Traveling from Bartow to Clearwater covers a 68.1-mile stretch that typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $11 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to transition from the inland landscape of Bartow to the coastal atmosphere of Clearwater. Navigating via Broadway Avenue, Bartow Road, and FL 570, you’ll find this route is straightforward for those looking to reach the Gulf Coast quickly. It is an ideal path for travelers who want to balance a bit of driving with plenty of time to enjoy the destination upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34 miles from Bartow, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 4
25.7 mi
28m
Polk Parkway
9.9 mi
11m
FL 60
9.3 mi
12m
Bartow Road
7 mi
9m
I 275
4.8 mi
6m
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
4.7 mi
9m
Court Street
1.5 mi
3m
Broadway Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bartow, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on Main Street
51 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto Broadway Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 98
7.0 mi·9 min·Bartow Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward FL 570 Toll West: Polk Parkway WestUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto FL 570 Toll
9.9 mi·11 min·Polk Parkway
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 4 West: TampaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 4
26 mi·28 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·40 sec
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint PetersburgUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 275
4.8 mi·6 min·I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 39Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, ClearwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto FL 60
0.4 mi·35 sec·Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60, FL 589 Toll: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
12
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Expressway
Toward FL 589 TollUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 2AToward FL 60 West: ClearwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on FL 60
9.3 mi·12 min·FL 60
Toward FL 60: ClearwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on FL 60
4.7 mi·9 min·Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on FL 60
1.5 mi·3 min·Court Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·South Ft Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
North Fort Harrison Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Because there are no scheduled stops required for a drive of this duration, you can easily complete the 1 hour and 21-minute journey in one go. If you are sensitive to traffic, try to time your departure to avoid peak local travel hours on the surface streets. Budget approximately $11 for fuel to ensure you are covered for the round trip. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep a GPS map active, as the turn-heavy nature of the local roads can make it easy to miss a turn if you aren't paying close attention to your navigation.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34 miles from Bartow, FL, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bartow, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bartow, FL
This is one driving day of about 68.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Bartow, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 4 for about 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 51.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.3 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 4 West: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
8
45 mi into trip|~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport...
8
50.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39
Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport,...
7
50.9 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway toward FL 589 Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 589 Toll
7
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.84 one way
$21.68 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$11.79
$23.58
premium
$4.72
$12.66
$25.33
diesel
$5.61
$15.04
$30.07
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Veterans Expressway
(0.9 mi)$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.4
0
$7.15
$3.27
Efficient EV
17
0
$5.96
$2.72
EV Truck/SUV
27.2
0
$9.53
$4.36
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bartow, FL
Late night
in Bartow on Sunday
Local time
1:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clearwater, FL
Late night
in Clearwater on Sunday
Local time
1:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
5 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
1h 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads that require more focus and engagement than a standard highway trek. Because the route relies on surface streets and local thoroughfares, your speed will likely fluctuate as you transition between different zones. While you won't find long, uninterrupted stretches of open road, the path provides a consistent experience from start to finish. Keep your eyes on the road and be prepared for frequent turns as you make your way across the 68.1-mile distance.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Polk Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
150 ft7 ft
Total Climb
128 ft
Total Descent
192 ft
Highest Point
150 ft
~14.2 mi in
Elevation Range
144 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bartow, FL to Clearwater, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Bartow is a historic, Southern town in Polk County, Florida. As county seat, there is a large difference in the number of people in the town during the day and the number of people who reside in Bartow.
Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida.
Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 68.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). 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 $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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 Clearwater, 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 18.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Clearwater, FL before heading back.
