Orange Park, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is 202.4 miles and takes about 4h 14m via I-75 and Blanding Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the northern part of the state down toward the central Gulf Coast. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll find it’s a straightforward trip without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a 4-hour drive plus any time for stops.
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
101.2 miles from Orange Park, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
82.7 mi
1h 28m
Blanding Boulevard
40.5 mi
1h
I 275
37.6 mi
45m
Sid Martin Highway
26.1 mi
32m
County Road 219A
6.5 mi
8m
Kingsley Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
Northwest 70th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 82.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,204 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,885
Quietest
2 AM
~334 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.6×
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 Orange Park, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on Plainfield Avenue
102 ft·7 sec·Plainfield Avenue
2
Turn right onto FL 224
2.5 mi·4 min·Kingsley Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto FL 21
41 mi·1 hr·Blanding Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto FL 26
1.4 mi·2 min·Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway
5
Turn left onto CR 219A
6.5 mi·8 min·County Road 219A
Use the left lane.
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 301
26 mi·32 min·Sid Martin Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto FL 326
1.5 mi·2 min·Northwest 70th Street
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on FL 326
1.2 mi·2 min·Northwest 77th Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
10
Merge onto I 75
83 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
38 mi·45 min·I 275
Exit 274Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 23BToward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves WineryUse 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
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 14m estimated drive time, leaving Orange Park in the morning allows ample time to reach St. Petersburg before evening. This is a one-day trip, so you don't need to plan for an overnight stay, giving you flexibility. The route has one recommended stop, so consider breaking up the drive around the halfway point or when you feel the need for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially before entering longer stretches on I-75, as services can be spaced out. The $35 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting this trip.
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 101.2 miles from Orange Park, FL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.7 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 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 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 28m
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 Orange Park, 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 Orange Park, FL
This is one driving day of about 202.4 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Orange Park, 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 82.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 200.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|FL 224 / Kingsley Avenue
Turn right onto FL 224 / Kingsley Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
44.4 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|CR 219A / County Road 219A
Turn left onto CR 219A / County Road 219A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
77 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street
Turn right onto FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 275
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275 toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
8
200.4 mi into trip|~4h 10m 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
$30.64 one way
$61.28 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$33.62
$67.24
premium
$4.55
$36.26
$72.51
diesel
$4.80
$38.22
$76.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.34
$12.95
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Orange Park, FL
Morning
in Orange Park on Sunday
Local time
7:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
S 7 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
St. Petersburg, FL
Morning
in St. Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
7:14 AM
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 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 14m 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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 202.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 59% of this 202.4-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 82.7 miles on I-75. The profile shifts between highway cruising and surface roads, indicating a change in speed and exit frequency. Expect to transition from faster interstate driving to Blanding Boulevard and I-275, which may feature more local traffic and varied speed limits. Be prepared for a mix of environments as you navigate through different road types.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.7 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FL 224 / Kingsley Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 202.4 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: near the start (FL 224 / Kingsley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (CR 219A / County Road 219A): Lane positioning matters here; at 77 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
214 ft0 ft
Total Climb
376 ft
Total Descent
347 ft
Highest Point
214 ft
~28.9 mi in
Elevation Range
214 ft
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 Orange Park, FL to St. Petersburg, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
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 14m. Total distance: 202.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.7 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FL 224 / Kingsley Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (CR 219A / County Road 219A): Lane positioning matters here; at 77 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): 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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at St. Petersburg, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
