10270
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Goulds, FL to Tampa, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
284.7 mi
458 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Goulds, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Goulds, FL to Tampa, FL is 284.7 miles and takes about 5h 17m via Alligator Alley, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike, and Okeechobee Road, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, transitioning from the southern part of the state to the central region. You'll primarily be on surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate trip. With a single recommended day, this route is straightforward for a quick transit between these two Florida locations.
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
142.3 miles from Goulds, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Alley | 230.3 mi | 4h 7m |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 22.5 mi | 26m |
| Okeechobee Road | 17.6 mi | 22m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Dixie Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 118th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 220th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Alligator Alley
— 230.3 mi, about 4h 7m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 110 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,230 veh/hr typical · worst 3,836
Quietest
2 AM
~227 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goulds, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Southwest 220th Street
76 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southwest 220th Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest 118th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Southwest 118th Avenue
3
Merge onto US 1
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Dixie Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North
5
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 35
Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
11
Merge onto US 27
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Okeechobee Road
Use the right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 North: Naples
14
Merge onto I 75
230 mi
·
4 hr 7 min
·
Alligator Alley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
2.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Goulds, FL, to avoid any lingering congestion. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop should be sufficient. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially before entering Alligator Alley, as services can be more spread out on that stretch. The fuel cost estimate is around $45, so be prepared for that. The route's profile of mostly surface roads means you'll encounter varied traffic patterns, so staying aware of your surroundings is key.
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 142.3 miles from Goulds, FL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.3 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 63 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.3 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
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 Goulds, 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 Goulds, FL
This is one driving day of about 284.7 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Goulds, 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 Alligator Alley for about 230.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 142.3 miles from Goulds, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alligator Alley if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 230.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Hillsborough County Rest Area Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Collier County Rest Area Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Snapper Creek Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Charlotte County Truck Stop Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Collier County Rest Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Hillsborough County Rest Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Big Cypress National Preserve Access Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Big Cypress National Preserve Access Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Broward County Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
10280
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 284.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1 / Dixie Highway
Merge onto US 1 / Dixie Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 35
Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road
8
273.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 4m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
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 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West...
8
284.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m 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
$43.10 one way
$86.19 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $47.29 | $94.58 |
| premium | $4.55 | $51.00 | $102.00 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $53.76 | $107.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.13
Homestead Extension
(22.5 mi)
$1.35
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
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
$43
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.4 | 1 | $29.89 | $13.67 |
| Efficient EV | 71.2 | 0 | $24.91 | $11.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.9 | 1 | $39.86 | $18.22 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Goulds, FL
Morning in Goulds on Tuesday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 8:54PM EDT until July 17 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Tuesday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
E 3 mph
13% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 8:54PM EDT until July 17 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 17m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 245.4
View on nps.gov
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route has an 11% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 230.3 miles on Alligator Alley. After this section, expect to transition to surface roads, which can mean more frequent intersections and varied speed limits. The driving experience will likely involve navigating through more developed areas with frequent exits and entrances.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230.3 mi on Alligator Alley.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 1 / Dixie Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 284.7 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 0.2 miles (US 1 / Dixie Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
41 ft
2 ft
Total Climb
70 ft
Total Descent
67 ft
Highest Point
41 ft
~264.3 mi in
Elevation Range
39 ft
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 Goulds, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Fort Lauderdale and Naples.
Fort Lauderdale
42.5 mi in
|
~54m
Naples
42.5 mi in
|
~54m
About the Cities
Starting in Goulds, FL
Full guide →Arriving in Tampa, FL
Full guide →Founded 1823
The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
Top landmarks
- • Busch Gardens Tampa — African-themed animal theme park in Tampa, Florida
- • Union Station — main railway station in Tampa, Florida, United States
- • Falcon's Fury — drop tower attraction located at the Busch Gardens Tampa amusement park
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 5h 17m. Total distance: 284.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 230.3 miles on Alligator Alley. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.13 in tolls one way, starting with Homestead Extension. 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.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 1 / Dixie Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial and Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tampa, FL before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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