This 262.3-mile drive from Tampa to Washington Park, Florida, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 48 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, with 98% of the route utilizing them, making it a focused, highway-centric journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $42, which is quite reasonable for this distance. While there's one recommended stop, the longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 237 miles on I-75, so plan your breaks accordingly. This straightforward trip through Florida offers a practical way to cover ground efficiently.
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
131.1 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
237 mi
4h 14m
Port Everglades Expressway
9 mi
10m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
7.8 mi
9m
Florida's Turnpike
2.9 mi
3m
West Sunrise Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
East Jackson Street
0.5 mi
1m
SR 84
0.4 mi
<1m
Northwest 8th Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 237 mi, about 4h 14m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Washington 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 15AToward 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
181 mi·3 hr 14 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
9.0 mi·10 min·Port Everglades Expressway
Exit 19Toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort LauderdaleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 8; 9A-BToward US 441: Orlando, Miami, Florida's TurnpikeUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto SR 84
0.4 mi·37 sec·SR 84
Toward SR 84 East, I 595 East, US 441: Florida's Turnpike, North Orlando, South Miami
14
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 8Toward Florida's Turnpike, Miami South, Orlando NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
2.9 mi·3 min·Florida's Turnpike
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 58AToward SR 838 East: Sunrise BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto SR 838
1.8 mi·3 min·West Sunrise Boulevard
19
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·Northwest 31st Avenue
20
Turn left onto Northwest 8th Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Northwest 8th Road
21
Turn left
52 ft·3 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 48-minute duration, this drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip. Aim to depart early to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility with your single recommended stop. The longest stretch is 237 miles on I-75, so be sure to have ample fuel before embarking on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $42, budgeting is straightforward. This route is all about efficiency, so focus on staying comfortable and well-rested for the highway miles.
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 131.1 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.1 miles or 2h 23m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington 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 262.3 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 237 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 256.2 — 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.
9
246.2 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19
Toward SR 869 Toll North, I 595 East: Coral Spr...
8
255.2 mi into trip|~4h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 441: Orlando, Miami, Florida's Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8; 9A-B
Toward US 441: Orlando, Miami, Florida's Turnpi...
7
255.8 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Take the ramp toward Florida's Turnpike, Miami South, Orlando North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward Florida's Turnpike, Miami South, Orlando...
8
256.2 mi into trip|~4h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.71 one way
$79.41 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$43.57
$87.14
premium
$4.55
$46.99
$93.97
diesel
$4.80
$49.53
$99.05
Estimated Tolls: $0.99
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)$0.78
Florida's Turnpike
(2.9 mi)$0.21
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
$40
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.7
0
$27.54
$12.59
Efficient EV
65.6
0
$22.95
$10.49
EV Truck/SUV
104.9
1
$36.72
$16.79
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Tampa, FL
Late night
in Tampa on Monday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph7% chanceLive 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
Washington Park, FL
Late night
in Washington Park on Monday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 3 mph5% chanceLive 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
4 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
4h 48m 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
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 36.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 98% of your travel occurring on high-speed roads like I-75, the Port Everglades Expressway, and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. This means consistent speeds and minimal time spent navigating local streets. The drive is characterized by a long, uninterrupted segment of 237 miles on I-75, suggesting a steady pace for a significant portion of your journey. While not a scenic tour, it's efficient for covering distance quickly within the state of Florida.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 237 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Port Everglades Expressway. 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 262.3 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 246.2 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
49 ft5 ft
Total Climb
52 ft
Total Descent
62 ft
Highest Point
49 ft
~18.7 mi in
Elevation Range
44 ft
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 Washington Park, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Lauderdale along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 262.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m 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 237 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.99 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 Washington 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 246.2 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Washington Park, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
