Clearwater, FL to Haines City, FL is 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m via I 4, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the state of Florida, transitioning from the coastal region to the interior. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Expect a relatively quick travel time, suitable for those who prefer to reach their destination without an overnight stay. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Tampa Bay area to Central Florida.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.3 miles from Clearwater, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 4
47.1 mi
51m
Polk City Road
9.1 mi
16m
Courtney Campbell Causeway
8.2 mi
10m
I 275
5.2 mi
7m
Drew Street
4.2 mi
8m
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
1.9 mi
3m
FL 60
1.5 mi
2m
Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 47.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and Haines City, 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
0.4 mi·49 sec·Southbound Frontage Road
5
Continue on this road
376 ft·7 sec·this road
6
Take the exit
233 ft·6 sec
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto FL 60
1.9 mi·3 min·Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on FL 60
8.2 mi·10 min·Courtney Campbell Causeway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on FL 60
0.8 mi·1 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 60
0.7 mi·59 sec·FL 60
Toward FL 60 East, FL 616: Tampa International Airport, Spruce StreetUse the slight right lane.
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
5.2 mi·7 min·I 275
Toward I 275: TampaUse the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 4 East: OrlandoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 4
47 mi·51 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 48Toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
350 ft·8 sec
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto CR 557
1.2 mi·1 min·CR 557
19
Turn left onto CR 17
9.1 mi·16 min·Polk City Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Palmetto Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Palmetto Street
21
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·Main Street
22
Turn left onto North 10th Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·North 10th Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Lily Avenue
500 ft·13 sec·Lily Avenue
24
Continue on Stuart Avenue
510 ft·19 sec·Stuart Avenue
25
Turn left onto North 14th Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·North 14th Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
81 ft·3 sec·East Johnson Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
East Johnson Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 51 minutes, this trip is easily achievable within a single day, offering flexibility for your departure time. You can plan to leave in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or depart later in the day. With only 82.7 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need extensive planning for fuel stops. Keep an eye out for the transition points between the causeway, local roads, and I 4, as these are the main areas where you'll need to adjust your speed and navigation. The minimal driving time means you can be quite spontaneous with this particular journey.
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 41.3 miles from Clearwater, FL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.1 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 56m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Haines City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clearwater, FL
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Clearwater, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 4 for about 47.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 70.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
15.9 mi into trip|~25m in|FL 60
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 60 toward FL 60 East, FL 616: Tampa International Airport, Spruce Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward FL 60 East, FL 616: Tampa International...
8
16.6 mi into trip|~26m 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
7
23.3 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward I 4 East: Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 45B
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
8
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
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 48
Toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.16 one way
$26.33 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$14.32
$28.64
premium
$4.72
$15.38
$30.76
diesel
$5.61
$18.26
$36.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
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
$8.68
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
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
Clearwater, FL
Late night
in Clearwater on Sunday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Haines City, FL
Late night
in Haines City on Sunday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 51m 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-focused drive, with 66% of it on major roadways like I 4. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 47.1 miles on I 4, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. The drive begins with segments on the Courtney Campbell Causeway and Polk City Road before merging onto the interstate. While much of the trip is on high-speed roads, there are moments where you transition to local roads, requiring adjustments to your driving style. The overall character is one of efficient travel, designed for making good time.
66% 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: 47.1 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Polk City Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (FL 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): 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.
Between Clearwater, FL and Haines City, FL, road signs point toward St. Petersburg, Cr 557: Lake Alfred and Winter Haven.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.1 miles on I 4. 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 Haines City, 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (FL 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): 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 Haines City, FL before heading back.
