Tampa, FL to Ferry Pass, FL is 462.7 miles and takes about 8h 21m via I-75 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the Gulf Coast inland and then north. Given the duration and distance, it's best split over two days. The majority of this route is highway driving, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll want to plan for at least two stops along the way to break up the drive.
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
231.3 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
283 mi
5h 3m
I 75
160.3 mi
2h 51m
I 275
17 mi
20m
East Olive Road
0.5 mi
<1m
North Ashley Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
North Davis Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
East Kennedy Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 283 mi, about 5h 3m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,325 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,879
Quietest
2 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Ferry Pass, 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
17 mi·20 min·I 275
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 75
160 mi·2 hr 51 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10
283 mi·5 hr 3 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 13Toward FL 291
11
Keep slight right at fork
245 ft·7 sec
Toward FL 291 North: University of West FloridaUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto FL 291
0.3 mi·45 sec·North Davis Highway
13
Turn right onto CR 290
0.5 mi·56 sec·East Olive Road
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 290
Trip Plan
For this 462.7-mile drive, splitting it over two days is recommended. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover about half the distance, perhaps stopping around the central Florida area. The second day will then be a shorter drive to Ferry Pass. With a fuel cost estimated at $71, be sure to fill up before leaving Tampa and again in the late afternoon of your first day. Pay attention to exit numbers on I-10 as you approach the Pensacola area, as this will be your final stretch before reaching Ferry Pass.
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 231.3 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283 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 102 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 231.3 miles or 4h 11m 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 231.3 miles or 4h 11m
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 7h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ferry Pass, 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 231 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ferry Pass, FL
Aim for roughly 231 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 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 10 for about 283 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 461.8 — 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
8
178.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
178.2 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
7
461.8 mi into trip|~8h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 291 North: University of West Florida
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward FL 291 North: University of West Florida
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.40 one way
$148.79 round trip
$4.08/gal25.4 MPG avg162 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$81.15
$162.31
premium
$4.78
$87.11
$174.22
diesel
$6.28
$114.33
$228.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 161.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
138.8
1
$48.58
$22.21
Efficient EV
115.7
1
$40.49
$18.51
EV Truck/SUV
185.1
2
$64.78
$29.61
Gas CO2
162 kg
EV CO2
54 kg (67% 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
Evening
in Tampa on Thursday
Local time
6:48 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
Ferry Pass, FL
Evening
in Ferry Pass on Thursday
Local time
5:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
NE 10 mph0% 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
15 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
8h 21m 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.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$25
near mile 462.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 99% of the route on major interstates like I-275, I-75, and I-10. You'll experience a long stretch of 283 miles on I-10 without significant changes in terrain. Expect consistent cruising for the bulk of your travel, with the few miles of non-highway driving likely occurring near your start and end points.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 283 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 462.7 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: 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 178.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
254 ft15 ft
Total Climb
415 ft
Total Descent
318 ft
Highest Point
254 ft
~297.4 mi in
Elevation Range
239 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tampa, FL to Ferry Pass, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.
The longest stretch is about 283 miles on I 10. 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 231 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 53 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 Ferry Pass, 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 53 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 178.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ferry Pass, FL before the return drive.
