10270
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Tampa, FL to University Park, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h
Distance
271.4 mi
437 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
University Park, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Trip Overview
Tampa to University Park is 271.4 miles and takes about 5h via I 75, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Florida, predominantly traveling on major highways. Given the 5-hour drive time, it's a comfortable one-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making for a straightforward drive through the state. Plan for a single, short stop along the way.
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
135.7 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 231.5 mi | 4h 8m |
| US 27 | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Southwest 8th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Southwest 107th Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Nebraska Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 231.5 mi, about 4h 8m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 110 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,230 veh/hr typical · worst 3,836
Quietest
2 AM
~227 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 University Park, 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
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 15A
Toward I 75 South: Naples
9
Merge onto I 75
56 mi
·
59 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
176 mi
·
3 hr 8 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward US 27: Miami, South Bay
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 27 South: Miami
13
Merge onto US 27
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 27
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
US 27
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
16
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25B
Toward US 41 East: Southwest 8th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto US 41
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest 8th Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto SR 985
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest 107th Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
SR 985
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Tampa in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight for the 5-hour trip. With only one stop planned, you can easily manage your breaks. The longest stretch is 231.5 miles on I 75, so consider a quick fuel and restroom break before embarking on that segment. Your estimated fuel cost is around $43 for the 271.4-mile journey, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before heading out. This is a manageable one-day drive, offering flexibility in your departure time.
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 135.7 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 231.5 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 60 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.7 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near University Park, 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 271.4 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 I 75 for about 231.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 135.7 miles from Tampa, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 231.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hillsborough County Rest Area Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Collier County Rest Area Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Charlotte County Truck Stop Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Collier County Rest Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Hillsborough County Rest Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Big Cypress National Preserve Access Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Big Cypress National Preserve Access Area Southbound
0.2 mi from route
10280
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Broward County Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 268.9 — 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.
6
8.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 15A
Toward I 75 South: Naples
6
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
268.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward US 41 East: Southwest 8th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 25B
Toward US 41 East: Southwest 8th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.08 one way
$82.17 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $45.08 | $90.16 |
| premium | $4.55 | $48.62 | $97.23 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $51.25 | $102.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
Homestead Extension
(9.5 mi)
$0.57
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
$41
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.4 | 1 | $28.50 | $13.03 |
| Efficient EV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.75 | $10.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.6 | 1 | $38.00 | $17.37 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Tampa, FL
Late night in Tampa on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 1 to 5 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
University Park, FL
Late night in University Park on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Cloudy
S 3 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee 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
3 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
5h 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 37.4
View on nps.gov
Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 271.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the 271.4 miles on major roads like I 75 and Florida's Turnpike. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 231.5 miles on I 75 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of your trip, with frequent exits along I 75.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 231.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 27. 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 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 18 significant decision points across 271.4 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: 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 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
48 ft
7 ft
Total Climb
44 ft
Total Descent
52 ft
Highest Point
48 ft
~38.8 mi in
Elevation Range
42 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.
On the drive from Tampa, FL to University Park, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Bay along the way.
Bay
240.7 mi in
|
~4h 20m
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 University Park, FL
Full guide →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 5h. Total distance: 271.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 231.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.35 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.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 University Park, 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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial and Biscayne National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at University Park, FL before the return drive.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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