Origin
North Miami Beach, FL
Morning in North Miami Beach on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Miami Beach, 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
4h 43m
Distance
253.9 mi
409 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Miami Beach, FL
Wikimedia Commons
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 253.9-mile drive from North Miami Beach, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. You'll spend about 4 hours and 43 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated around $40. The route is primarily on major interstates, including I-75 and the notable Sunshine Skyway Bridge, making it a practical option for a day trip. Given its efficient path through Florida, this drive is best suited for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
127 miles from North Miami Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 209.2 mi | 3h 44m |
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| Port Everglades Expressway | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| I 95 | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| I 275 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Northeast 18th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 19th Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 31st Street South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 209.2 mi, about 3h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Miami Beach, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on Northeast 171st Street
46 ft
·
3 sec
·
Northeast 171st Street
2
Turn left onto Northeast 19th Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast 19th Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast 18th Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Northeast 18th Road
4
Continue on Northeast 18th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast 18th Avenue
5
Continue on Northeast 199th Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Northeast 199th Street
6
Turn left onto Highland Lakes Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Highland Lakes Boulevard
7
Turn left onto Ives Dairy Road
406 ft
·
16 sec
·
Ives Dairy Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 24
Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 595 West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 595
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Port Everglades Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Port Everglades Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 75
209 mi
·
3 hr 44 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 275
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 275
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
17
Merge onto I 275; US 19
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 20
Toward 31st Street South
Use the slight left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
161 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
20
Turn left onto 31st Street South
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
31st Street South
21
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
5th Avenue South
22
Turn right onto US 19
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
34th Street South
23
Arrive at destination
US 19
Trip Plan
For this one-day trip of just under 5 hours, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best. Consider leaving early to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially as you approach the St. Petersburg area. With only one recommended stop, plan for a break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel. Pay attention to your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I-75 is over 200 miles and services can be spaced out.
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 127 miles from North Miami Beach, FL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 209.2 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127 miles or 2h 23m 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 50m
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 North Miami Beach, 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 North Miami Beach, FL
This is one driving day of about 253.9 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from North Miami Beach, 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 I 75 for about 209.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127 miles from North Miami Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 209.2 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 10.2 and 252.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
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 24
Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-...
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 595 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 595 West
7
232.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 16m 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
252.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m 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
252.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m 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
$40.41 one way
$80.83 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $43.96 | $87.93 |
| premium | $4.72 | $47.21 | $94.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.06 | $112.12 |
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
$40
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.66 | $12.19 |
| Efficient EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.22 | $10.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.6 | 1 | $35.55 | $16.25 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 8 mph
0% chance
Live 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
16 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
4h 43m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 236.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 92% of your travel occurring on high-speed roads. The majority of your time will be spent on I-75, which offers a longest uninterrupted stretch of 209.2 miles. You'll also navigate portions of the Port Everglades Expressway. This character means the drive is efficient and direct, designed for covering distance rather than a leisurely exploration of the landscape.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 209.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 253.9 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 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.3 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in North Miami Beach, FL
Full guide →North Miami Beach is a city in Florida.
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 4h 43m. Total distance: 253.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 209.2 miles on I 75. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.3 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at St. Petersburg, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From St. Petersburg, FL
More trips to St. Petersburg, FL
Explore more options from North Miami Beach, FL or browse trips ending in St. Petersburg, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.