Origin
Ruskin, FL
Late night in Ruskin on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ruskin, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
20.7 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ruskin, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Ruskin to Tampa, you are looking at a straightforward 21.2-mile trek that typically takes about 31 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. With a modest fuel budget of $4, it is an economical route for a quick commute or local errand. You will navigate primarily through local roads, avoiding highway travel entirely. Because both start and end points are located within Florida, you can expect a familiar, consistent driving environment throughout the journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tamiami Trail | 13.4 mi | 19m |
| South 50th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| South 22nd Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South 20th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Causeway Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 22nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tamiami Trail
— 13.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruskin, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on this road
53 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Shell Point Road East
207 ft
·
10 sec
·
Shell Point Road East
3
Turn right onto US 41
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Tamiami Trail
Use the left / uturn lanes.
4
Continue on US 41
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South 50th Street
5
Turn left onto US 41 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Causeway Boulevard
6
Continue on US 41 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South 22nd Street
7
Continue on US 41 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South 20th Street
8
Continue on US 41 Business
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North 22nd Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward FL 618 Toll West: Saint Petersburg
10
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Shell Point Road East
Turn right onto Shell Point Road East
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 41 / Tamiami Trail
Turn right onto US 41 / Tamiami Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
3
19 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the ramp toward FL 618 Toll West: Saint Petersburg
Navigation decision point
Toward FL 618 Toll West: Saint Petersburg
3
19.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
FL 618 Toll / Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Merge onto FL 618 Toll / Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
20.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.29 one way
$6.59 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $3.58 | $7.17 |
| premium | $4.72 | $3.85 | $7.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.57 | $9.14 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Selmon Expressway
(0.7 mi)
$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Tampa, FL
Late night in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the route consists of 0% highway driving, you will be navigating surface streets like Shell Point Road East, Tamiami Trail, and South 50th Street for the duration of the trip. The character of the road is defined by frequent turns, so be prepared for a stop-and-go pace as you transition between these local corridors. You won't encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches, making this a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.4 mi on Tamiami Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Shell Point Road East.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 31m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Shell Point Road East): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 41 / Tamiami Trail): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 20.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.4 miles on Tamiami Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon 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.
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: near the start (Shell Point Road East): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 41 / Tamiami Trail): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Tampa, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tampa, FL
More from Ruskin, FL
More trips to Tampa, FL
Explore more options from Ruskin, FL or browse trips ending in Tampa, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.