Tampa to Sweetwater is 81.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via West Brandon Boulevard and US 17, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the Tampa Bay region towards a more rural setting. Expect a mixed drive that combines some faster road sections with more local travel. It's a straightforward journey, suitable for a single day without feeling rushed, and the relatively short distance makes it flexible for departure times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Brandon Boulevard
22.5 mi
30m
US 17
12.9 mi
18m
South Church Avenue
10.7 mi
14m
State Road 62
7.5 mi
9m
Old Highway 37
7 mi
10m
Sweetwater Road
5.9 mi
14m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
5.2 mi
6m
Adamo Drive
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
West Brandon Boulevard
— 22.5 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Sweetwater, FL.
1
Start on FL 60
118 ft·10 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
2
Turn left onto US 41 Business
296 ft·12 sec·North Tampa Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·East Jackson Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto East Jackson Street
69 ft·3 sec·East Jackson Street
5
Turn left onto North Nebraska Avenue
404 ft·9 sec·North Nebraska Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward FL 618 Toll East: Brandon
7
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
5.2 mi·6 min·Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 12Toward 78th StreetUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto South 78th Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·South 78th Street
10
Turn slight right
274 ft·15 sec
11
Turn straight onto FL 60
2.4 mi·3 min·Adamo Drive
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on FL 60
1.2 mi·1 min·West Brandon Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 60
21 mi·28 min·West Brandon Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on FL 60
0.5 mi·55 sec·Canal Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto FL 37
11 mi·14 min·South Church Avenue
16
Turn left onto CR 630
1.5 mi·2 min·CR 630
17
Turn right onto Old Highway 37
7.0 mi·10 min·Old Highway 37
18
Continue on North County Road 663
2.1 mi·2 min·North County Road 663
19
Continue on CR 663
1.5 mi·2 min·CR 663
20
At end of road, turn left onto FL 62; CR 663
7.5 mi·9 min·State Road 62
21
Turn right onto US 17
8.0 mi·12 min·US 17
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on US 17
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17
23
Continue on US 17
2.5 mi·2 min·US 17
24
Continue on US 17
1.3 mi·1 min·US 17
25
Turn left onto Sweetwater Road
5.9 mi·14 min·Sweetwater Road
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto Crewsville Road
84 ft·2 sec·Crewsville Road
27
Arrive at destination
Crewsville Road
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 59-minute drive time, this trip is easily completed in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure. Aiming to leave mid-morning should provide ample daylight to reach Sweetwater comfortably. While there are no specific mandated stops, consider breaking up the 22.5-mile stretch on West Brandon Boulevard if you feel the need for a brief pause. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to US 17, as services might become less frequent than in the Tampa area.
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 40.5 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.5 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 57m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sweetwater, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tampa, FL
This is one driving day of about 81.1 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Tampa, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Brandon Boulevard for about 22.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
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.
6
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.
7
6.1 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward 78th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward 78th Street
6
10.2 mi into trip|~15m in|FL 60 / West Brandon Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto FL 60 / West Brandon Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|Sweetwater Road
Turn left onto Sweetwater Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.82 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$14.04
$28.08
premium
$4.72
$15.08
$30.16
diesel
$5.61
$17.91
$35.81
Estimated Tolls: $0.52
Selmon Expressway
(5.2 mi)$0.52
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.52
$3.89
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Tampa, FL
Morning
in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
WSW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:40AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:00AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Sweetwater, FL
Morning
in Sweetwater on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:40AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 16 at 3:00AM EDT until April 17 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne 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.
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
1h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with about 35% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches like West Brandon Boulevard, which can be a significant uninterrupted segment, extending for 22.5 miles. As you progress, the roads will transition, moving from the busier urban fringes to potentially quieter, more direct highway travel on US 17. The overall feel is less of a pure interstate cruise and more of a blend, requiring you to adapt to varying speed limits and traffic conditions.
35% 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: 22.5 mi on West Brandon Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near US 41 Business / North Tampa Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 81.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.5 miles on West Brandon Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.52 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 Sweetwater, 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: 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sweetwater, FL before heading back.
