Origin
Belleair Beach, FL
Morning in Belleair Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Belleair Beach, 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
45m
Distance
27.1 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belleair Beach, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Belleair Beach to Tampa is a quick 27.1-mile trip that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel for the entire journey, making it a very affordable connection within Florida. The route utilizes a combination of West Bay Drive, Ulmerton Road, and I-275 to navigate from the coast into the city. It is a straightforward trip that offers a practical way to transition from the beach environment to the urban atmosphere of Tampa.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 11.7 mi | 15m |
| Ulmerton Road | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| West Bay Drive | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Seminole Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Belleair Causeway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Causeway Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Gulf Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Tampa Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 11.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belleair Beach, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Gulf Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Gulf Boulevard
2
Turn left onto CR 416
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Causeway Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CR 416
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Belleair Causeway
4
Continue on CR 416
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Bay Drive
5
Turn right onto 1st Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
1st Street Southwest
6
Turn straight onto US-19 ALT
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Seminole Boulevard
7
Turn left onto FL 688
8.3 mi
·
13 min
·
Ulmerton Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp onto FL 688
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Ulmerton Road
Toward I 275 North: Tampa
9
Merge onto I 275
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
386 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto US 41 Business
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Tampa Street
14
Turn left onto East Twiggs Street
282 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Twiggs Street
15
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Franklin Street
16
Turn right onto FL 60
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
17
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 26.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 416 / Causeway Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 416 / Causeway Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 275
Merge onto I 275
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East, Downtown West
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 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
9
26.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Stree...
9
26.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.31 one way
$8.63 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $4.69 | $9.38 |
| premium | $4.72 | $5.04 | $10.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
6:14 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.
Road read
45m 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 27.1-mile journey offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with an interstate stretch. About 43% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on highways, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced local streets. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch while merging onto I-275, which spans 11.7 miles of the total distance. The transition from the coastal roads of West Bay Drive and Ulmerton Road onto the interstate creates a varied experience as you move inland. Expect a functional drive that shifts from local navigation to a faster-paced highway rhythm as you approach your destination.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.7 mi on I 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CR 416 / Causeway Boulevard.
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 11 decision points packed into just 27.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 416 / Causeway Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 27.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.7 miles on I 275. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.4 miles (CR 416 / Causeway Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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