Origin
West Samoset, FL
Late night in West Samoset on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Samoset, FL to Tampa, 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
1h
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Samoset, FL
Arian Fernandez
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
West Samoset to Tampa is 47.4 miles and takes about 1 hour via I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the state of Florida for its entirety. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. It's a short enough trip to easily complete in a single day, making it ideal for a quick relocation or a day trip. The primary roads offer direct access, minimizing complexity for travelers.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 25.5 mi | 28m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| US 301 | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Tamiami Trail | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| 9th Street East | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| I 275 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 25.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Samoset, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on 8th Street East
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
8th Street East
2
At end of road, turn right onto 32nd Avenue East
455 ft
·
25 sec
·
32nd Avenue East
3
Turn left onto 9th Street East
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Street East
4
Turn left onto US 301
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
US 301
5
Continue on US 41
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tamiami Trail
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
7
Merge onto I 275
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 275
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
9
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
2.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
14
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from West Samoset, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 46.8 — 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
|
32nd Avenue East
At end of road, turn right onto 32nd Avenue East
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
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 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West...
8
46.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
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
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.54 one way
$15.09 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $8.21 | $16.41 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Late night in Tampa on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
1 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
1h 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?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the drive on major roads like I 75 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. You'll experience a relatively uninterrupted flow, with the longest stretch covering 25.5 miles on I 75. The character is consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over varied scenery. Expect a steady pace as you navigate these main arteries connecting the two Florida locations.
82% 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: 25.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 32nd Avenue East.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 47.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 (32nd Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 West Samoset, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
36.6 mi in
|
~47m
Port Of Tampa
36.6 mi in
|
~47m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.78 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 2 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 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 0.1 miles (32nd Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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