Origin
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Watertown, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
173.2 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Watertown, FL
Samuel Etienne
Trip Overview
This 173.2-mile journey from Tampa to Watertown, Florida, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 3 hours and 14 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-75 and I-275, this route is heavily focused on highway travel, making it a practical day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's an economical option for getting between these two points within Florida. The drive offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover significant ground efficiently. Given its manageable duration and highway-centric profile, you won't need to worry about finding overnight accommodations.
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
86.6 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 148.5 mi | 2h 39m |
| I 275 | 17 mi | 20m |
| Southwest State Road 47 | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Southwest Main Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Duval Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Ashley Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Milton Terrace | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Jacksonvile Loop | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 148.5 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Watertown, 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 right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 275 North
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 275
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 275
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 75
149 mi
·
2 hr 39 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 423
Toward FL 47: Fort White, Lake City
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto FL 47
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Southwest State Road 47
9
Turn straight onto US 41; US 441 Truck
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Main Boulevard
10
Turn right onto US 90; US 441
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Duval Street
11
Turn left onto Northeast Jacksonvile Loop
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Northeast Jacksonvile Loop
12
Turn left onto Northeast Milton Terrace
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Northeast Milton Terrace
13
At end of road, turn right onto Northeast Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Northeast Washington Street
14
Arrive at destination
Northeast Washington Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 14-minute drive, leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. Since the route is primarily highway, you can plan to make just one stop as needed, perhaps around the halfway point of the 148.5-mile I-75 stretch, to refuel or stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is quite reasonable, so you likely won't need to budget much extra. Pay attention to the transition from I-275 to I-75, as this is a key point in your navigation to stay on course for Watertown.
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 86.6 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.5 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 36m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watertown, 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 173.2 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 148.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.6 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 148.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 173.1 — 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.
8
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 275 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 275 North
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 275
Merge onto I 275
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
166.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward FL 47: Fort White, Lake City
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 423
Toward FL 47: Fort White, Lake City
6
173.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m in
|
Northeast Washington Street
At end of road, turn right onto Northeast Washington Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.57 one way
$55.14 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $29.99 | $59.98 |
| premium | $4.72 | $32.21 | $64.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.24 | $76.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52 | 0 | $18.19 | $8.31 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.25 | $11.08 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Watertown, FL
Morning in Watertown on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this trip, with 96% of the drive on major interstates. You'll spend a considerable amount of time on I-75, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 148.5 miles. This means consistent speeds and minimal traffic delays typical of interstate travel. While the focus is on efficient transit rather than scenic byways, the route's character remains consistent for the majority of the journey, allowing for a predictable driving rhythm.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 275. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Ashley Drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 173.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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 0.8 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Tampa, FL
Full guide →The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
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 3h 14m. Total distance: 173.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.8 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Watertown, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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