Origin
Tampa, FL
Late night in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Odessa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27.6 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Odessa, FL
Larry Milligan
Trip Overview
Planning a quick trip from Tampa to Odessa, Florida? This straightforward 27.6-mile drive typically takes about 37 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily be on Veterans Expressway, Suncoast Parkway, and I-275, with 80% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $4, so you won't need to budget much for gas. This route is a great option if you're looking for a simple, efficient way to get between these two points within Florida. It’s a short enough distance that you can easily fit it into your schedule without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Expressway | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Suncoast Parkway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| I 275 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| State Road 54 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| FL 589 Toll Express Lane | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Memorial Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Ashley Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Expressway
— 10.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Odessa, 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 left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 275 South
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 275
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 39
Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto FL 60
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60, FL 589 Toll: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
8
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Veterans Expressway
Toward FL 589 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
FL 589 Toll Express Lane
10
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
Veterans Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 589 Toll
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Veterans Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Suncoast Parkway
Toward Crystal River
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 19
Toward FL 54: New Port Richey, Zephyrhills
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto FL 54
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
State Road 54
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on FL 54
246 ft
·
9 sec
·
State Road 54
16
Arrive at destination
FL 54
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 23.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 275 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 275 South
8
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
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 39
Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport,...
7
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway toward FL 589 Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 589 Toll
7
19.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway toward Crystal River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Crystal River
8
23.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward FL 54: New Port Richey, Zephyrhills
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 19
Toward FL 54: New Port Richey, Zephyrhills
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.39 one way
$8.79 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $4.78 | $9.56 |
| premium | $4.72 | $5.13 | $10.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.09 | $12.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.08
Veterans Expressway
(10.1 mi)
$0.80
Suncoast Parkway
(4.7 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Odessa, FL
Late night in Odessa on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, meaning you’ll experience a consistent pace for most of the 27.6 miles. With 80% of the route on main roads like Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway, expect smooth sailing and relatively high speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 10.1 miles on Veterans Expressway. While not a scenic tour, this highway-centric profile ensures an efficient journey, allowing you to cover the distance quickly without many interruptions. The character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.1 mi on Veterans Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway. 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
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 27.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
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 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Odessa, FL, road signs point toward Clearwater, Crystal River and Zephyrhills.
Clearwater
5 mi in
|
~8m
Crystal River
19.1 mi in
|
~26m
|
via FL 589 Toll
Zephyrhills
23.8 mi in
|
~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 27.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.1 miles on Veterans Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.08 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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 Odessa, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Odessa, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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