Hiland Park to Tampa is 371.1 miles and takes about 7h 2m via I 75, I 10, and FL 20, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, beginning in the Florida region and ending in the Florida region. With 99% highway driving, expect a mostly straightforward trip focused on covering distance efficiently. This route is best suited for those prioritizing speed and convenience over extensive sightseeing.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
185.5 miles from Hiland Park, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
160.5 mi
2h 52m
I 10
121.5 mi
2h 10m
FL 20
28.4 mi
39m
US 231
21.2 mi
27m
FL 12
18.1 mi
24m
I 275
15.9 mi
19m
Greensboro Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Selman Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 160.5 mi, about 2h 52m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,749 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,687
Quietest
2 AM
~355 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.7×
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 Hiland Park, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on this road
37 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Sarasota Avenue
493 ft·25 sec·Sarasota Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 2312
0.3 mi·40 sec·East Baldwin Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 231
21 mi·27 min·US 231
5
Turn right onto FL 20
28 mi·39 min·FL 20
6
Turn left onto FL 12
18 mi·24 min·FL 12
7
Turn right onto FL 12; CR 270
0.6 mi·1 min·Selman Street
8
Continue on FL 12
2.2 mi·3 min·Greensboro Highway
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
10
Merge onto I 10
121 mi·2 hr 10 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
Given the 7-hour driving time, starting early from Hiland Park will allow you to reach Tampa well before evening. With only 2 recommended stops, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the longest stretch without exiting is over 160 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering the longest highway segment on I 75.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.5 miles from Hiland Park, FL, or about 3h 39m 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 82 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.5 miles or 3h 39m 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 54m
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 Hiland Park, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hiland Park, FL
This is one driving day of about 371.1 miles and 7h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Hiland Park, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.3 and 370.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward I-75 South: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 296A
Toward I-75 South: Tampa
9
353.6 mi into trip|~6h 40m 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
369.5 mi into trip|~6h 59m 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
370.1 mi into trip|~7h 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
$56.18 one way
$112.35 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$61.64
$123.28
premium
$4.55
$66.48
$132.95
diesel
$4.80
$70.07
$140.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.3
1
$38.97
$17.81
Efficient EV
92.8
1
$32.47
$14.84
EV Truck/SUV
148.4
1
$51.95
$23.75
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Hiland Park, FL
Afternoon
in Hiland Park on Sunday
Local time
3:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Tampa, FL
Afternoon
in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
4:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:50AM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
91°F
Boston, GA
186 mi in
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
3 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
7h 2m 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 drive is almost entirely on highways, with 99% of the 371.1 miles utilizing major roadways like I 75, I 10, and FL 20. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway driving for 160.5 miles on I 75. Be prepared for frequent exits and potential traffic as you approach the Tampa area.
99% 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 71.3 miles in near I 10.
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 15 significant decision points across 371.1 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 71.3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 353.6 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 7h 2m. Total distance: 371.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 2m 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 41 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 353.6 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 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 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.
