Origin
Clearwater, FL
Morning in Clearwater on Tuesday
Local time
8:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clearwater, FL to South Venice, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
81.1 mi
130 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clearwater, FL
Wikimedia Commons
South Venice, FL
Arian Fernandez
Trip Overview
Clearwater, FL to South Venice, FL is 81.1 miles and takes about 1h 47m via I-75 and I-275, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, primarily utilizing major interstates for a straightforward trip down the coast. You'll encounter a significant portion on highways, making it a quick transit between these two points. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Tampa Bay area further south, without extensive planning or overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Clearwater, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 28 mi | 30m |
| 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 |
| FL 681 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Tamiami Trail | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| US 41 By-Pass | 3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 28 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and South Venice, 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 South
Use 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 right at fork onto FL 681
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
FL 681
Toward FL 681: Venice, Osprey
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto US 41
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Tamiami Trail
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US 41 By-Pass
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 41
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Tamiami Trail
20
Turn right onto West Baffin Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Baffin Road
21
Turn right onto Sterling Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sterling Road
22
Turn left onto Hudson Road
168 ft
·
7 sec
·
Hudson Road
23
Arrive at destination
Hudson Road
Trip Plan
Given the modest 1h 47m duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure you have enough gas before heading out, especially since the longest stretch without exits is 28 miles. While there are no designated stops in the data, you can easily pull off at an exit for a quick break if needed. The flexibility of a shorter drive like this means you can depart at your convenience.
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 40.5 miles from Clearwater, FL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28 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 40.5 miles or 54m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Venice, 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 81.1 miles and 1h 47m.
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 75 for about 28 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Clearwater, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 75.8 — 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
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 19 / US Highway 19 North
Merge onto US 19 / US Highway 19 North
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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.
8
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
FL 681
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 681 toward FL 681: Venice, Osprey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 681: Venice, Osprey
6
75.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
US 41 / US 41 By-Pass
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / US 41 By-Pass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.82 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
| premium | $4.72 | $15.08 | $30.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.91 | $35.81 |
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.52 | $3.89 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.35 | $5.19 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Destination
South Venice, FL
Morning in South Venice on Tuesday
Local time
8:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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 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 47m 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 33.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 69% of the 81.1 miles on high-speed roads like I-75 and I-275. You'll experience a longest stretch of 28 miles on I-75 before needing to navigate exits and potentially transition to surface roads. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits as you move through developed areas.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28 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 Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.7 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): 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.
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 South Venice, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Osprey along the way.
Osprey
69.3 mi in
|
~1h 26m
|
via FL 681
About the Cities
Starting in Clearwater, FL
Full guide →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
- • Belleview-Biltmore Hotel — hotel in Clearwater, United States of America
- • Donald Roebling Estate — historic residential estate in Clearwater, within Pinellas County, FL
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 81.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28 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 South Venice, 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.7 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): 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 South Venice, FL before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From South Venice, FL
More trips to South Venice, FL
Explore more options from Clearwater, FL or browse trips ending in South Venice, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.