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Trip from Bushnell, 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 9m

Distance

58.8 mi

95 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

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

city in Florida, United States

Bushnell, FL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Florida, United States

Tampa, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Bushnell, FL to Tampa, FL is 58.8 miles and takes about 1h 9m via I-75, I-275, and West C 48, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within Florida, connecting two points within the state. Given its short distance and single-day recommendation, it's ideal for a quick trip or a segment of a larger journey. You'll mainly be on major highways, making for an efficient transit between your origin and destination. Plan this trip when you need a simple, direct route with minimal fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 38.9 mi 41m
I 275 15.9 mi 19m
West C 48 1.4 mi 2m
West Belt Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
North Orange Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Pierce Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
East Kennedy Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 38.9 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bushnell, FL and Tampa, FL.

1

Start on West Noble Avenue

76 ft · 9 sec · West Noble Avenue
2

Turn left onto FL 48

0.3 mi · 40 sec · North Main Street
3

Turn left onto FL 48

0.5 mi · 56 sec · West Belt Avenue
4

Continue on FL 48

1.4 mi · 2 min · West C 48
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
6

Merge onto I 75

39 mi · 41 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

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.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 45A Toward Downtown East-West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

251 ft · 6 sec
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on North Orange Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn straight onto Pierce Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Pierce Street
13

Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60

0.3 mi · 45 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard
14

Arrive at destination

FL 60

Where to Stop

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

census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lutz, FL

29 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.

Popular next leg

Lutz, FL to Tampa, FL

14.8 mi · 23m

Pacing Suggestions

South Brooksville, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Bushnell, 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 2.5 and 58.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
41.4 mi into trip | ~46m 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
57.3 mi into trip | ~1h 5m 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
57.8 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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
5
58.5 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Kennedy Boulevard

Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Kennedy Boulevard

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.36 one way

$18.72 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $10.18 $20.36
premium $4.72 $10.93 $21.87
diesel $5.61 $12.98 $25.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.6 0 $6.17 $2.82
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.35
EV Truck/SUV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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

Bushnell, FL

Late night in Bushnell on Sunday

Local time

3:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tampa, FL

Late night in Tampa on Sunday

Local time

3:30 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

7 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 9m 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 route is heavily highway-focused, with a 93% highway share, suggesting you'll spend most of your time on interstates. You can expect a consistent driving experience for the longest stretch, which is 38.9 miles on I-75. The drive progresses by transitioning from I-75 to I-275, offering a predictable, high-speed journey. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of West C 48 indicates a brief shift to a more local road as you approach your destination, though the overall character remains highway-centric.

93% 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: 38.9 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 around 2.5 miles in near I 75.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Bushnell, FL to Tampa, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.

Saint Petersburg

41.4 mi in | ~46m | via I 275

About the Cities

Starting in Bushnell, FL

Full guide →

Bushnell is in Sumter County on the fringes of North Central Florida. The small settlement has a population of approximately 3,000 as of 2018, and the city dates back to the late 19th century, when a post office was established.

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 9m. Total distance: 58.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.9 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: at 2.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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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