Origin
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Morning in Lakeland Highlands on Sunday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland Highlands, FL to St. Petersburg, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
59.8 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lakeland Highlands to St. Petersburg is 59.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via I-4 and I-275, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within Florida. You'll primarily be on major interstates, making for a quick and efficient journey. Given the short duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering flexibility in your timing. Plan for a simple transit between these two Florida locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| I 275 | 21.3 mi | 26m |
| Polk Parkway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Harden Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Scott Lake Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Lake Miriam Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Pipkin Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland Highlands, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on CR 37A
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Scott Lake Road
2
Turn left onto Lake Miriam Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Miriam Drive
3
Continue on West Pipkin Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pipkin Road
4
Turn right onto Harden Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Harden Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto Parkway Frontage Road North
356 ft
·
7 sec
·
Parkway Frontage Road North
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward FL 570 West Toll: Polk Parkway West
7
Merge onto FL 570 Toll
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 4
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 275
21 mi
·
26 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 23B
Toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto FL 595
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue North
14
Turn left onto US 19
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Street North
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 19
323 ft
·
14 sec
·
34th Street South
16
Arrive at destination
US 19
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Lakeland Highlands, 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 2.5 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Harden Boulevard
Turn right onto Harden Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Parkway Frontage Road North
Turn left onto Parkway Frontage Road North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 4 West: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
8
36 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport...
8
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
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 23B
Toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.52 one way
$19.04 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
| premium | $4.72 | $11.12 | $22.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.20 | $26.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
St. Petersburg, FL
Morning in St. Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
24 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
1h 17m 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?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of the drive on interstates. You can expect a consistent pace, largely dictated by the speed limits of I-4 and I-275. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.7 miles on I-4, offering a significant period of steady driving. While the profile suggests a highway-focused drive, be aware of potential traffic as you approach and enter the St. Petersburg area. The Polk Parkway also contributes to the interstate nature of this trip.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and I 275. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near Harden Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.5 miles (Harden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Parkway Frontage Road North): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Lakeland Highlands, FL to St. Petersburg, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Saint Petersburg
36 mi in
|
~46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 2.5 miles (Harden Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (Parkway Frontage Road North): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Petersburg, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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