Spanning 187.3 miles across Florida, this drive between St. Petersburg and Hobe Sound typically takes about 4 hours and 11 minutes to complete. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budget approximately $31 for fuel to cover the distance, which primarily utilizes FL 70 and Southwest Martin Highway. This highway-focused route is straightforward and efficient for travelers moving between the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic side of the state. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a weekend getaway, the simplicity of the path makes it an easy addition to your travel plans.
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
93.6 miles from St. Petersburg, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 70
73.9 mi
1h 38m
SR 70
29 mi
39m
Southwest Martin Highway
17.5 mi
25m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
13.4 mi
15m
I 95
13.4 mi
14m
I 75
10.3 mi
11m
FL 710
9.9 mi
13m
Southeast Bridge Road
6.5 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
FL 70
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Petersburg, FL and Hobe Sound, FL.
1
Start on US 19
48 ft·5 sec·34th Street South
2
Turn right onto CR 150
0.2 mi·50 sec·Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto 31st Street South
0.7 mi·1 min·31st Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto I 275
4.9 mi·5 min·I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·17 sec
7
Merge onto I 275; US 19
13 mi·15 min·Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 275
1.1 mi·2 min·I 275
Toward I 75 South: Naples
9
Merge onto I 75
10 mi·11 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward SR 70
11
Keep slight left at fork
365 ft·11 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Turn slight left onto SR 70
4.2 mi·6 min·State Road 70
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on FL 70
0.2 mi·20 sec·FL 70
14
Continue on SR 70
29 mi·39 min·SR 70
15
Continue on FL 70
6.9 mi·9 min·FL 70
16
Turn straight onto FL 70
67 mi·1 hr 29 min·FL 70
17
Turn slight right onto FL 710
1.0 mi·1 min·FL 710
18
Continue on FL 710
8.9 mi·11 min·FL 710
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto CR 714
18 mi·25 min·Southwest Martin Highway
20
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: West Palm Beach
21
Merge onto I 95
13 mi·14 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Exit 96Toward CR 708: Hobe SoundUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto CR 708
6.5 mi·11 min·Southeast Bridge Road
24
Arrive at destination
CR 708
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, plan to leave early to avoid peak traffic congestion on the main highways. You should map out at least one stop to stretch your legs, especially given the lengthy, nearly 74-mile stretch on FL 70. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that long segment, as consistent highway speeds can deplete your tank faster than anticipated. Having a $31 fuel budget is a solid baseline, but always account for minor price fluctuations at local stations along the route. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so feel free to adjust your departure time to match your personal comfort level 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 93.6 miles from St. Petersburg, FL, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 41 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 2h 3m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hobe Sound, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving St. Petersburg, 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 St. Petersburg, FL
This is one driving day of about 187.3 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from St. Petersburg, 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 FL 70 for about 73.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 180.3 — 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|CR 150 / Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 150 / Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|I 275
Merge onto I 275
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
6.7 mi into trip|~9m in|I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge onto I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
31.9 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
180.3 mi into trip|~3h 58m in
Take the exit toward CR 708: Hobe Sound
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 96
Toward CR 708: Hobe Sound
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.81 one way
$59.63 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$32.43
$64.86
premium
$4.72
$34.83
$69.65
diesel
$5.61
$41.35
$82.71
Estimated Tolls: $0.94
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(13.4 mi)$0.94
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
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.2
0
$19.67
$8.99
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.39
$7.49
EV Truck/SUV
74.9
0
$26.22
$11.99
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
St. Petersburg, FL
Morning
in St. Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hobe Sound, FL
Morning
in Hobe Sound on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 11m 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?
Expect a highway-focused journey, as 76% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on FL 70, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 73.9 miles. The road’s personality is defined by these consistent highway segments that keep you moving steadily toward your destination. While the experience is primarily about covering ground efficiently, the transition from the St. Petersburg area toward Hobe Sound provides a functional, no-nonsense path. You can anticipate a reliable, consistent driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 mi on FL 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 70 and SR 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 150 / Central Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 187.3 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 (CR 150 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
118 ft0 ft
Total Climb
136 ft
Total Descent
155 ft
Highest Point
118 ft
~107 mi in
Elevation Range
118 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 187.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.9 miles on FL 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.94 in tolls one way, starting with Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 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 Hobe Sound, 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 150 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hobe Sound, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
