Citrus Hills to Tampa is 82.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 42 minutes via Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you from the Florida region to the Florida region, covering a distance of 82.5 miles. The main roads you'll use are Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway, making up 88% of your journey. This trip is designed for a single day of travel, offering a straightforward connection between two points within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Citrus Hills, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Suncoast Parkway
56.5 mi
1h 1m
Veterans Expressway
6.9 mi
8m
West Norvell Bryant Highway
5.4 mi
9m
FL 589 Toll Express Lane
5.3 mi
6m
I 275
4.2 mi
5m
Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
2m
North Essex Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
North Tampa Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Suncoast Parkway
— 56.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Citrus Hills, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on East Glassboro Court
462 ft·22 sec·East Glassboro Court
2
Turn right onto North Essex Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·North Essex Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 486
5.4 mi·9 min·West Norvell Bryant Highway
4
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway
5
Continue on FL 589 Toll
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·Suncoast Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
1.6 mi·1 min·Veterans Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 589 Toll
3.9 mi·4 min·Veterans Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
5.3 mi·6 min·FL 589 Toll Express Lane
9
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
1.5 mi·2 min·Veterans Expressway
Toward Tampa:St. PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on FL 60
0.2 mi·13 sec·Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
11
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60
1.4 mi·2 min·Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 275 North: TampaUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 275
4.2 mi·5 min·I 275
Toward I 275: TampaUse the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
386 ft·9 sec
Exit 44Toward Downtown East, Downtown WestUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa StreetUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention CenterUse the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Turn slight right onto US 41 Business
0.2 mi·54 sec·North Tampa Street
18
Turn left onto East Twiggs Street
282 ft·12 sec·East Twiggs Street
19
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·North Franklin Street
20
Turn right onto FL 60
174 ft·4 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
21
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Trip Plan
Given that this 82.5-mile trip takes just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Citrus Hills in the morning should get you to Tampa with plenty of daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart, as the longest stretch without a major exit opportunity is 56.5 miles on the Suncoast Parkway. Plan for a brief stop if needed, but the relatively short duration means you can easily complete this drive in one go.
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 41.2 miles from Citrus Hills, FL, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.5 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tampa, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Citrus Hills, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Citrus Hills, FL
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Citrus Hills, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Suncoast Parkway for about 56.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 64.9 and 81.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|FL 60 / Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60 / Memorial Highway toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
8
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
$13.13 one way
$26.26 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$14.28
$28.57
premium
$4.72
$15.34
$30.68
diesel
$5.61
$18.21
$36.43
Estimated Tolls: $3.95
Suncoast Parkway
(56.5 mi)$3.39
Veterans Expressway
(6.9 mi)$0.56
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.66
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Citrus Hills, FL
Morning
in Citrus Hills on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tampa, FL
Morning
in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
9 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 42m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 88% of the 82.5 miles on major roadways like the Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 56.5 miles on the Suncoast Parkway, which provides a consistent driving pace. The character of the road is primarily fast-paced highway, designed for efficient travel between Citrus Hills and Tampa. Expect a smooth journey with minimal need to navigate complex local roads, making it a straightforward drive.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.5 mi on Suncoast Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64.9 miles in near FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 64.9 miles (FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Citrus Hills, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Tampa:st. Petersburg and St. Petersburg.
Tampa:st. Petersburg
74.1 mi in|~1h 28m|via FL 589 Toll
St. Petersburg
75.6 mi in|~1h 30m|via FL 60
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 82.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.5 miles on Suncoast Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.95 in tolls one way, starting with Suncoast Parkway. 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 64.9 miles (FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.6 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 Tampa, FL before heading back.
