Origin
Tarpon Springs, FL
Morning in Tarpon Springs on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tarpon Springs, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
28 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tarpon Springs, FL
Jose Valverde
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Covering the 28 miles between Tarpon Springs and Tampa is a straightforward 45-minute journey that works perfectly as a quick day trip. You will primarily navigate via US Highway 19, Tampa Road, and West Hillsborough Avenue to complete this transition within the Florida region. With an estimated fuel cost of only $5, this is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion. Because the drive is so short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip hotel stays. It is an ideal route for those looking for a simple, efficient connection between these two locations without the stress of a long-haul commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Road | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| US Highway 19 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| West Hillsborough Avenue | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| I 275 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Memorial Highway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| West Tarpon Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Independence Parkway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Veterans Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tampa Road
— 6.2 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tarpon Springs, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on West Tarpon Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Tarpon Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 19
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 19
3
Turn left onto CR 752
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Tampa Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on FL 580
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
West Hillsborough Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto CR 576
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn slight right onto Independence Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Independence Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Veterans Expressway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
9
Continue on FL 60
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
10
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 275 North: Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 275
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 275
Toward I 275: Tampa
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
386 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Turn slight right onto US 41 Business
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Tampa Street
17
Turn left onto East Twiggs Street
282 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Twiggs Street
18
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Franklin Street
19
Turn right onto FL 60
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 21.3 and 27.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
21.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
FL 60 / Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 60 / Memorial Highway toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 60: Tampa, St. Petersburg
6
22.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 275 North: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 275 North: Tampa
8
27.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East, Downtown West
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 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
9
27.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Stree...
9
27.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.46 one way
$8.91 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| premium | $4.72 | $5.21 | $10.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.18 | $12.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Veterans Expressway
(0.6 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
45m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition from the coastal feel of Tarpon Springs into the urban landscape of Tampa. This route is not a monotonous highway haul, as only 39% of the drive consists of highway travel. You will encounter varying road types, ranging from local corridors to faster stretches, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 6.2 miles on Tampa Road. The personality of the drive shifts as you move through these different road configurations, requiring you to stay alert through changing traffic patterns. It provides a balanced pace that keeps you engaged without the fatigue of a high-speed interstate grind.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.2 mi on Tampa Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 around 21.3 miles in near FL 60 / Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 28 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.3 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Tarpon Springs, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Saint Petersburg and St. Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg
20.5 mi in
|
~33m
|
via FL 589 Toll
St. Petersburg
21.1 mi in
|
~34m
|
via FL 60
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 28 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.2 miles on Tampa Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.05 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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 Tampa, 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: at 21.3 miles (FL 60 / Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tampa, FL before heading back.
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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