Pretty Bayou to Tampa is 375.9 miles and takes about 7h 11m via I 75, I 10, and FL 20, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, making it a straightforward drive across the state. You'll primarily be on major highways, so expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. With just two recommended stops, it’s designed for efficient travel, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188 miles from Pretty Bayou, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
160.5 mi
2h 52m
I 10
121.5 mi
2h 10m
FL 20
28.4 mi
39m
US 231
22.6 mi
29m
FL 12
18.1 mi
24m
I 275
15.9 mi
19m
West 23rd Street
3 mi
5m
Greensboro Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 160.5 mi, about 2h 52m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,749 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,687
Quietest
2 AM
~355 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.7×
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 Pretty Bayou, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on West 27th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·West 27th Street
2
Turn right onto CR 385
0.5 mi·1 min·Frankford Avenue
3
Turn left onto FL 368
3.0 mi·5 min·West 23rd Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 231
372 ft·7 sec·US 231
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 231
1.3 mi·2 min·US 231
6
Continue on US 231
21 mi·27 min·US 231
7
Turn right onto FL 20
28 mi·39 min·FL 20
8
Turn left onto FL 12
18 mi·24 min·FL 12
9
Turn right onto FL 12; CR 270
0.6 mi·1 min·Selman Street
10
Continue on FL 12
2.2 mi·3 min·Greensboro Highway
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
12
Merge onto I 10
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
14
Merge onto I 75
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
16 mi·19 min·I 275
Exit 274Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 45AToward Downtown East-WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft·6 sec
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Pierce Street
21
Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.3 mi·45 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure to maximize daylight. With only two stops planned, consider making them strategically to break up the 160.5-mile stretch on I 75. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when leaving the more populated areas, as services can become more spread out on certain highway segments. Given that this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your stop times based on how you feel on the road.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188 miles from Pretty Bayou, FL, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.5 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 83 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tampa, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pretty Bayou, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pretty Bayou, FL
This is one driving day of about 375.9 miles and 7h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Pretty Bayou, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 160.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 375 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in|US 231
At end of road, turn left onto US 231
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
358.5 mi into trip|~6h 49m 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
7
374.4 mi into trip|~7h 8m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East-West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
9
375 mi into trip|~7h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.90 one way
$113.81 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$62.44
$124.88
premium
$4.55
$67.34
$134.67
diesel
$4.80
$70.98
$141.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
112.8
1
$39.47
$18.04
Efficient EV
94
1
$32.89
$15.04
EV Truck/SUV
150.4
1
$52.63
$24.06
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Pretty Bayou, FL
Late night
in Pretty Bayou on Monday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Tampa, FL
Late night
in Tampa on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 98% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on major interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 160.5 miles on I 75. You'll notice frequent exits and merges as you navigate through different sections of Florida's highway system. The transition from highway to surface roads will be minimal, if any, given the high highway percentage.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 160.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near US 231.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 375.9 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 3.8 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 358.5 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
197 ft15 ft
Total Climb
320 ft
Total Descent
319 ft
Highest Point
197 ft
~80.6 mi in
Elevation Range
182 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 11m. Total distance: 375.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 160.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 358.5 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tampa, FL before the return drive.
