Clearwater, FL to Cypress Lake, FL is 143.3 miles and takes about 2h 53m via I 75 and I 275, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, offering a straightforward drive. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it’s ideal for a single-day excursion. The route is primarily on major interstates, making it efficient if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a quick journey with minimal delays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.6 miles from Clearwater, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
91.9 mi
1h 38m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
13.4 mi
15m
I 275
11.2 mi
14m
US Highway 19 North
10.1 mi
14m
Drew Street
4.2 mi
8m
Colonial Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Summerlin Road
2.6 mi
4m
Fowler Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and Cypress Lake, FL.
1
Start on North Fort Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Fort Harrison Avenue
2
Turn right onto Drew Street
4.2 mi·8 min·Drew Street
3
Take the ramp
198 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto Southbound Frontage Road
355 ft·8 sec·Southbound Frontage Road
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 19 South
6
Merge onto US 19
5.7 mi·7 min·US Highway 19 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 19
4.4 mi·6 min·US Highway 19 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 19
0.6 mi·1 min·34th Street North
9
Turn left onto 54th Avenue North
0.8 mi·1 min·54th Avenue North
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 275 SouthUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 275
10 mi·11 min·I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·17 sec
13
Merge onto I 275; US 19
13 mi·15 min·Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 275
1.1 mi·2 min·I 275
Toward I 75 South: Naples
15
Merge onto I 75
28 mi·30 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 136Toward FL 884: Fort Myers, Lehigh AcresUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
510 ft·14 sec
Toward SR 884: Colonial BlvdUse the right lane.
19
Merge onto FL 884
3.9 mi·6 min·Colonial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto Fowler Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Fowler Street
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Boy Scout Drive
0.5 mi·50 sec·Boy Scout Drive
22
Turn straight onto CR 869
2.6 mi·4 min·Summerlin Road
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 876
0.7 mi·1 min·Cypress Lake Drive
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto Winkler Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Winkler Road
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Myerlee Country Club Boulevard
0.1 mi·33 sec·Myerlee Country Club Boulevard
26
Continue on Myerlee Country Club Boulevard
343 ft·20 sec·Myerlee Country Club Boulevard
27
Arrive at destination
Myerlee Country Club Boulevard
Trip Plan
With a travel time under 3 hours, this is a perfect same-day trip where you can leave anytime and still arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch without a major break is over 90 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before you begin that segment to avoid needing an unscheduled stop. Consider starting your drive in the late morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the urban areas you'll be passing through. This route is quite direct, so focus on maintaining your speed and enjoying the straightforward path.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.6 miles from Clearwater, FL, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 32 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cypress Lake, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clearwater, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clearwater, FL
This is one driving day of about 143.3 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Clearwater, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 91.9 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 133.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward US 19 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 19 South
6
10.4 mi into trip|~17m in|US 19 / US Highway 19 North
Keep slight left at fork onto US 19 / US Highway 19 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
69.3 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward FL 884: Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres
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 136
Toward FL 884: Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres
8
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 884: Colonial Blvd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward SR 884: Colonial Blvd
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.81 one way
$45.62 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$24.81
$49.62
premium
$4.72
$26.65
$53.29
diesel
$5.61
$31.64
$63.28
Estimated Tolls: $0.94
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(13.4 mi)$0.94
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
$23
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43
0
$15.05
$6.88
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.54
$5.73
EV Truck/SUV
57.3
0
$20.06
$9.17
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Clearwater, FL
Late night
in Clearwater on Tuesday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cypress Lake, FL
Late night
in Cypress Lake on Tuesday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
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
2h 53m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 34.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey on major interstates like I-75 and I-275. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 91.9-mile segment on I-75 where you can settle into a rhythm. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a notable feature, offering a different perspective during your transit. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads, making it a predictable and swift travel path.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 143.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.4 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Clearwater, FL to Cypress Lake, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Lehigh Acres along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Belleview-Biltmore Hotel — hotel in Clearwater, United States of America
•Donald Roebling Estate — historic residential estate in Clearwater, within Pinellas County, FL
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 143.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.9 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.94 in tolls one way, starting with Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 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 Cypress Lake, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.4 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Cypress Lake, FL before heading back.
