Trip from Palm Valley, FL to Clearwater, 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 42m

Distance

236.2 mi

380 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

36 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 29m ★

6 AM

4h 43m

8 AM

5h 10m

10 AM

4h 52m

12 PM

4h 50m

3 PM

4h 54m

5 PM

5h 8m

8 PM

4h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Palm Valley, FL

DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ

county seat of Pinellas County, Florida, United States

Clearwater, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Palm Valley, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 236.2 miles and takes about 4h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 4, I 95, FL 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 130.2 miles on I 4. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.60 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

118.1 miles from Palm Valley, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 4	130.2 mi	2h 28m
I 95	66.4 mi	1h 11m
FL 60	9.3 mi	12m
I 275	4.8 mi	6m
Gulf to Bay Boulevard	4.7 mi	9m
Palm Valley Road	4.5 mi	6m
Nocatee Parkway	3.1 mi	3m
Valley Ridge Boulevard	2.9 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 4 — 130.2 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palm Valley, FL and Clearwater, FL.

Start on CR 210

2.0 mi · 2 min · Palm Valley Road

Enter roundabout onto CR 210

44 ft · 0 sec · Palm Valley Road

Continue on CR 210

2.5 mi · 3 min · Palm Valley Road

Continue on CR 210

3.1 mi · 3 min · Nocatee Parkway

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward Valley Ridge Boulevard South Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto Valley Ridge Boulevard

2.9 mi · 4 min · Valley Ridge Boulevard

Continue on CR 210

2.1 mi · 3 min · CR 210

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 95 South: Daytona Beach

Merge onto I 95

66 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 95

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 260C-B-A Toward I 4, US 92, FL 400: Daytona Beach, Orlando, International Airport, International Speedway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on this road

513 ft · 12 sec · this road

Exit 260 C B A Toward I 4, US 92, FL 400: Daytona Beach, Orlando

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min

Toward I 4, FL 400: Orlando, South Daytona

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 260B Toward I 4 West: Orlando Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 4

37 mi · 40 min · I 4

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 4

10 mi · 13 min · I 4

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Exit 84B Toward Ivanhoe Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 1 min · this road

Toward I 4 West: Tampa

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · this road

Toward I 4 West: Tampa

Merge onto I 4

83 mi · 1 hr 34 min · I 4

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 40 sec

Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 275

4.8 mi · 6 min · I 275

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Exit 39 Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto FL 60

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Memorial Highway

Toward FL 60, FL 589 Toll: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll

0.9 mi · 1 min · Veterans Expressway

Toward FL 589 Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Exit 2A Toward FL 60 West: Clearwater Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on FL 60

9.3 mi · 12 min · FL 60

Toward FL 60: Clearwater Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on FL 60

4.7 mi · 9 min · Gulf to Bay Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Continue on FL 60

1.5 mi · 3 min · Court Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Ft Harrison Avenue

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

North Fort Harrison Avenue

Trip Plan

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 118.1 miles from Palm Valley, FL, or about 2h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.2 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 52 miles or 1h 2m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 118.1 miles or 2h 15m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Palm Valley, 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 Palm Valley, FL

This is one driving day of about 236.2 miles and 4h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Palm Valley, 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 4 for about 130.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Butler, FL

118 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

Flagler Beach, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casselberry, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 118.1 miles from Palm Valley, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 4 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Southie Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clearwater, Florida

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 236.2

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17276213888

Visit website

CFS Coffee For The Soul, Celebration

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kissimmee, Florida

1.6 mi

Yacht StarShip Cruises & Events

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clearwater, Florida

1.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Claro's Coffeehouse

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Longwood, Florida

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 118.1

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14079517830

Visit website

Castro's Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Polk City, Florida

2.5 mi

Yummies Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clearwater, Florida

2.6 mi

Southie Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17276213888

Visit website

CFS Coffee For The Soul, Celebration

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 151.8

Kissimmee, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+14072719145

Visit website

Yacht StarShip Cruises & Events

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18132237999

Visit website

Holy Grain Coffee Shop

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 135

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14077045878

Visit website

CFS Coffee For The Soul, Downtown

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 135

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+14077762900

Visit website

The Coffee Mill

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour Inexpensiv mile 236.2

Largo, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+17272238595

Visit website

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 219.3

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

Coffee Uniting People - CUP

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 219.3

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18134001110

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Ionna Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 236.2

Largo, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18334662474

Visit website

bp pulse Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18332778573

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

+19549249779

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 236.2

Largo, Florida

1.7 mi from route

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 236.2

Clearwater, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+17274411790

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 135

Orlando, Florida

+14073638000

Visit website

Fun Spot America

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 135

Orlando, Florida

Hours: 2 pm–12 am

+14073633867

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 79.7 and 218.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

79.7 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward I 4, US 92, FL 400: Daytona Beach, Orlando, International Airport, International Speedway

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 260C-B-A Toward I 4, US 92, FL 400: Daytona Beach, Orlan...

81.3 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 4 West: Orlando

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 260B Toward I 4 West: Orlando

128.9 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in

Take the exit toward Ivanhoe Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 84B Toward Ivanhoe Boulevard

213.2 mi into trip | ~4h 6m 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...

218.4 mi into trip | ~4h 13m in

Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater

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 39 Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport,...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.60 one way

$75.19 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$40.90	$81.80
premium	$4.72	$43.92	$87.84
diesel	$5.61	$52.15	$104.30

Estimated Tolls: $0.07

Veterans Expressway (0.9 mi) $0.07

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

$38

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

36 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Cracker Barrel - Tesla Supercharger

St. Augustine, FL

Tesla

24 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

St Johns, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

TA, County Road 210, Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville, FL

BP_PULSE

12 DCFC

Buc-Ee's - Tesla Supercharger

St. Augustine, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

St. Augustine, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Buc-Ees - Tesla Supercharger

Daytona Beach, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

St. Johns Commons - Tesla Supercharger

St. Johns, FL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Daytona Beach, FL

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

9 DCFC

MERCEDES_BENZ: 10 FPLEV: 8 Tesla: 8 Blink Network: 2 BP_PULSE: 1 RED_E: 1 Non-Networked: 1 eVgo Network: 1 JULE: 1 Electrify America: 1 7CHARGE: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	70.9	0	$24.80	$11.34
Efficient EV	59.1	0	$20.67	$9.45
EV Truck/SUV	94.5	1	$33.07	$15.12

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 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.

Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Palm Valley, FL

Afternoon in Palm Valley on Sunday

Local time

1:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clearwater, FL

Afternoon in Clearwater on Sunday

Local time

1:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Partly Sunny

NW 2 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

83°F

Lake Butler, FL

118 mi in

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

20 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 42m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

236.2 mi in 4h 42m, mostly highway — 130.2 mi of that is on I 4.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 130.2 mi on I 4.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.7 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 19 significant decision points across 236.2 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 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Palm Valley, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward Orlando, International Airport, International Speedway, Daytona and Saint Petersburg.

Orlando

79.7 mi in | ~1h 32m

International Airport

79.7 mi in | ~1h 32m

International Speedway

79.7 mi in | ~1h 32m

Daytona

80.1 mi in | ~1h 33m

Saint Petersburg

213.2 mi in | ~4h 6m

About the Cities

Arriving in Clearwater, FL

Full guide →

Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida. Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.

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 42m. Total distance: 236.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 42m 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 130.2 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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.

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 Clearwater, 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Clearwater, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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