Southie Coffee
Near the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+17276213888
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 42m
Distance
229.3 mi
369 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clearwater, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Royal Palm Beach, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Clearwater, FL to Royal Palm Beach, FL is 229.3 miles and takes about 4h 42m via Florida's Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the Gulf Coast region towards the Atlantic side. It's a pretty straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it a solid choice if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a day trip; the 4h 42m estimated drive time allows for a comfortable journey without needing an overnight stay, and the fuel cost is quite reasonable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.7 miles from Clearwater, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 92.6 mi | 1h 39m |
| FL 60 | 63.2 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 4 | 25.8 mi | 28m |
| Polk Parkway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Courtney Campbell Causeway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Bartow Road | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Okeechobee Boulevard | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| I 275 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and Royal Palm Beach, 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
Take the exit
Continue on FL 570 Toll
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 98
Continue on US 98
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Turn right onto FL 704
Turn right onto Royal Palm Beach Boulevard
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 42m duration and 229.3-mile length, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample time to arrive before evening. With only one recommended stop and a highway-focused profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before the longest stretch of 92.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike, as services can sometimes be spaced out on toll roads. A good strategy is to refuel before you begin the longest segment of your drive to ensure a smooth continuation.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 50 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.7 miles or 2h 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 3h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Royal Palm Beach, 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 229.3 miles and 4h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 114.7 miles from Clearwater, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Clearwater, Florida
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+17276213888
Yacht StarShip Cruises & Events
Clearwater, Florida
Top Coffee Stop
Lake Wales, Florida
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+18632968827
Yummies Coffee
Clearwater, Florida
Near the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+17276213888
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+18132237999
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Largo, Florida
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+17272238595
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Lake Wales, Florida
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+18632968827
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+18135497426
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Belleair Bluffs, Florida
Hours: 6:30 am–6:30 pm
+17275011010
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–4 pm
+18134001110
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Largo, Florida
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17274668532
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Largo, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18334662474
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18332778573
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
+19549249779
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Largo, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+17274411790
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Hours: 4–10:30 pm
+17726266655
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tampa, Florida
+18136274225
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Jupiter, Florida
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+15617412400
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Clearwater, Florida
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+17275624800
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 129.8 — 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
Take the exit toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
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 Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$36.50 one way
$73.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $39.70 | $79.41 |
| premium | $4.72 | $42.64 | $85.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.63 | $101.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.48
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
$37
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.08 | $11.01 |
| Efficient EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.06 | $9.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.7 | 1 | $32.10 | $14.68 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Clearwater on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Royal Palm Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
62°F
Eagle Lake, FL
115 mi in
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on Florida's Turnpike, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 92.6 miles. The profile suggests a consistent, fast-paced journey, ideal for covering distance quickly. While the majority is highway, expect some transitions as you navigate between I-4 and FL 60 before reaching the Turnpike. The drive is designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. 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 24 significant decision points across 229.3 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 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 49.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clearwater, FL and Royal Palm Beach, FL, road signs point toward St. Petersburg, Winter Haven, Bartow and Florida's Turnpike South: Miami.
St. Petersburg
Winter Haven
Bartow
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 229.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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