Origin
Polk City, FL
Late night in Polk City on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Polk City, FL to St. Petersburg, 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 21m
Distance
67.3 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Polk City, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 67.3-mile drive from Polk City to St. Petersburg, Florida, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 87% of the journey on major interstates. Expect a fuel cost of around $11 for this relatively short distance. You'll primarily navigate on I-4 and I-275, with a brief segment on Commonwealth Avenue Southwest. Given its efficiency and straightforward nature, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing plenty of time to enjoy your destination without the need for an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 37.3 mi | 41m |
| I 275 | 21.3 mi | 26m |
| Commonwealth Avenue Southwest | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| 5th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 34th Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Commonwealth Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 34th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 37.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Polk City, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on FL 33
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Commonwealth Avenue North
2
Continue on FL 33
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue Southwest
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 4 West
4
Merge onto I 4
37 mi
·
41 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 275
21 mi
·
26 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Turn right onto FL 595
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue North
9
Turn left onto US 19
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Street North
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 19
323 ft
·
14 sec
·
34th Street South
11
Arrive at destination
US 19
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.7 miles from Polk City, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 66.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 4
Merge onto I 4
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.6 mi into trip
|
~49m 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...
5
44 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 275
Merge onto I 275
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
65.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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...
4
66.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 19 / 34th Street North
Turn left onto US 19 / 34th Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $11.65 | $23.31 |
| premium | $4.72 | $12.51 | $25.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.86 | $29.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Late night in St. Petersburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SSW 3 to 9 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 6:56AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 21m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the 67.3 miles on major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 37.3 miles on I-4, offering uninterrupted travel. The route utilizes major arteries like I-4 and I-275, designed for efficient travel between these Florida locations. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of Commonwealth Avenue Southwest may offer a slight shift in pace before you reach your destination in St. Petersburg.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.3 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and I 275. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in near I 4.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 21m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles (I 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44 miles (I 275): 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.
On the drive from Polk City, FL to St. Petersburg, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Saint Petersburg
43.6 mi in
|
~49m
About the Cities
Starting in Polk City, FL
Full guide →Polk City is a small town in Polk County, Florida. It is home to Fantasy of Flight and located on the southern edge of the Green Swamp.
Arriving in St. Petersburg, FL
Full guide →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.
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 21m. Total distance: 67.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.3 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 6.3 miles (I 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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