Tampa to Cudjoe Key is 400.8 miles and takes about 8 hours 10 minutes via I 75 and the Overseas Highway, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's recommended for 2 days. This trip takes you from the Florida mainland down through the Keys, ending at Cudjoe Key. With 73% highway driving, expect a significant portion to be on faster roads, but the latter part of the drive will transition to surface streets. It's a manageable drive, but breaking it up over two days allows for a more relaxed pace and time to enjoy the destination.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.4 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
231.5 mi
4h 8m
Overseas Highway
86.7 mi
2h 15m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
34.5 mi
40m
Dixie Highway
19.2 mi
26m
US 27
17.9 mi
22m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
7.8 mi
9m
East Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
Blimp Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 231.5 mi, about 4h 8m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 110 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,227 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,952
Quietest
2 AM
~229 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Tampa, FL and Cudjoe Key, FL.
1
Start on FL 60
118 ft·10 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
2
Turn left onto US 41 Business
296 ft·12 sec·North Tampa Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·East Jackson Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto East Jackson Street
69 ft·3 sec·East Jackson Street
5
Turn left onto North Nebraska Avenue
404 ft·9 sec·North Nebraska Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward FL 618 Toll East: Brandon
7
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi·9 min·Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Exit 15AToward I 75 South: Naples
9
Merge onto I 75
56 mi·59 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
176 mi·3 hr 8 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 27: Miami, South Bay
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 27 South: Miami
13
Merge onto US 27
9.2 mi·11 min·US 27
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
8.6 mi·11 min·US 27
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
16
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
35 mi·40 min·Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
18
Merge onto US 1
19 mi·26 min·Dixie Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 1
87 mi·2 hr 15 min·Overseas Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto Blimp Road
0.3 mi·52 sec·Blimp Road
21
Arrive at destination
Blimp Road
Trip Plan
Consider starting your drive early in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to complete it in one day. However, with a recommended two-day itinerary, you have flexibility. Aim to cover the longer highway stretches, like the 231.5 miles on I 75, on your first day. This leaves you with a shorter, more scenic drive into the Keys on day two. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as services can be more spread out once you're on the Overseas Highway. Budgeting around $61 for fuel is a good estimate for this 400.8-mile trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.4 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 231.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 88 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.4 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 200.4 miles or 3h 37m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cudjoe Key, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tampa, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tampa, FL
Aim for roughly 200 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Cudjoe Key, FL
Aim for roughly 200 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Tampa, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 231.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 250.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 41 Business / North Tampa Street
Turn left onto US 41 Business / North Tampa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
8.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 15A
Toward I 75 South: Naples
6
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
250.6 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.44 one way
$128.89 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$70.30
$140.60
premium
$4.78
$75.46
$150.92
diesel
$6.28
$99.03
$198.06
Estimated Tolls: $2.85
Homestead Extension
(34.5 mi)$2.07
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)$0.78
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
$64
Tolls
$3
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$197–$307
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.2
1
$42.08
$19.24
Efficient EV
100.2
1
$35.07
$16.03
EV Truck/SUV
160.3
2
$56.11
$25.65
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Tampa, FL
Afternoon
in Tampa on Thursday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 12 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Cudjoe Key, FL
Afternoon
in Cudjoe Key on Thursday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 15 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:34AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9 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
8h 10m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 41.5
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 290.2
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and anima...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
$35
near mile 304.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 73% of this 400.8-mile drive. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 231.5 miles on I 75. After this, you'll transition to the Overseas Highway and other local roads as you enter the Keys. Expect a noticeable shift from consistent highway speeds to a different driving environment as you approach your destination.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 231.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Overseas Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 41 Business / North Tampa Street.
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 18 significant decision points across 400.8 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 (US 41 Business / North Tampa Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
38 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
36 ft
Total Descent
49 ft
Highest Point
38 ft
~85.9 mi in
Elevation Range
40 ft
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 Cudjoe Key, FL, road signs point toward Bay, Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead and Key West.
The longest stretch is about 231.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 200 miles on day one.
Expect about $2.85 in tolls one way, starting with Homestead Extension. 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 16 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 Cudjoe Key, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 41 Business / North Tampa Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial, Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cudjoe Key, FL before the return drive.
