St. Petersburg to South Palm Beach is 210 miles and takes about 4 hours 41 minutes via FL 70 and FL 710, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive cuts across the state of Florida, moving from the Gulf Coast region to the Atlantic coast. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a single recommended day and a modest fuel cost, this route is a practical choice for getting across central Florida.
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
105 miles from St. Petersburg, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 70
73.9 mi
1h 38m
FL 710
53.7 mi
1h 12m
SR 70
29 mi
39m
I 95
13.5 mi
15m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
13.4 mi
15m
I 75
10.3 mi
11m
I 275
6 mi
8m
State Road 70
4.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
FL 70
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,564 veh/hr typical
· worst 10,131
Quietest
2 AM
~525 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
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 St. Petersburg, FL and South Palm Beach, 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
53 mi·1 hr 10 min·FL 710
Use the left lane.
19
Turn sharp left onto FL 809
0.3 mi·42 sec·North Military Trail
20
Turn right onto FL 708
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Blue Heron Boulevard
Use the right lane.
21
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 95 South: West Palm BeachUse the right lane.
22
Merge onto I 95
13 mi·15 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 61Toward Lantana RoadUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto CR 812
1.1 mi·2 min·West Lantana Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn right onto US 1
0.2 mi·28 sec·Dixie Highway
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto East Ocean Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·East Ocean Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto SR A1A
0.3 mi·48 sec·South Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right
51 ft·3 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 41 minute estimated drive time, leaving St. Petersburg in the morning should get you to South Palm Beach with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan for a break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 73.9-mile stretch on FL 70, as services might be less frequent there. The $33 fuel estimate is based on current prices, so it's wise to check local rates before you depart.
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 105 miles from St. Petersburg, FL, or about 2h 18m 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 46 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 2h 18m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Palm Beach, 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 210 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 207.2 — 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.
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.
6
192.9 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|FL 708 / West Blue Heron Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 708 / West Blue Heron Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
207.2 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward Lantana Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61
Toward Lantana Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.79 one way
$63.58 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.88
$69.76
premium
$4.55
$37.62
$75.24
diesel
$4.80
$39.65
$79.30
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
$32
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63
0
$22.05
$10.08
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.38
$8.40
EV Truck/SUV
84
1
$29.40
$13.44
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
St. Petersburg, FL
Evening
in St. Petersburg on Monday
Local time
8:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 7 to 10 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Destination
South Palm Beach, FL
Evening
in South Palm Beach on Monday
Local time
8:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 12 to 16 mph27% chanceLive 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
6 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
4h 41m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 14.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 89% highway, meaning you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch on highway is 73.9 miles, primarily on FL 70. Expect a significant amount of time merging and exiting as you transition between roadways. The final portion of the drive will likely involve more surface roads as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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 FL 710. 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 20 significant decision points across 210 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 31.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Salvador Dalí Museum — art museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
•Vinoy Park Hotel — historic hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
•Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA — museum in St. Petersburg, Florida
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 210 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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.
Yes — we found about 4 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 South Palm Beach, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 31.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at South Palm Beach, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
