Origin
Kathleen, FL
Night in Kathleen on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kathleen, 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
44m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kathleen, FL
Arian Fernandez
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.1-mile drive from Kathleen, FL to Tampa, FL is a quick, single-day trip that should take around 44 minutes to complete. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 82% of the journey on major roadways, making it an efficient option for getting between these two Florida locations. You can expect a fuel cost of about $6 for this journey. Given its short duration and straightforward path, this drive is ideal for a single day without needing an overnight stop. It's a practical way to connect points within the same state, offering a direct and no-fuss experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| Kathleen Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 28.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kathleen, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on CR 35A
74 ft
·
6 sec
·
Kathleen Road
2
Continue on CR 35A
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Kathleen Road
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 4 West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 4
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 2
Toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
8
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
11
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 35.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 4 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 4 West
8
32.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 2
Toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon...
8
33.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
6
33.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
8
35.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
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 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.75 one way
$11.49 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
| premium | $4.72 | $6.71 | $13.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Selmon Expressway
(1.5 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Night in Tampa on Saturday
Local time
9:27 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
6 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
44m 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?
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with an 82% highway share. You'll spend a significant amount of time on fast-paced roads, including stretches of I-4 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.1 miles on I-4, offering a consistent cruising experience. While primarily interstate, the initial and final portions may involve local roads like Kathleen Road, providing a slight variation before merging onto the main arteries. Expect a steady pace with minimal slowdowns on the primary highway segments.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.1 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Kathleen Road. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.1 miles you will encounter 7 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 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Kathleen, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway Toll, Downtown and Selmonm Expressway Toll.
Selmon Expressway Toll
32.7 mi in
|
~38m
Downtown
33.3 mi in
|
~39m
Selmonm Expressway Toll
33.3 mi in
|
~39m
Discover Along the Route
Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.
Cafe Hey
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
mile 36.1
Swann Avenue Market & Cafe
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Subway
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00;Su 09:00-18:00
Visit websiteDio Modern Mediterranean
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Visit websiteSubway
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00
Visit websiteSpain Restaurant & Toma Bar
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Hours: Mo 08:00-15:00;Tu-Fr 08:00-21:00;Sa 16:0...
Mise en Place
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Visit websiteTaco Bell
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 32.1
Tampa, FL
Cuisine: tex-mex
Hours: Mo-We 07:00-02:00; Th-Sa 07:00-03:00; Su...
Visit websiteBurchwood Park
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
mile 16
Doyer Park
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
mile 20.1
Ellis Park
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 12
Plant City, FL
Green Playground
Park
Near the end, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 32.1
Courier Field
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 12
Simpson Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
mile 4
Henry B. Plant Museum
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
mile 36.1
Tampa, FL
Hours: Mo off; Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 12:00-17:0...
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.1 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon Expressway. 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 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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