	<1m
5th Avenue South	0.2 mi	<1m
Fairway Boulevard	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Tamiami Trail — 16.9 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Apollo Beach, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.

Start on Fairway Boulevard

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Fairway Boulevard

Turn right onto Apollo Beach Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Apollo Beach Boulevard

Turn right onto US 41

8.3 mi · 12 min · Tamiami Trail

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 41

8.7 mi · 10 min · Tamiami Trail

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge onto I 275

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 275

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 19 sec

Merge onto I 275; US 19

14 mi · 16 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 20 Toward 31st Street South Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight left at fork

161 ft · 9 sec

Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field

Turn left onto 31st Street South

0.4 mi · 58 sec · 31st Street South

Turn left onto 5th Avenue South

0.2 mi · 39 sec · 5th Avenue South

Turn right onto US 19

0.3 mi · 40 sec · 34th Street South

Arrive at destination

US 19

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Manatee County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palmetto, FL

19 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Gulfport, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palmetto, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Apollo Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 37.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 41 / Tamiami Trail

Turn right onto US 41 / Tamiami Trail

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

21.8 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Merge onto I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

36.1 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward 31st Street South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 20 Toward 31st Street South

36.4 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field

37.1 mi into trip | ~48m in | US 19 / 34th Street South

Turn right onto US 19 / 34th Street South

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.95 one way

$11.91 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$6.48	$12.95
premium	$4.72	$6.95	$13.91
diesel	$5.61	$8.26	$16.51

Estimated Tolls: $1.00

Sunshine Skyway Bridge (14.3 mi) $1.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

Tolls

Total

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.2	$3.93	$1.80
Efficient EV	9.4	$3.27	$1.50
EV Truck/SUV	15	$5.24	$2.39

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Apollo Beach, FL

Morning in Apollo Beach on Sunday

Local time

6:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Mostly Clear

E 8 to 13 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 3:58PM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:27PM EDT until April 13 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Destination

St. Petersburg, FL

Morning in St. Petersburg on Sunday

Local time

6:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Mostly Clear

E 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 3:58PM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:27PM EDT until April 13 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

4 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

49m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous highway slog. Only 8% of this journey involves interstate driving, meaning you will spend the bulk of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 16.9 miles along the Tamiami Trail, which dictates the initial pace of your trip. As you move toward the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the road transitions from suburban sprawl to the open expanse of the water crossing. It is a dynamic drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 16.9 mi on Tamiami Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 41 / Tamiami Trail.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 37.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 41 / Tamiami Trail): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

43 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

92 ft

Total Descent

55 ft

Highest Point

43 ft

~37.4 mi in

Elevation Range

43 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 37.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.9 miles on Tamiami Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.00 in tolls one way, starting with Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at St. Petersburg, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Petersburg, FL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Apollo Beach, FL or browse trips ending in St. Petersburg, FL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.

Trip from Apollo Beach, FL to St. Petersburg, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Apollo Beach, FL

St. Petersburg, FL

Same local time

4 degrees warmer at arrival

49m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From St. Petersburg, FL

More from Apollo Beach, FL

More trips to St. Petersburg, FL