This 166.9-mile drive from Tampa, FL to Steinhatchee, FL will take you approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. It's a straightforward trip that's easily manageable as a day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $27. You'll primarily be on roads like Suncoast Parkway, Suncoast Boulevard, and Young Boulevard, with about 47% of the drive being on highways. This route offers a mixed driving experience as you travel within the state of Florida.
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
83.5 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Suncoast Parkway
54.2 mi
59m
Suncoast Boulevard
47 mi
59m
Young Boulevard
32.9 mi
44m
FL 589 Toll Express Lane
7.8 mi
9m
CR 358
6.4 mi
11m
Veterans Expressway
5.5 mi
7m
Gulf to Lake Highway
4.8 mi
7m
I 275
3.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Suncoast Parkway
— 54.2 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Steinhatchee, 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 SouthUse 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 39Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, ClearwaterUse 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 TollUse 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 left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
4.6 mi·5 min·FL 589 Toll Express Lane
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
0.4 mi·27 sec·Veterans Expressway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
54 mi·59 min·Suncoast Parkway
Toward Crystal RiverUse the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward FL 44: Gulf to Lake Highway
15
Turn left onto FL 44
4.8 mi·7 min·Gulf to Lake Highway
16
Continue on FL 44
0.9 mi·1 min·Northeast 5th Street
17
Turn right onto US 19; US 98
47 mi·59 min·Suncoast Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
33 mi·44 min·Young Boulevard
19
Turn left onto CR 358
4.7 mi·8 min·CR 358
20
Turn slight right onto CR 358
1.7 mi·3 min·CR 358
21
Turn right
0.2 mi·16 sec
22
Continue on Steinhatchee Bridge
0.2 mi·17 sec·Steinhatchee Bridge
23
Continue on 10th Street East
0.2 mi·31 sec·10th Street East
24
Turn left onto CR 361
0.6 mi·1 min·1st Avenue South
25
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Park Avenue
26
Turn left onto FL 51
70 ft·2 sec·Riverside Drive
27
Arrive at destination
FL 51
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 32 minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to maximize your time at your destination. With only one suggested stop on this 166.9-mile route, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 54.2 miles on the Suncoast Parkway, as services might be less frequent. The $27 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra budget. Since this is a single-day trip, plan for a comfortable departure time to avoid feeling rushed.
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 83.5 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.2 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 40m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Steinhatchee, 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 166.9 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 Suncoast Parkway for about 54.2 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 19.1 — 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.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.57 one way
$53.13 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$28.90
$57.80
premium
$4.72
$31.03
$62.07
diesel
$5.61
$36.85
$73.70
Estimated Tolls: $3.69
Suncoast Parkway
(54.2 mi)$3.25
Veterans Expressway
(5.5 mi)$0.44
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
$27
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.1
0
$17.52
$8.01
Efficient EV
41.7
0
$14.60
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Late night
in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Steinhatchee, FL
Late night
in Steinhatchee on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a mix of highway and local road driving, with 47% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.2 miles on the Suncoast Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift, moving from more direct highway sections to potentially more varied local road experiences. This blend means you'll experience different driving sensations throughout the 166.9 miles.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.2 mi on Suncoast Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 166.9 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 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Steinhatchee, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Crystal River along the way.
Crystal River
19.1 mi in|~26m|via FL 589 Toll
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 166.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.2 miles on Suncoast Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.69 in tolls one way, starting with Suncoast Parkway. 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 Steinhatchee, 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 0.1 miles (North Ashley Drive): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Steinhatchee, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
