Traveling from Quincy to Tampa covers 295.3 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan for approximately $49 in fuel costs to complete the trip. Utilizing a primary corridor of I-10, I-75, and I-275, the route is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing. It is an ideal path for those looking to transit quickly between the Florida Panhandle and the Gulf Coast region. Expect a straightforward drive that prioritizes highway connectivity over secondary roads.
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
147.6 miles from Quincy, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
160.5 mi
2h 52m
I 10
104.1 mi
1h 51m
I 275
15.9 mi
19m
Blue Star Highway
7.5 mi
9m
West Jefferson Street
4.9 mi
7m
North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Pierce Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 160.5 mi, about 2h 52m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,591 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,483
Quietest
2 AM
~336 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 Quincy, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on West Crawford Street
212 ft·14 sec·West Crawford Street
2
Turn left onto South Ward Street
368 ft·18 sec·South Ward Street
3
Turn right onto US 90; FL 12; FL 267
4.9 mi·7 min·West Jefferson Street
4
Continue on US 90
7.5 mi·9 min·Blue Star Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·58 sec
Toward I 10 East: Lake CityUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
8
Merge onto I 75
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·49 sec
Exit 45AToward Downtown East-WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft·6 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Pierce Street
15
Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.3 mi·45 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
16
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 26-minute journey, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic on the busier interstate sections. Since the route includes only one recommended stop, plan your break strategically to maximize your efficiency on the road. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 160.5-mile stretch on I-75, as this is your longest period without a detour. Because you have the flexibility to complete this in one day, consider leaving early in the morning to reach Tampa by the afternoon. Staying well-rested is essential, as the high percentage of highway driving can lead to a monotonous experience behind the wheel.
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 147.6 miles from Quincy, FL, or about 2h 43m 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 65 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.6 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
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 Quincy, 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 Quincy, FL
This is one driving day of about 295.3 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Quincy, 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 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 294.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Ward Street
Turn left onto South Ward Street
Navigation decision point
5
12.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Lake City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Lake City
9
277.8 mi into trip|~5h 3m 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
293.7 mi into trip|~5h 22m 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
294.3 mi into trip|~5h 23m 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
$44.70 one way
$89.40 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$49.05
$98.10
premium
$4.55
$52.90
$105.80
diesel
$4.80
$55.76
$111.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.6
1
$31.01
$14.17
Efficient EV
73.8
0
$25.84
$11.81
EV Truck/SUV
118.1
1
$41.34
$18.90
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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
Quincy, FL
Afternoon
in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
12:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 0 to 5 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:24PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 6:23PM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Tampa, FL
Afternoon
in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
12:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 2 to 6 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:24PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 6:23PM EDT until July 17 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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
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
5h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel occurring on major interstates. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-75, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 160.5 miles. The road maintains a consistent, high-speed character that favors steady progress over technical maneuvering. While the scenery remains largely consistent with Florida's interior landscape, the transition from the quiet surroundings of Quincy to the bustling interstate system is noticeable. Prepare for a focused, interstate-heavy experience that requires alertness during the lengthy primary segments.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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 early in the drive near South Ward Street.
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 12 significant decision points across 295.3 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: near the start (South Ward Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 277.8 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
205 ft15 ft
Total Climb
150 ft
Total Descent
340 ft
Highest Point
205 ft
Elevation Range
190 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 Quincy, FL to Tampa, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 295.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 1 rest area or service plaza 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Ward Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 277.8 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
