Hollywood, FL to Gibsonton, FL is 252.8 miles and takes about 4h 38m via I 75, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, making it a straightforward point-to-point drive. Given its predominantly highway profile, expect a swift transit with minimal detours. It's a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently between South Florida and the Tampa Bay area without extensive planning.
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
126.4 miles from Hollywood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
227.5 mi
4h 3m
Port Everglades Expressway
11.8 mi
13m
Tamiami Trail
4.5 mi
6m
I 95
4.1 mi
4m
Big Bend Road
1.8 mi
3m
Hollywood Boulevard
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 227.5 mi, about 4h 3m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,826 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,424
Quietest
2 AM
~185 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.3×
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 Hollywood, FL and Gibsonton, FL.
1
Start on SR 820
216 ft·12 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on SR 820
0.8 mi·1 min·Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820
0.4 mi·38 sec·Hollywood Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95 North: West Palm BeachUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
4.1 mi·4 min·I 95
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 24Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 595 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 595
1.7 mi·2 min·Port Everglades Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
10 mi·11 min·Port Everglades Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 75
227 mi·4 hr 3 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 246Toward CR 672: Apollo Beach, Big Bend RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
At end of road, turn left onto CR 672
1.8 mi·3 min·Big Bend Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 41
4.4 mi·6 min·Tamiami Trail
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 41
0.1 mi·20 sec·Tamiami Trail
15
Arrive at destination
US 41
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 38m drive, consider an early morning departure from Hollywood to avoid heavier traffic. With a total distance of 252.8 miles, it's easily a one-day trip, but you'll want to factor in a brief stop for fuel or a stretch. The majority of your travel will be on I 75, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 227.5-mile segment. Plan your last fuel stop before entering the more densely populated areas around Tampa Bay.
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 126.4 miles from Hollywood, FL, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.5 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 56 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.4 miles or 2h 19m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gibsonton, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hollywood, 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 Hollywood, FL
This is one driving day of about 252.8 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Hollywood, 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 227.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 246 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
8
5.6 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24
Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-...
7
5.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 595 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 595 West
6
8.4 mi into trip|~11m in|I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
246 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward CR 672: Apollo Beach, Big Bend Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 246
Toward CR 672: Apollo Beach, Big Bend Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.27 one way
$76.54 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.99
$83.98
premium
$4.55
$45.29
$90.57
diesel
$4.80
$47.73
$95.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.8
0
$26.54
$12.13
Efficient EV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
EV Truck/SUV
101.1
1
$35.39
$16.18
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Hollywood, FL
Morning
in Hollywood on Sunday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:14AM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Destination
Gibsonton, FL
Morning
in Gibsonton on Sunday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 6 to 13 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:14AM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin 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
10 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
4h 38m 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 226.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 96% of this 252.8-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on I 75 covers 227.5 miles, so be prepared for extended highway cruising. The transition to surface roads will likely occur near your destination in Gibsonton. Expect a high volume of exits and merges as you navigate this largely interstate corridor.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Port Everglades Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 13 significant decision points across 252.8 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Hollywood is a city in Florida, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. With a population of 153,000 people (2022), Hollywood is a relatively small city that retains an old, laid-back, Florida feel to it compared to the larger cities in the area.
Top landmarks
•Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District — human settlement in Hollywood, Florida, United States of America
•Hollywood Garden Club — clubhouse in Hollywood, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 252.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 227.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Gibsonton, 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Gibsonton, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
