Origin
Auburndale, FL
Morning in Auburndale on Sunday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburndale, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburndale, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Auburndale to Tampa is 44.3 miles and takes about 59m via I 4, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip keeps you within the state of Florida, moving from the heart of the state toward the bustling Tampa Bay area. Expect a fairly direct drive, mostly on major highways, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B. It's a practical choice for a quick transition, whether you're heading to Tampa for business or pleasure, and can easily be completed in a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| West Memorial Boulevard | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| US 92 | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Bartow Avenue | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburndale, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on North Bartow Avenue
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Bartow Avenue
2
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 92
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
4
Continue on US 92
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
US 92
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 92
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
West Memorial Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 4
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 2
Toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
11
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
14
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from Auburndale, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 14.6 and 43.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
14.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
40.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 2
Toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon...
8
41.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
6
41.8 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
8
43.8 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.05 one way
$14.10 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.67 | $15.34 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.24 | $16.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Selmon Expressway
(1.5 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 69% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 4. You'll experience a longest stretch of 25.7 miles on I 4, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the majority is on the interstate, you will also navigate some local roads such as Magnolia Avenue and West Memorial Boulevard. The transition between these road types is generally smooth, facilitating an efficient travel experience.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Magnolia Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 44.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 40.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburndale, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway Toll, Downtown and Selmonm Expressway Toll.
Selmon Expressway Toll
40.9 mi in
|
~54m
Downtown
41.6 mi in
|
~54m
Selmonm Expressway Toll
41.6 mi in
|
~54m
About the Cities
Starting in Auburndale, FL
Full guide →Auburndale is a town in Polk County, Florida.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon Expressway. 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.
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 Tampa, 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 40.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tampa, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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