Origin
Longboat Key, FL
Morning in Longboat Key on Tuesday
Local time
9:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Longboat Key, FL to Tampa, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
60.6 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longboat Key, FL
Ethan Essig
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.6-mile drive from Longboat Key, FL, to Tampa, FL, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I 75 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with Cortez Road West also playing a role. With a projected fuel cost of around $10, this is an economical option for a quick transition between Florida destinations. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience, making it suitable for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stop. You'll be navigating within the same state and region, keeping the landscape consistent.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 25.5 mi | 28m |
| Cortez Road West | 8.6 mi | 16m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Tamiami Trail | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Gulf of Mexico Drive | 3 mi | 4m |
| 1st Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Gulf Drive South | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Hernando DeSoto Bridge | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 25.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longboat Key, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on FL 789
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Gulf of Mexico Drive
2
Continue on FL 789
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Gulf Drive South
3
Enter roundabout onto FL 789
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Gulf Drive South
4
Continue on FL 789
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Gulf Drive South
5
Turn right onto FL 684
8.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Cortez Road West
6
Continue on US 41
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
1st Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 41; US 301
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hernando DeSoto Bridge
8
Continue on US 41; US 301
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Tamiami Trail
9
Continue on US 41
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tamiami Trail
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
11
Merge onto I 275
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 275
12
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
13
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
2.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
FL 60
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 30.3 miles from Longboat Key, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 60 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
FL 789 / Gulf Drive South
Enter roundabout onto FL 789 / Gulf Drive South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
22.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
5
24.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
49.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
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 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West...
8
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m 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
$9.65 one way
$19.29 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.49 | $20.99 |
| premium | $4.72 | $11.27 | $22.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 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 | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
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
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Tuesday
Local time
9:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
1h 25m 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 mixed drive on this 60.6-mile journey, with 55% of it on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.5 miles on I 75. This means you'll experience periods of faster highway travel interspersed with other types of roads, likely offering a dynamic driving experience. The transition between I 75 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway will mark a significant change in the road's character as you approach Tampa.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near FL 789 / Gulf Drive South.
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 60.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 4.5 miles (FL 789 / Gulf Drive South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 24.3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Between Longboat Key, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
49.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Port Of Tampa
49.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
About the Cities
Arriving in Tampa, FL
Full guide →The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
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 1h 25m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.78 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 4.5 miles (FL 789 / Gulf Drive South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 24.3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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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