This 205.9-mile drive from Lake Worth, FL, to St. Petersburg, FL, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 34 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily via FL 70 and Southwest Warfield Boulevard, with about 60% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $33. This route offers a mixed driving experience, making it suitable for a single day's adventure across Florida. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your journey efficiently.
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
102.9 miles from Lake Worth, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 70
65.3 mi
1h 26m
Southwest Warfield Boulevard
33.1 mi
44m
SR 70
32.9 mi
45m
Bee Line Highway
20.1 mi
26m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
14.3 mi
16m
I 95
10.7 mi
12m
I 75
9.9 mi
10m
East Hickory Street
8.4 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
FL 70
— 65.3 mi, about 1h 26m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,564 veh/hr typical
· worst 10,131
Quietest
2 AM
~525 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
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 Lake Worth, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on this road
38 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto FL 802
0.2 mi·22 sec·Lake Worth Road
3
Turn right onto Arcano Drive
0.1 mi·19 sec·Arcano Drive
4
Continue on Boutwell Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Boutwell Road
5
Turn right onto 10th Avenue North
0.5 mi·1 min·10th Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 95 North: West Palm BeachUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
11 mi·12 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 76Toward FL 708: Blue Heron BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto FL 708
0.9 mi·1 min·West Blue Heron Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on FL 710
20 mi·26 min·Bee Line Highway
11
Continue on FL 710
33 mi·44 min·Southwest Warfield Boulevard
12
Merge onto FL 70
65 mi·1 hr 26 min·FL 70
13
Turn straight onto FL 70
8.4 mi·12 min·East Hickory Street
14
Continue on SR 70
33 mi·45 min·SR 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 75
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward I 75 North: TampaUse the right lane.
17
Merge onto I 75
9.9 mi·10 min·I 75
18
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.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·19 sec
20
Merge onto I 275; US 19
14 mi·16 min·Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 20Toward 31st Street SouthUse the slight left lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
161 ft·9 sec
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
23
Turn left onto 31st Street South
0.4 mi·58 sec·31st Street South
24
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi·39 sec·5th Avenue South
25
Turn right onto US 19
0.3 mi·40 sec·34th Street South
26
Arrive at destination
US 19
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 34-minute drive, departing in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. The route is only 205.9 miles, making it flexible for one day, but consider planning one stop to break up the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, it's a budget-friendly trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 65.3 miles on FL 70, to ensure you don't need to search for a gas station unexpectedly.
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 102.9 miles from Lake Worth, FL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.3 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 45 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.9 miles or 2h 18m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Petersburg, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Worth, 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 Lake Worth, FL
This is one driving day of about 205.9 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Lake Worth, 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 FL 70 for about 65.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.5 and 204.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward FL 708: Blue Heron Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 76
Toward FL 708: Blue Heron Boulevard
7
173.8 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
7
184.2 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
204.6 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
204.9 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
$31.17 one way
$62.34 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.20
$68.40
premium
$4.55
$36.88
$73.77
diesel
$4.80
$38.88
$77.76
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
$31
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.8
0
$21.62
$9.88
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.02
$8.24
EV Truck/SUV
82.4
1
$28.83
$13.18
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Lake Worth, FL
Evening
in Lake Worth on Monday
Local time
8:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 7 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Destination
St. Petersburg, FL
Evening
in St. Petersburg on Monday
Local time
8:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 7 to 12 mph54% chanceLive forecast
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
1 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 34m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 191.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 60% of the travel occurring on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 65.3-mile segment on FL 70, which offers a longer, more uninterrupted experience. The roads will transition, moving from more urban or suburban interfaces to potentially more open highway driving. This blend means you'll experience both faster travel and potentially more localized road segments as you make your way across the state.
60% 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: 65.3 mi on FL 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 205.9 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 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.2 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Saint Petersburg sits at the base of the Tampa Bay peninsula in Pinellas County, Florida, and enjoys a more subdued social atmosphere than its larger cousin, Tampa. The city has tried to characterize the downtown as an arts and entertainments destination and you will find no shortage of arts and crafts stores, galleries, and museums along with cafes and boutique food shops all within a couple blocks of the Tampa Bay waterfront. With water on three sides of the city, St. Pete is a superb location for fishing, sailing, and wandering beaches.
Top landmarks
•Salvador Dalí Museum — art museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
•Vinoy Park Hotel — historic hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
•Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA — museum in St. Petersburg, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 205.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.3 miles on FL 70. 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 4 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 St. Petersburg, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.2 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at St. Petersburg, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
