Graceville, FL to Tampa, FL is 363 miles and takes about 6 hours 42 minutes via I-75, I-10, and I-275, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the Panhandle region down to the central part of the state. Most of the route is on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. You'll want to plan for a full day of driving to comfortably reach your destination.
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
181.5 miles from Graceville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
160.5 mi
2h 52m
I 10
159.1 mi
2h 50m
I 275
15.9 mi
19m
US 231
8.4 mi
10m
8th Avenue
6.8 mi
10m
FL 73
6.6 mi
9m
Penn Avenue
2.8 mi
4m
Lafayette Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 160.5 mi, about 2h 52m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,772 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,768
Quietest
2 AM
~358 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 103 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 Graceville, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on this road
10 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto FL 77
150 ft·7 sec·Cotton Street
3
Turn right onto FL 2
6.8 mi·10 min·8th Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 231
1.1 mi·1 min·US 231
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 231
7.3 mi·8 min·US 231
6
Turn left onto FL 73
6.6 mi·9 min·FL 73
7
Turn left onto US 90; SR 73
0.5 mi·52 sec·Lafayette Street
8
Turn right onto FL 276
2.8 mi·4 min·Penn Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
159 mi·2 hr 50 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
12
Merge onto I 75
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 45AToward Downtown East-WestUse 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 StreetUse 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
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6 hour 42 minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Graceville to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and the majority of the route on the interstate, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading onto longer stretches like the 160.5 miles on I-75. The $55 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for budgeting. Planning a brief stop around the halfway point will help you stay refreshed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.5 miles from Graceville, FL, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.5 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.5 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 33m
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 Graceville, 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 Graceville, FL
This is one driving day of about 363 miles and 6h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Graceville, 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 160.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 362 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.9 mi into trip|~10m in|US 231
Turn right onto US 231
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
25.1 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
9
345.6 mi into trip|~6h 19m 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
361.4 mi into trip|~6h 38m 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
362 mi into trip|~6h 39m 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
$58.37 one way
$116.73 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$63.67
$127.34
premium
$4.78
$68.34
$136.68
diesel
$6.28
$89.69
$179.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
40 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Gainesville, FL - West Newberry Road - Tesla Supercharger
Gainesville, FL
Tesla
23 DCFC
Steak 'n Shake - Tesla Supercharger
Lake City, FL
Tesla
16 DCFC
(Wawa) - Alachua, FL - Northwest US Highway 441 - Tesla Supercharger
Alachua, FL
Tesla
16 DCFC
Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee, FL
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE
14 DCFC
Burger King - Tesla Supercharger
Quincy, FL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Tallahassee, FL - West Pensacola Street - Tesla Supercharger
Tallahassee, FL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Tallahassee, FL - Apalachee Parkway - Tesla Supercharger
Tallahassee, FL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Tallahassee, FL - Thomasville Road - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.9
1
$38.12
$17.42
Efficient EV
90.8
1
$31.76
$14.52
EV Truck/SUV
145.2
1
$50.82
$23.23
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Forecast as of Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Graceville, FL
Evening
in Graceville on Thursday
Local time
5:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Tampa, FL
Evening
in Tampa on Thursday
Local time
6:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
NNE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 22 at 1:32PM EDT until October 24 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 42m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 97% of the route on major interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is about 160.5 miles on I-75. You'll experience a significant amount of highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads closer to your destination. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach urban areas.
97% 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: 160.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in near US 231.
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 16 significant decision points across 363 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 6.9 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 345.6 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 42m. Total distance: 363 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 160.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 42 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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 345.6 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 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.
