Origin
Tampa, FL
Late night in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Belleair Beach, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
26.7 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Belleair Beach, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape the city for the coast, the 26.7-mile trek from Tampa to Belleair Beach is an efficient journey that typically takes about 43 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to head out and return home without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-275, East Bay Drive, and Ulmerton Road to traverse the distance. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a very cost-effective way to transition from the urban environment of Tampa to the beachside atmosphere of the Florida coast. Because the trip is short and straightforward, it offers maximum flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| East Bay Drive | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Ulmerton Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Roosevelt Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| West Bay Drive | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| South Belleair Causeway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Gateway Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Causeway Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 11.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Belleair Beach, FL.
1
Start on FL 60
400 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Ashley Drive
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Ashley Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 275
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 275 South
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 275
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto FL 688; CR 803
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
FL 688; CR 803
Exit 31
Toward FL 688 West: St Pete–Clearwater International Airport, Indian Rocks Beach, Largo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 688
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ulmerton Road
Toward FL 688 West: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Ulmerton Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight right onto FL 686
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Roosevelt Boulevard
Toward Roosevelt Boulevard, St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
10
Merge onto FL 686A Toll
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
Gateway Expressway
11
Turn straight onto FL 686
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Roosevelt Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on FL 686
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
East Bay Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on CR 416
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
West Bay Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CR 416
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Belleair Causeway
15
Continue on CR 416
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Causeway Boulevard
16
At end of road, turn right onto Gulf Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Gulf Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Gulf Boulevard
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Ashley Drive
Turn right onto North Ashley Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 275 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 275 South
8
13 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
FL 688; CR 803
Take the exit onto FL 688; CR 803 toward FL 688 West: St Pete–Clearwater International Airport, Indian Rocks Beach, Largo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward FL 688 West: St Pete–Clearwater Internat...
8
13.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
FL 688 / Ulmerton Road
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 688 / Ulmerton Road toward FL 688 West: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Ulmerton Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 688 West: St. Pete-Clearwater Interna...
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
Gulf Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Gulf Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.25 one way
$8.50 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $4.62 | $9.25 |
| premium | $4.72 | $4.96 | $9.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.90 | $11.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Belleair Beach, FL
Late night in Belleair Beach on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
43m 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?
This drive features a mixed profile that transitions from high-speed interstate travel to local thoroughfares. You will spend about 48% of the journey on the highway, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.9 miles on I-275. After exiting the interstate, the character of the road shifts as you navigate East Bay Drive and Ulmerton Road toward the coast. Expect a balance between the steady flow of highway driving and the stop-and-go nature of local roads. It is a functional drive that efficiently connects the interior regions to the water, changing in tempo as you reach your destination.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.9 mi on I 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Ashley Drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 26.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Ashley Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13 miles (FL 688; CR 803): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tampa, FL and Belleair Beach, FL, road signs point toward Indian Rocks Beach, Largo and St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport.
Indian Rocks Beach
13 mi in
|
~17m
|
via FL 688; CR 803
Largo
13 mi in
|
~17m
|
via FL 688; CR 803
St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport
16 mi in
|
~22m
|
via FL 686
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 26.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.9 miles on I 275. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Belleair Beach, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 0.1 miles (North Ashley Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13 miles (FL 688; CR 803): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Belleair Beach, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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