Origin
Dade City, FL
Late night in Dade City on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dade City, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.5 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dade City, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Dade City to Tampa, you are in for a quick 38.5-mile journey that typically takes about 51 minutes. This highway-focused route is perfect for a single-day trip, making it an easy commute or a simple afternoon outing. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an incredibly cost-effective way to transition from the inland charm of Dade City to the urban environment of Tampa. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, ensuring a straightforward and predictable travel experience. Because the entire drive is contained within Florida, you won't need to worry about changing time zones or navigating complex regional shifts. It is a no-fuss excursion that gets you from point A to point B without any need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 15.9 mi | 19m |
| I 75 | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| Old State Road 52 | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| State Road 52 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 21st Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Meridian Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Orange Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Pierce Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 15.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dade City, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on 14th Street
52 ft
·
5 sec
·
14th Street
2
Turn right onto CR 52
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Meridian Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 52
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
21st Street
4
Continue on CR 52
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Old State Road 52
Use the straight lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 52
183 ft
·
5 sec
·
Old State Road 52
6
Continue on CR 52
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old State Road 52
7
Turn right onto FL 52
471 ft
·
9 sec
·
McCabe Road
8
Continue on FL 52
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
State Road 52
9
Take the ramp
108 ft
·
2 sec
Toward FL 52: Dade City, New Port Richey
10
Turn slight left onto FL 52
311 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Road 52
11
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
12
Merge onto I 75
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 275
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft
·
6 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pierce Street
19
Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Dade City, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 37.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 52 / 21st Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR 52 / 21st Street
Navigation decision point
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp toward FL 52: Dade City, New Port Richey
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward FL 52: Dade City, New Port Richey
9
21.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 275
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275 toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
7
37 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East-West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
9
37.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.13 one way
$12.26 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $6.67 | $13.33 |
| premium | $4.72 | $7.16 | $14.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 62% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (62% 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
Tampa, FL
Late night in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as roughly 70% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on the highway. You will navigate a combination of Old State Road 52, I-75, and I-275 to complete the trek. The stretch of I-275 serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip, spanning 15.9 miles of your journey. While the route begins with local road travel, the experience quickly shifts into a fast-paced interstate drive once you merge onto the larger arteries. You should be prepared for a utilitarian, high-speed transit experience rather than a winding backroads tour, as the road is designed for connectivity between these two Florida hubs.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on I 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 275 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 52 / 21st Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 38.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 52 / 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles (I 275): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dade City, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward New Port Richey and Saint Petersburg.
New Port Richey
9.5 mi in
|
~15m
Saint Petersburg
9.6 mi in
|
~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 38.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on I 275. 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 Tampa, 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 0.5 miles (CR 52 / 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles (I 275): 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 Tampa, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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