Origin
Hernando Beach, FL
Afternoon in Hernando Beach on Sunday
Local time
1:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hernando Beach, 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
1h 20m
Distance
54.7 mi
88 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hernando Beach, FL
Arian Fernandez
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 54.7-mile drive from Hernando Beach, FL to Tampa, FL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway, with State Road 52 connecting them. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this is a budget-friendly excursion. The route is mostly highway-focused, offering a straightforward journey between these two Florida locations. It's a convenient option for a quick trip, whether you're heading into the city for an event or starting a longer Florida adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Suncoast Parkway | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| State Road 52 | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| Veterans Expressway | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| FL 589 Toll Express Lane | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Little Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| I 275 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 19 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Commercial Way | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Suncoast Parkway
— 14.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hernando Beach, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Palometa Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Palometa Drive
2
Turn right onto Jew Fish Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Jew Fish Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 597
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoal Line Boulevard
4
Turn slight left
225 ft
·
11 sec
5
Turn left onto CR 595
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Osowaw Boulevard
6
Continue on CR 595
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Osowaw Boulevard
7
Turn right onto US 19
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Commercial Way
8
Continue on US 19
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 19
Use the left / uturn lanes.
9
Turn left onto CR 1
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Little Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
10
Turn left onto FL 52
7.3 mi
·
11 min
·
State Road 52
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward FL 589 Toll South: Suncoast Parkway
12
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Suncoast Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 589 Toll
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Veterans Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
FL 589 Toll Express Lane
16
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans Expressway
Toward Tampa:St. Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on FL 60
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
18
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 275 North: Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 275
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 275
Toward I 275: Tampa
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
386 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Turn slight right onto US 41 Business
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Tampa Street
25
Turn left onto East Twiggs Street
282 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Twiggs Street
26
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Franklin Street
27
Turn right onto FL 60
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
28
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Hernando Beach, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 37.2 and 54.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
37.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
FL 60 / Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60 / Memorial Highway toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
8
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East, Downtown West
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 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
9
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Stree...
9
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.71 one way
$17.41 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
| premium | $4.72 | $10.17 | $20.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.08 | $24.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.44
Suncoast Parkway
(14.7 mi)
$0.88
Veterans Expressway
(6.9 mi)
$0.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
1:28 PM
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
2 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 20m 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 drive for most of this journey, with 62% of the route utilizing major expressways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.7 miles on the Suncoast Parkway, allowing for a good period of consistent travel. You'll experience a mix of faster-paced highway driving as you navigate the Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway, punctuated by the transition onto State Road 52. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficiency and speed over winding scenic byways.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 mi on Suncoast Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.2 miles in near FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway.
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 54.7 miles you will encounter 20 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 37.2 miles (FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Hernando Beach, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Tampa:st. Petersburg and St. Petersburg.
Tampa:st. Petersburg
46.3 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via FL 589 Toll
St. Petersburg
47.8 mi in
|
~1h 8m
|
via FL 60
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.7 miles on Suncoast Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.44 in tolls one way, starting with Suncoast Parkway. 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 37.2 miles (FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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