Origin
Wildwood, FL
Late night in Wildwood on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wildwood, 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 29m
Distance
75.1 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wildwood, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Wildwood, FL to Tampa, FL is 75.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via I-75 and I-275, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily uses major highways, making it a straightforward drive between two Florida locations. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this trip is easily manageable as a same-day journey, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 53.2 mi | 56m |
| I 275 | 15.9 mi | 19m |
| CR 44A | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| FL 44 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Kilgore Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Orange Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Pierce Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 53.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wildwood, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Mill Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Mill Street
2
Continue on Kilgore Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Kilgore Street
3
Continue on CR 44A
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
CR 44A
4
Turn right onto FL 44
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
FL 44
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
53 mi
·
56 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 275
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft
·
6 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pierce Street
14
Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Wildwood, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 South: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Tampa
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
9
57.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East-West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45A
Toward Downtown East-West
9
74.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.95 one way
$23.91 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $13.00 | $26.01 |
| premium | $4.72 | $13.96 | $27.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.58 | $33.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.89 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.51 | $4.81 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
5:03 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
6 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 29m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with a 93% highway share, designed for efficient travel. Expect long stretches of interstate, including a significant 53.2-mile segment on I-75 without major interruptions. The majority of your journey will be on high-speed roads like I-75 and I-275, so the character of the drive is largely consistent. You'll experience the typical flow of interstate traffic as you make your way south.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 275. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 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.
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 Wildwood, FL to Tampa, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Saint Petersburg
57.7 mi in
|
~1h 7m
|
via I 275
About the Cities
Starting in Wildwood, FL
Full guide →Wildwood is a city of 7,300 people (2019) in Sumter County, Florida.
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 29m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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