Hialeah to Madeira Beach is 264 miles and takes about 4 hours 59 minutes via I 75, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, moving from the southern part of the state up towards the Gulf Coast. It's a straightforward highway-focused trip, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major interstates. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Miami area to the beaches west of Tampa. With a drive time under five hours, it's perfectly suited for a single-day journey.
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
132 miles from Hialeah, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
226.9 mi
4h 3m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
14.3 mi
16m
I 275
5.7 mi
7m
Tyrone Boulevard North
3.4 mi
6m
5th Avenue North
2.4 mi
4m
Gratigny Parkway
2.2 mi
2m
Bay Pines Boulevard
1.9 mi
3m
Palm Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 226.9 mi, about 4h 3m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 124 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,628 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,277
Quietest
2 AM
~215 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Hialeah, FL and Madeira Beach, FL.
1
Start on East 39th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East 39th Street
2
Turn right onto Palm Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Palm Avenue
3
Turn left onto West 65th Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·West 65th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn straight onto West 2nd Court
0.2 mi·24 sec·West 2nd Court
5
Continue on West 68th Street
447 ft·12 sec·West 68th Street
6
Turn right onto SR 823
0.9 mi·1 min·West 4th Avenue/Red Road
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward SR 924 Toll West
8
Merge onto SR 924 Toll
2.2 mi·2 min·Gratigny Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 75
16 mi·17 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
211 mi·3 hr 45 min·I 75
Toward Alligator Alley, NaplesUse the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit onto I 275
5.7 mi·7 min·I 275
Exit 228Toward I 275 North: Saint PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·19 sec
13
Merge onto I 275; US 19
14 mi·16 min·Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 20Toward 31st Street SouthUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
161 ft·9 sec
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
16
Turn left onto 31st Street South
1.2 mi·2 min·31st Street South
17
Turn left onto FL 595
2.4 mi·4 min·5th Avenue North
18
Turn right onto US-19 ALT
3.4 mi·6 min·Tyrone Boulevard North
19
Continue on US-19 ALT
1.9 mi·3 min·Bay Pines Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn slight left
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward SR 666: Madeira Beach, Redington Beach
21
Continue on FL 666
0.1 mi·17 sec·Tom Suart Causeway
22
Continue on FL 666
0.9 mi·1 min·Tom Stuart Causeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
At end of road, turn left onto FL 699
0.3 mi·52 sec·Gulf Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto 146th Avenue
69 ft·5 sec·146th Avenue
25
Turn right
65 ft·4 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this route is under five hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Hialeah in the morning allows ample daylight to reach Madeira Beach comfortably. The longest stretch is over 200 miles on I 75, so plan for one primary fuel and rest stop during that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to the destination, as services can sometimes be more spread out on the final approach. You’ll want to ensure you have enough gas before getting on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, as options may be limited on the span itself.
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 132 miles from Hialeah, FL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.9 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132 miles or 2h 25m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madeira Beach, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hialeah, 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 Hialeah, FL
This is one driving day of about 264 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Hialeah, 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 226.9 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 3.4 and 253.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward SR 924 Toll West
Navigation decision point
Toward SR 924 Toll West
8
21.9 mi into trip|~27m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward Alligator Alley, Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Alligator Alley, Naples
7
232.8 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|I 275
Take the exit onto I 275 toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
7
253.1 mi into trip|~4h 38m in
Take the exit toward 31st Street South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward 31st Street South
7
253.4 mi into trip|~4h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.96 one way
$79.93 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$43.85
$87.70
premium
$4.55
$47.29
$94.58
diesel
$4.80
$49.85
$99.70
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(14.3 mi)$1.00
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
$40
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.2
0
$27.72
$12.67
Efficient EV
66
0
$23.10
$10.56
EV Truck/SUV
105.6
1
$36.96
$16.90
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Hialeah, FL
Morning
in Hialeah on Monday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 3 mph6% chanceLive forecast
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
Madeira Beach, FL
Morning
in Madeira Beach on Monday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 6 mph25% chanceLive forecast
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 59m 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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 236.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of I 75 for 226.9 miles, which is the longest uninterrupted segment of this trip. Expect a profile of fast-paced travel for the majority of the time, designed for covering distance efficiently. While the primary roads are interstates, the transition onto the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and then I 275 will mark key changes in the scenery and road type as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.9 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
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 264 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 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232.8 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
28 ft4 ft
Total Climb
34 ft
Total Descent
37 ft
Highest Point
28 ft
~188.6 mi in
Elevation Range
24 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hialeah, FL and Madeira Beach, FL, road signs point toward Alligator Alley and Naples.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 264 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 226.9 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.00 in tolls one way, starting with Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 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 15 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 Madeira Beach, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232.8 miles (I 275): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Madeira Beach, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
