Tampa to Cypress Quarters is 141 miles and takes about 3 hours via FL 60 and I-4, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This mostly highway route connects two points within Florida, offering a straightforward drive. You'll spend a good portion of your time on major roads, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. With only one recommended stop and a short driving time, this trip is easily manageable for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.5 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
FL 60
61.3 mi
1h 18m
Kenansville Road
31.2 mi
39m
I 4
25.8 mi
28m
Polk Parkway
9.4 mi
10m
Bartow Road
6.9 mi
9m
US 441
1.1 mi
2m
I 275
0.7 mi
1m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
FL 60
— 61.3 mi, about 1h 18m
Traffic on I-4
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,480 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~567 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Cypress Quarters, 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 right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 275 NorthUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 275
0.7 mi·1 min·I 275
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 4 East: OrlandoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 4
26 mi·28 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 27Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on FL 570 Toll
9.4 mi·10 min·Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 10Toward US 98: Lakeland, BartowUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 98
6.9 mi·9 min·Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi·26 sec·FL 60
15
Continue on FL 60
11 mi·13 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on FL 60
4.3 mi·5 min·FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on FL 60
46 mi·58 min·FL 60
18
Turn right onto US 441
31 mi·39 min·Kenansville Road
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 441
1.1 mi·2 min·US 441
20
Turn left onto Northeast 9th Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·Northeast 9th Street
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Northeast 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·Northeast 9th Avenue
22
Turn right onto Northeast 12th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northeast 12th Street
23
Turn right onto Northeast 15th Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·Northeast 15th Avenue
24
Turn left onto Northeast 10th Street
66 ft·2 sec·Northeast 10th Street
25
Arrive at destination
Northeast 10th Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 3-hour drive, you have the flexibility to leave anytime that suits your schedule. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of your day at Cypress Quarters. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, you can easily complete this trip in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $22, and plan your refill before you leave Tampa or when you see stations along FL 60, as it's the longest stretch without a major town indicated.
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 70.5 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.3 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.5 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cypress Quarters, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tampa, FL
This is one driving day of about 141 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Tampa, 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 60 for about 61.3 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 0.1 and 37.6 — 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.
8
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 275 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 275 North
7
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 4 East: Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 45B
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
8
27.7 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
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 27
Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
8
37.6 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
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 10
Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.44 one way
$44.89 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$24.46
$48.93
premium
$4.74
$26.33
$52.66
diesel
$5.35
$29.70
$59.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
Efficient EV
35.3
0
$12.34
$5.64
EV Truck/SUV
56.4
0
$19.74
$9.02
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
Tampa, FL
Evening
in Tampa on Wednesday
Local time
8:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 25 at 5:37AM EDT until May 29 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 25 at 4:50AM EDT until May 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Cypress Quarters, FL
Evening
in Cypress Quarters on Wednesday
Local time
8:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SE 10 to 15 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 25 at 5:37AM EDT until May 29 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 25 at 4:50AM EDT until May 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami 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.
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
1 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
3h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 70% of the 141 miles taking place on major roads like I-4. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 61.3 miles on FL 60 before transitioning to other routes. Expect a fairly open cruising experience for most of the trip, with the highway portion likely featuring less frequent exits and more consistent speeds until you get closer to your destination.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.3 mi on FL 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and Kenansville Road. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Ashley Drive.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 141 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
145 ft15 ft
Total Climb
151 ft
Total Descent
139 ft
Highest Point
145 ft
~30.2 mi in
Elevation Range
130 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 Cypress Quarters, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven and Bartow.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 141 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.3 miles on FL 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Cypress Quarters, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Cypress Quarters, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
