Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
144.4 mi
232 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clearwater, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Port Saint John, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Clearwater to Port Saint John is 144.4 miles and takes about 2h 55m via I 4, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, connecting the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic side of the state. You'll primarily be on major highways for most of the drive, making it a straightforward and efficient route. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two areas without significant detours. Plan for a relatively quick transit, allowing more time at your destination.
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
72.2 miles from Clearwater, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 60.9 mi | 1h 6m |
| Beachline Expressway | 25.7 mi | 27m |
| Central Florida GreeneWay | 18.5 mi | 20m |
| Courtney Campbell Causeway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Southern Connector Extension | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| I 275 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Drew Street | 4.2 mi | 8m |
| Gulf to Bay Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,801 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~498 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 53 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and Port Saint John, FL.
Start on North Fort Harrison Avenue
Turn right onto Drew Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto Southbound Frontage Road
Continue on this road
Take the exit
Merge onto FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 60
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60
Take the exit
Merge onto I 275
Take the exit
Continue on I 4
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on FL 417 Toll
Continue on FL 417 Toll
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto FL 528 Toll
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Port Saint John Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Grissom Parkway
Turn right onto Fay Boulevard
Turn left onto Miraflores Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Delespine Road
Turn right onto Bermuda Avenue
Arrive at destination
For this 2h 55m drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize your daylight hours. Since it's a relatively short trip of 144.4 miles, you can easily complete it in one day. There's only one recommended stop, so you don't need to plan for extensive breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the estimated cost is around $22; topping up before you leave Clearwater is a good idea. The longest stretch without a major exit is 60.9 miles on I 4, so ensure you're comfortable with highway driving for that duration.
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.
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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 30m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint John, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 144.4 miles and 2h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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.
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 72.2 miles from Clearwater, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 4 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 111.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 417 North: Airport, Disney World, Celebration
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward FL 528: International Airport, Cocoa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 528 East: Cocoa, Kennedy Space Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$22.33 one way
$44.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.30 | $24.46 | $48.91 |
| premium | $4.63 | $26.30 | $52.60 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $31.83 | $63.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.16 | $6.93 |
| Efficient EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.64 | $5.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.22 | $9.24 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Clearwater on Friday
Local time
5:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Port Saint John on Friday
Local time
5:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Seashore
Discover a dynamic barrier island shaped by dunes, coastal hammocks, and Mosquito Lagoon. Walk among ancient Timucua shell mounds and connect with thousands of years of human history. Immerse yourself...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is mostly highway, with 67% of the total mileage on freeways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 60.9 miles along I 4. You'll experience the bulk of your driving on routes like I 4, Beachline Expressway, and Central Florida GreeneWay. Expect to encounter numerous exits and interchanges characteristic of major expressway travel as you navigate through central Florida.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Beachline Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in near FL 60.
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 25 significant decision points across 144.4 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 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; at 84.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
131 ft
Total Descent
44 ft
Highest Point
136 ft
~51.6 mi in
Elevation Range
130 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clearwater, FL and Port Saint John, FL, road signs point toward St. Petersburg, Disney World, Celebration, Cocoa and Kennedy Space Center.
St. Petersburg
Disney World
Celebration
Cocoa
Kennedy Space Center
Founded 1891
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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