West Park to Clearwater is 152.1 miles and takes about 3h 1m via I-75, I-275, and FL-60, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, taking you from one side of the state to the other on a largely straightforward path. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. Expect a mix of interstate cruising and some surface road travel as you approach your destination. It's a practical option for getting from the South Florida region to the Tampa Bay area without much fuss.
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
76 miles from West Park, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
113.1 mi
2h 1m
I 275
11 mi
12m
FL 60
9.1 mi
12m
West Waters Avenue
5.1 mi
9m
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
4.7 mi
9m
Veterans Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Court Street
1.5 mi
3m
West Newberry Road
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 113.1 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Park, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on Northwest 55th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Northwest 55th Street
2
Take the ramp
120 ft·3 sec
3
Turn right onto FL 26
1.1 mi·2 min·West Newberry Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 75 South: TampaUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 75
113 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
11 mi·12 min·I 275
Exit 274Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint PetersburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 50Toward FL 580: Busch BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto FL 580
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Busch Boulevard
9
Turn left onto US 41 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·North Florida Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto West Waters Avenue
5.1 mi·9 min·West Waters Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
3.3 mi·4 min·Veterans Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 2AToward FL 60 West: ClearwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on FL 60
9.1 mi·12 min·FL 60
Toward ClearwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on FL 60
4.7 mi·9 min·Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on FL 60
1.5 mi·3 min·Court Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·South Ft Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
North Fort Harrison Avenue
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from West Park in the morning will help you avoid the worst of the local traffic and make the most of the daylight. With a total duration of just over three hours, this trip is easily manageable in one day, and you likely won't need more than one brief stop. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. Pay attention to the transition from I-75 to I-275, as this is a key point where you'll change direction and highway number to reach Clearwater.
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 76 miles from West Park, FL, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.1 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76 miles or 1h 24m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Park, 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 West Park, FL
This is one driving day of about 152.1 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from West Park, 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 113.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 136 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|FL 26 / West Newberry Road
Turn right onto FL 26 / West Newberry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Tampa
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
9
115.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|I 275
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275 toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
7
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward FL 580: Busch Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward FL 580: Busch Boulevard
7
136 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.21 one way
$48.42 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$26.34
$52.67
premium
$4.72
$28.28
$56.56
diesel
$5.61
$33.58
$67.16
Estimated Tolls: $0.26
Veterans Expressway
(3.3 mi)$0.26
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
$24
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.6
0
$15.97
$7.30
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.31
$6.08
EV Truck/SUV
60.8
0
$21.29
$9.73
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
West Park, FL
Morning
in West Park on Tuesday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clearwater, FL
Morning
in Clearwater on Tuesday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
15 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
3h 1m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 90% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on highways is 113.1 miles, primarily on I-75. You'll experience the typical flow of interstate traffic, with numerous exits and entrances as you travel. Be prepared for urban merging as you get closer to the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, especially on I-275.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 275. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near FL 26 / West Newberry Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 152.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.6 miles (FL 26 / West Newberry Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 115.1 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from West Park, FL to Clearwater, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida.
Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
Top landmarks
•Belleview-Biltmore Hotel — hotel in Clearwater, United States of America
•Donald Roebling Estate — historic residential estate in Clearwater, within Pinellas County, FL
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 152.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.26 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.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Clearwater, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (FL 26 / West Newberry Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 115.1 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Clearwater, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
