The drive from Fruit Cove, FL to Tampa, FL covers 191.6 miles and takes about 4h 2m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Sid Martin Highway, FL 21 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.7 miles on I 75.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
95.8 miles from Fruit Cove, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
82.7 mi
1h 28m
Sid Martin Highway
26.1 mi
32m
FL 21
23.5 mi
33m
I 275
15.9 mi
19m
FL 16
11.5 mi
16m
First Coast Expressway
8.8 mi
10m
County Road 219A
6.5 mi
8m
Longleaf Pine Parkway
3.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 82.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fruit Cove, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Oakvale Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Oakvale Road
2
Turn right onto Fruit Cove Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Fruit Cove Road
3
Turn right onto FL 13
0.9 mi·1 min·State Road 13
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto Roberts Road
2.6 mi·5 min·Roberts Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto CR 244
3.4 mi·5 min·Longleaf Pine Parkway
6
Turn right onto CR 16A
0.7 mi·1 min·CR 16A
7
Turn left onto FL 13
1.0 mi·1 min·FL 13
8
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·20 sec
9
Continue on FL 16
3.2 mi·4 min·FL 16
10
Turn left onto SR-23
8.8 mi·10 min·First Coast Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 20Toward FL 16: Green Cove Springs, Penney Farms
12
Keep slight left at fork
454 ft·11 sec
Toward FL 16 West: Penney FarmsUse the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto FL 16
8.4 mi·11 min·FL 16
14
Turn left onto FL 21
23 mi·33 min·FL 21
15
Turn right onto FL 26
1.4 mi·2 min·Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway
16
Turn left onto CR 219A
6.5 mi·8 min·County Road 219A
Use the left lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 301
26 mi·32 min·Sid Martin Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on FL 326
1.2 mi·2 min·Northwest 77th Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
21
Merge onto I 75
83 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
16 mi·19 min·I 275
Exit 274Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 45AToward Downtown East-WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft·6 sec
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Pierce Street
28
Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.3 mi·45 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
29
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 95.8 miles from Fruit Cove, FL, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.7 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 42 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.8 miles or 2h 15m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tampa, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fruit Cove, 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 Fruit Cove, FL
This is one driving day of about 191.6 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Fruit Cove, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 82.7 miles.
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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 190.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|FL 13 / State Road 13
Turn right onto FL 13 / State Road 13
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
22.5 mi into trip|~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL 16 West: Penney Farms
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward FL 16 West: Penney Farms
9
174.2 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
190.1 mi into trip|~3h 58m 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
190.7 mi into trip|~3h 59m 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
$30.50 one way
$61.00 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$33.18
$66.35
premium
$4.72
$35.63
$71.25
diesel
$5.61
$42.30
$84.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.5
0
$20.12
$9.20
Efficient EV
47.9
0
$16.76
$7.66
EV Truck/SUV
76.6
0
$26.82
$12.26
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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
Fruit Cove, FL
Afternoon
in Fruit Cove on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tampa, FL
Afternoon
in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
5 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
4h 2m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
191.6 mi in 4h 2m, mostly highway — 82.7 mi of that is on I 75.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.7 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sid Martin Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near FL 13 / State Road 13.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 191.6 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 1.4 miles (FL 13 / State Road 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.2 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.
Between Fruit Cove, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Penney Farms and Saint Petersburg.
Penney Farms
22.1 mi in|~34m
Saint Petersburg
174.2 mi in|~3h 39m|via I 275
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 191.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.7 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (FL 13 / State Road 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.2 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Tampa, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
