Trip from Tampa, FL to Fort Myers Shores, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 23m

Distance

128.3 mi

206 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

8 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 14m ★

6 AM

2h 23m

8 AM

2h 43m

10 AM

2h 30m

12 PM

2h 28m

3 PM

2h 31m

5 PM

2h 42m

8 PM

2h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Tampa, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Fort Myers Shores, FL

Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

The drive from Tampa, FL to Fort Myers Shores, FL covers 128.3 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Palm Beach Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 114.6 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.42 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

64.1 miles from Tampa, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 75	114.6 mi	2h 2m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway	7.8 mi	9m
Palm Beach Boulevard	3.7 mi	6m
East Jackson Street	0.5 mi	1m
River Ridge Boulevard	0.3 mi	1m
North Nebraska Avenue	<0.1 mi	<1m
North Tampa Street	<0.1 mi	<1m
East Kennedy Boulevard	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 75 — 114.6 mi, about 2h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Fort Myers Shores, FL.

Start on FL 60

118 ft · 10 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

Turn left onto US 41 Business

296 ft · 12 sec · North Tampa Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Jackson Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto East Jackson Street

69 ft · 3 sec · East Jackson Street

Turn left onto North Nebraska Avenue

404 ft · 9 sec · North Nebraska Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward FL 618 Toll East: Brandon

Merge onto FL 618 Toll

7.8 mi · 9 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec

Exit 15A Toward I 75 South: Naples

Merge onto I 75

56 mi · 59 min · I 75

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 75

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 141 Toward FL 80: Fort Myers, La Belle Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

208 ft · 7 sec

Toward FL 80 East Use the left lane.

Turn left onto FL 80

3.7 mi · 6 min · Palm Beach Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto River Ridge Boulevard

0.3 mi · 1 min · River Ridge Boulevard

Arrive at destination

River Ridge Boulevard

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 11m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.6 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 28 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 64.1 miles or 1h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Myers Shores, 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 128.3 miles and 2h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Tampa, FL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 114.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

county seat of Manatee County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bradenton, FL

64 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bradenton, FL

Fuel and coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+18138125025

Visit website

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 73.3

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 100.8

Punta Gorda, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 73.3

Venice, Florida

+18555675853

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 91.6

Punta Gorda, Florida

2 mi from route

Magic Carpet Glide

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18136379797

Visit website

Perry Harvey Sr. Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+18132748615

Visit website

The Florida Aquarium

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18132734000

Visit website

Iconic Tampa Bay

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+18132183498

Visit website

Big Cat Habitat

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 55

Sarasota, Florida

Hours: 12–4 pm

+19413716377

Visit website

Oscar Scherer State Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 64.1

Osprey, Florida

+19414835956

Visit website

Tom Bennett Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 45.8

Bradenton, Florida

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Visit website

Basketball (John H. Marble Rec Center)

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 45.8

Bradenton, Florida

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19417456030

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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.

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

123.8 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in

Take the exit toward FL 80: Fort Myers, La Belle

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 141 Toward FL 80: Fort Myers, La Belle

124.2 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward FL 80 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward FL 80 East

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.42 one way

$40.84 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$22.22	$44.43
premium	$4.72	$23.86	$47.71
diesel	$5.61	$28.33	$56.65

Estimated Tolls: $0.78

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

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Tampa, FL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Winn-Dixie - Tesla Supercharger

Tampa, FL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Tampa, FL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Taubman International Plaza (Tampa, FL)

Tampa, FL

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Bill Currie Ford - DCFC

Tampa, FL

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Level 3 28 Kw Charger Reo Street

Tampa, FL

CHARGELAB

2 DCFC

C-HYUNDAI CPE2

Tampa, FL

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Courtesy Nissan - Tampa

Tampa, FL

Non-Networked

1 DCFC

Tesla: 3 ChargePoint Network: 1 CHARGELAB: 1 Non-Networked: 1 Electrify America: 1 Blink Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	38.5	$13.47	$6.16
Efficient EV	32.1	$11.23	$5.13
EV Truck/SUV	51.3	$17.96	$8.21

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Tampa, FL

Afternoon in Tampa on Sunday

Local time

12:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Myers Shores, FL

Afternoon in Fort Myers Shores on Sunday

Local time

12:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live 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

2 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

2h 23m 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.

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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free near mile 39.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

128.3 mi in 2h 23m, mostly highway — 114.6 mi of that is on I 75.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 114.6 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. 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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 128.3 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.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 128.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 114.6 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.78 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon Expressway. 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.

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 Fort Myers Shores, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Myers Shores, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Tampa, FL to Fort Myers Shores, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Retro House Coffee Bar & Asian Bistro

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

Retro House Coffee Bar & Asian Bistro

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

Elevation Coffee Heights

DI Coffee Bar

22nd Street Coffee

The Lab Coffee - Heights

Coffee Uniting People - CUP

Kubana Kafe

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Jule Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

10270

Hillsborough County Rest Area Northbound

Charlotte County Truck Stop Northbound

Love's Travel Stop

Hillsborough County Rest Area Southbound

ONE9 Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Magic Carpet Glide

Perry Harvey Sr. Park

The Florida Aquarium

Iconic Tampa Bay

Big Cat Habitat

Oscar Scherer State Park

Tom Bennett Park

Basketball (John H. Marble Rec Center)

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Tampa, FL

Fort Myers Shores, FL

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 23m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

De Soto National Memorial

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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