Origin
Brooksville, FL
Morning in Brooksville on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brooksville, 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
1h 3m
Distance
50 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooksville, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Brooksville to Tampa, you are in for a straightforward 50-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel for the trip, making it a very budget-friendly transit. By utilizing a combination of I-75, I-275, and Spring Lake Highway, you move efficiently through the Florida landscape. It is an ideal connection for travelers who prioritize speed and simplicity over a leisurely pace. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this path offers a reliable, no-nonsense way to bridge the two locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 18.5 mi | 19m |
| I 275 | 15.9 mi | 19m |
| Spring Lake Highway | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Cortez Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Jefferson Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Lake Lola Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Blanton Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 18.5 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brooksville, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on US 41; US 98; FL 50A
151 ft
·
9 sec
·
Jefferson Street
2
Turn left onto North Bailey Avenue
275 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Bailey Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 41; US 98; FL 50A
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
4
Turn right onto US 98; FL 50A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Jefferson Street
5
Continue on US 98; FL 50
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Cortez Boulevard
6
Turn right onto CR 541
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Spring Lake Highway
7
Continue on CR 41
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Lola Road
8
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 41
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Blanton Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
10
Merge onto I 75
19 mi
·
19 min
·
I 75
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 275
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft
·
6 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pierce Street
17
Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Brooksville, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Bailey Avenue
Turn left onto North Bailey Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
14.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
32.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 275
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275 toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
7
48.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Downtown East-West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
9
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.96 one way
$15.92 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $8.66 | $17.31 |
| premium | $4.72 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
NE 2 to 8 mph
0% chance
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
6 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 3m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 69% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a mix of driving environments, starting with local roads like Spring Lake Highway before transitioning onto the interstate system. The most significant portion of your drive occurs on I-75, which features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.5 miles. As you progress toward Tampa, the character of the road shifts from regional connectors to the higher-traffic flow of I-275. Be prepared for the transition from the quieter stretches near Brooksville to the more intense pace of the interstate as you approach the city.
69% 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: 18.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 275. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Bailey Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (North Bailey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles (I 275): 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.
On the drive from Brooksville, FL to Tampa, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Saint Petersburg
32.6 mi in
|
~41m
|
via I 275
About the Cities
Starting in Brooksville, FL
Full guide →Brooksville is the county seat of Hernando County in Florida's Big Bend Coast.
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 1h 3m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m 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 18.5 miles on I 75. 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: near the start (North Bailey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles (I 275): 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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