This 101.5-mile drive from Windermere, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-4 and I-275, making it a highway-focused journey. With a projected fuel cost of around $16, this trip is an economical option for a quick getaway within Florida. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so don't expect extensive scenic detours, but rather a direct path to your destination. This straightforward drive is perfect for when you want to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Windermere, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 4
67.5 mi
1h 14m
I 275
21.3 mi
26m
Apopka Vineland Road
7.8 mi
14m
6th Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
5th Avenue North
1.2 mi
2m
34th Street North
0.5 mi
1m
Kissimmee Vineland Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Conroy Windermere Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 67.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windermere, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on Main Street
29 ft·0 sec·Main Street
2
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
211 ft·4 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
408 ft·8 sec·Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto 6th Avenue
155 ft·5 sec·6th Avenue
5
Continue on 6th Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·6th Avenue
6
Continue on Conroy Windermere Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Conroy Windermere Road
7
Turn right onto Apopka Vineland Road
7.8 mi·14 min·Apopka Vineland Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on FL 535
0.3 mi·35 sec·Kissimmee Vineland Road
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
168 ft·4 sec
Toward I 4 East, I 4 West: Orlando, TampaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
11
Merge onto I 4
68 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·40 sec
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint PetersburgUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 275
21 mi·26 min·I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 23BToward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves WineryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto FL 595
1.2 mi·2 min·5th Avenue North
16
Turn left onto US 19
0.5 mi·1 min·34th Street North
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 19
323 ft·14 sec·34th Street South
18
Arrive at destination
US 19
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours, this route offers flexibility. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach St. Petersburg. With no designated stops included in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps stopping for fuel before you depart Windermere to ensure you have a full tank. The longest stretch on I-4 is substantial, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway driving before embarking.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Windermere, FL, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.5 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 22 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Petersburg, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Windermere, 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 Windermere, FL
This is one driving day of about 101.5 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Windermere, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 4 for about 67.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 6th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
9.9 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the ramp toward I 4 East, I 4 West: Orlando, Tampa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 East, I 4 West: Orlando, Tampa
8
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport...
8
99.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23B
Toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.16 one way
$32.31 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$17.57
$35.15
premium
$4.72
$18.87
$37.75
diesel
$5.61
$22.41
$44.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.66
$4.87
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.21
$6.50
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Windermere, FL
Morning
in Windermere on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Petersburg, FL
Morning
in St. Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
7 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
2h 5m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 101.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 87% of the drive taking place on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 67.5 miles on I-4, offering a consistent pace. While Apopka Vineland Road provides a brief departure from the interstate, the majority of your time will be spent on fast-moving highways. This means you can anticipate a relatively smooth and direct journey, largely free from complex intersections or significant slowdowns, allowing for a steady driving rhythm.
87% 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: 67.5 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and I 275. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 101.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.1 miles (6th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.9 miles: 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.
Between Windermere, FL and St. Petersburg, FL, road signs point toward Tampa and Saint Petersburg.
Tampa
9.9 mi in|~19m
Saint Petersburg
77.8 mi in|~1h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 101.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.5 miles on I 4. 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 St. Petersburg, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.1 miles (6th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 St. Petersburg, FL before heading back.
