Origin
Eagle Lake, FL
Morning in Eagle Lake on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eagle Lake, FL to Tampa, 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 2m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagle Lake, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Eagle Lake to Tampa, you are in for a straightforward 49.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. Because you are traveling within Florida, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the interior toward the Gulf Coast. Whether you are heading to the city for business or leisure, this direct route offers a reliable way to reach your destination without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 23.8 mi | 26m |
| Polk Parkway | 12.1 mi | 14m |
| Winter Lake Road | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Old Nine Foot Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 5th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Eagle Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 23.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Lake, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on East Eagle Avenue
56 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Eagle Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 17
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
3
Turn left onto FL 540
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Nine Foot Road
4
Continue on FL 540
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Winter Lake Road
5
Continue on FL 540
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Winter Lake Road
6
Take the ramp
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward FL 570 Toll West: Polk Parkway West
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
8
Merge onto FL 570 Toll
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 4
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 2
Toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
14
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
17
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.7 miles from Eagle Lake, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 21 and 48.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
21 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 4 West: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
8
45.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 2
Toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon...
8
46.6 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
6
46.8 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
8
48.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.85 one way
$15.69 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $8.54 | $17.07 |
| premium | $4.72 | $9.17 | $18.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.88 | $21.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Selmon Expressway
(1.5 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Morning in Tampa on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
18 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
1h 2m 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 highway-focused experience, as roughly 76% of this drive takes place on major thoroughfares. You will rely on a combination of Winter Lake Road, the Polk Parkway, and I-4 to navigate the region. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-4, where you will cover 23.8 miles of highway driving. While the route is efficient, be prepared for the typical rhythm of interstate travel as you move between these primary roads. It is a functional, high-speed transit that prioritizes getting you to Tampa as quickly as possible.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Polk Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21 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 49.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 21 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.6 miles: 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 Eagle Lake, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway Toll, Downtown and Selmonm Expressway Toll.
Selmon Expressway Toll
45.9 mi in
|
~56m
Downtown
46.6 mi in
|
~57m
Selmonm Expressway Toll
46.6 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Starting in Eagle Lake, FL
Full guide →Founded 1880
Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County, Florida. The city was an agricultural center, but in the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a largely residential and manufacturing city. Winter Haven is home to Legoland and the "Chain of Lakes".
Arriving in Tampa, FL
Full guide →The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
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 2m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.8 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon Expressway. 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 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 21 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.6 miles: 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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