Origin
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Friday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Hillsboro Beach, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 43m
Distance
234.6 mi
377 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 43m
8 AM
5h 10m
10 AM
4h 52m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Hillsboro Beach, FL
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Tampa, FL to Hillsboro Beach, FL covers 234.6 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, I 95 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.28 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117.3 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 76.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| FL 60 | 61.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 95 | 43.8 mi | 50m |
| I 4 | 25.8 mi | 28m |
| Polk Parkway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Bartow Road | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| East Hillsboro Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| West Hillsboro Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 86 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~6,579 veh/hr typical · worst 7,809
Quietest
2 AM
~424 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Hillsboro 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 right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 275 North
Use 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 45B
Toward I 4 East: Orlando
Use 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 27
Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
Use 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 10
Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
Use 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
·
59 min
·
FL 60
Use the left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on this road
295 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
77 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 116
Toward FL 706: Jupiter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto FL 706
499 ft
·
19 sec
·
Indiantown Road
24
Take the ramp
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South: West Palm Beach
25
Merge onto I 95
37 mi
·
42 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 42
Toward SR 810: Hillsboro Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward SR 810 East: Deerfield Beach
Use the slight left lane.
29
Turn straight onto SR 810
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hillsboro Boulevard
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on SR 810
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Hillsboro Boulevard
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto SR A1A
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ocean Drive
Use the right lane.
32
Continue on SR A1A
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillsboro Mile
33
Turn left
34 ft
·
2 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 117.3 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 52 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.3 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro Beach, 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 234.6 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 Florida's Turnpike for about 76.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.3 miles from Tampa, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 108 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
108 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.28 one way
$72.56 round trip
$3.93/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.30 | $39.73 | $79.47 |
| premium | $4.63 | $42.73 | $85.45 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $51.71 | $103.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.37
Florida's Turnpike
(76.7 mi)
$5.37
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
$36
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.4 | 0 | $24.63 | $11.26 |
| Efficient EV | 58.7 | 0 | $20.53 | $9.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.8 | 1 | $32.84 | $15.01 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Hillsboro Beach, FL
Morning in Hillsboro Beach on Friday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 43m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
234.6 mi in 4h 43m, mostly highway — 76.7 mi of that is on Florida's Turnpike.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 234.6 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 0.6 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; at 27.7 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
171 ft
15 ft
Total Climb
170 ft
Total Descent
168 ft
Highest Point
171 ft
~33.5 mi in
Elevation Range
156 ft
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 Hillsboro Beach, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven, Bartow and Florida's Turnpike South: Miami.
Winter Haven
27.7 mi in
|
~32m
Bartow
37.6 mi in
|
~44m
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
108 mi in
|
~2h 16m
About the Cities
Starting in Tampa, FL
Full guide →Founded 1823
The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
Top landmarks
- • Busch Gardens Tampa — African-themed animal theme park in Tampa, Florida
- • Union Station — main railway station in Tampa, Florida, United States
- • Falcon's Fury — drop tower attraction located at the Busch Gardens Tampa amusement park
Arriving in Hillsboro Beach, FL
Full guide →Founded 1922
Top landmarks
- • Hillsboro Inlet Light — lighthouse in Florida, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 234.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.37 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Hillsboro Beach, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hillsboro Beach, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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