Mai Tiki Restaurant & Bar
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Stuart, Florida
Hours: 3–9 PM
+17728883518
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
233.5 mi
376 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tedder, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Tampa to Tedder is 233.5 miles and takes about 4h 39m via Florida's Turnpike and FL 60, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from the Tampa Bay area towards central Florida. The majority of this drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll likely find it a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this distance without extensive planning.
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
116.8 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 76.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| FL 60 | 61.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 95 | 44.9 mi | 51m |
| I 4 | 25.8 mi | 28m |
| Polk Parkway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Bartow Road | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Northeast 3rd Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 275 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 102 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~6,659 veh/hr typical · worst 7,732
Quietest
2 AM
~409 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Tedder, FL.
Start on FL 60
Turn right onto North Ashley Drive
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 275
Take the exit
Continue on I 4
Take the exit
Continue on FL 570 Toll
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 98
Continue on US 98
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Continue on FL 60
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Turn left onto FL 706
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto SR 869
Turn right onto Southwest 11th Way
Continue on Northeast 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto Northeast 43rd Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 39m estimated drive time, leaving Tampa in the morning should get you to Tedder well before evening. The route is efficient enough that you probably won't need to split it over two days, offering flexibility. With only one suggested stop and a fuel cost around $40, it's a budget-friendly excursion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you near the end of the longest 76.7-mile stretch on Florida's Turnpike, as services can be spaced out on highways.
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.
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 51 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.8 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tedder, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 233.5 miles and 4h 39m.
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.
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 116.8 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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best coffee break
Tampa, Florida
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm
+18138125025
The Lab Coffee - West Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Elevation Coffee Heights
Tampa, Florida
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Stuart, Florida
Hours: 3–9 PM
+17728883518
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Fort Pierce, Florida
Hours: Closed
+17722415051
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm
+18138125025
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 8 am–2 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18139155998
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+18133040373
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lakeland, Florida
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+18138436588
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 6 AM–3 PM
+18138731995
Early in the drive, ~11 min detour
Bartow, Florida
Hours: Open 24 hours
Near the start, right off the route
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 9 am–9 pm
+18136379797
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+18132748615
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18132734000
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Tampa, Florida
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+18132183498
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Jupiter, Florida
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+15617411359
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Plant City, Florida
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18137179865
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Boynton Beach, Florida
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+15613598359
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
West Palm Beach, Florida
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+15616605120
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 231.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 275 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 869: Southwest 10th Street, Sawgrass Expressway, Deerfield Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$35.35 one way
$70.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $38.78 | $77.57 |
| premium | $4.55 | $41.83 | $83.66 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $44.09 | $88.18 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$35
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.1 | 0 | $24.52 | $11.21 |
| Efficient EV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.43 | $9.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.4 | 1 | $32.69 | $14.94 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Tampa on Monday
Local time
3:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Tedder on Monday
Local time
3:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 94% of the 233.5 miles spent on major roadways like Florida's Turnpike and I-95. The longest continuous stretch on the Turnpike is 76.7 miles, so you'll have plenty of uninterrupted driving. As you approach your destination, you'll transition from these main arteries to surface roads, likely noticing a change in traffic density and exit frequency.
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.
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 233.5 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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
145 ft
Total Descent
145 ft
Highest Point
150 ft
~33.4 mi in
Elevation Range
135 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tampa, FL and Tedder, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven, Bartow and Florida's Turnpike South: Miami.
Winter Haven
Bartow
Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
Founded 1823
The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 233.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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