This 143.8-mile journey from Cocoa, FL to St. Petersburg, FL takes approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate local roads like Bedford Place and Cocoa Boulevard before connecting to FL 528 West. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, this drive offers a straightforward transition across Florida. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility for your schedule. This route is ideal for those looking for a direct and uncomplicated way to travel between these two points within the same state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
71.9 miles from Cocoa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Bedford Place
—
—
Cocoa Boulevard
—
—
FL 528 West
—
—
Bennett Causeway
—
—
Beachline Expressway
—
—
FL 417
—
—
Central Florida GreeneWay
—
—
Southern Connector Extension
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Bedford Place
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cocoa, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on Manor Drive
10 ft·6 sec·Manor Drive
2
Turn left
46 ft·3 sec
3
Turn right onto Bedford Place
0.1 mi·25 sec·Bedford Place
4
Turn right onto Cocoa Boulevard
1.1 mi·1 min·Cocoa Boulevard
5
Take the ramp slight right toward FL 528 West
0.2 mi·42 sec·FL 528 West
6
Merge slight left onto Bennett Causeway
322 ft·5 sec·Bennett Causeway
7
Continue on Beachline Expressway
30 mi·32 min·Beachline Expressway
8
Take the exit slight right toward FL 417: Orlando, Tampa, Disney World, Sanford
0.2 mi·28 sec·FL 417: Orlando, Tampa, Disney World, Sanford
9
Keep slight left to continue on FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World
1.3 mi·2 min·FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World
10
Merge slight left onto Central Florida GreeneWay
18 mi·20 min·Central Florida GreeneWay
11
Keep slight left to continue on Southern Connector Extension
8.2 mi·9 min·Southern Connector Extension
12
Merge slight left
61 mi·1 hr 6 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
0.4 mi·41 sec·I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
14
Merge slight left
21 mi·26 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
0.3 mi·34 sec·FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
16
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
1.2 mi·2 min·5th Avenue North
17
Turn left onto 34th Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·34th Street North
18
Continue on 34th Street South
325 ft·14 sec·34th Street South
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour and 18-minute duration and 143.8-mile distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day. To make the most of the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, consider departing earlier in the morning to avoid potential local traffic congestion. With no designated stops and a modest $24 fuel cost, you can be flexible with your timing and rest breaks. A specific tip: be prepared for the frequent turns by having your GPS readily accessible and paying close attention to navigation cues to ensure you stay on track through the local road network.
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 71.9 miles from Cocoa, FL, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Petersburg, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cocoa, 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 Cocoa, FL
This is one driving day of about 143.8 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Cocoa, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.89 one way
$45.78 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$24.90
$49.80
premium
$4.72
$26.74
$53.48
diesel
$5.61
$31.75
$63.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 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
43.1
0
$15.10
$6.90
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.58
$5.75
EV Truck/SUV
57.5
0
$20.13
$9.20
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 15, 2026
Origin
Cocoa, FL
Late night
in Cocoa on Sunday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Petersburg, FL
Late night
in St. Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
4:52 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
21 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 18m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 143.8-mile trip, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating primarily local roads, with no extended stretches of high-speed highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction. You'll likely experience varied speed limits and a more engaged driving experience as you weave through communities. Plan for a more deliberate pace rather than a long, monotonous cruise.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Bedford Place.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cocoa, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is easy. At 2h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cocoa, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 143.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cocoa, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Petersburg, FL before heading back.
