Origin
Lakeland, FL
Afternoon in Lakeland on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, 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
45m
Distance
35.5 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
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.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Lakeland to Tampa is a quick, straightforward journey covering 35.5 miles. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 45 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is a highly economical route for commuters or weekend travelers. The drive stays entirely within Florida, transitioning you from the inland Lakeland area to the coastal urban environment of Tampa. Because the route is so short, you have total flexibility in your scheduling. Whether you are heading to the coast for business or leisure, the simplicity of this transit allows you to reach your destination with minimal planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| Kathleen Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Sikes Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Lime Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lake Morton Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Walnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 28.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
422 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Lake Morton Drive
3
Turn right onto South Massachusetts Avenue
236 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Massachusetts Avenue
4
Turn left onto East Lime Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Lime Street
5
Turn right onto FL 563
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Sikes Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on FL 539
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Kathleen Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
8
Merge onto I 4
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll
12
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Lakeland, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lake Morton Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
Navigation decision point
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
32.8 mi into trip
|
~40m 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 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 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
$5.65 one way
$11.30 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $6.15 | $12.29 |
| premium | $4.72 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.84 | $15.68 |
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: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Tampa, FL
Afternoon in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
4:20 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
4 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
45m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of local access via Kathleen Road before transitioning onto the primary artery of I-4. The longest uninterrupted stretch of your trip spans 28.1 miles on the interstate, where you will spend the bulk of your time behind the wheel. As you approach your destination, the route integrates the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway to help you navigate into the heart of Tampa. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over winding backroads.
83% 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: 28.1 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and Kathleen Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lake Morton Drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 35.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 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 Lakeland, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway Toll, Downtown and Selmonm Expressway Toll.
Selmon Expressway Toll
32.1 mi in
|
~39m
Downtown
32.8 mi in
|
~40m
Selmonm Expressway Toll
32.8 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
Starting in Lakeland, FL
Full guide →Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Florida Southern College, which has the largest collection of buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright at a single site in the world.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 35.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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 0.1 miles (Lake Morton Drive): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.8 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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