Origin
Bradenton, FL
Late night in Bradenton on Friday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bradenton, FL to Tampa, FL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
59m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bradenton, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.6-mile drive from Bradenton to Tampa, Florida, is easily manageable in under an hour, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate I-75 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with a portion on Tamiami Trail, covering about 74% highway. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $7, and with no recommended stops, you can be on your way quickly. This route is ideal for those looking for an efficient transit between two Florida locations without a significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 45.6-mile journey, with 74% of the drive on interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 25.5 miles on I-75, offering a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, you'll also experience segments of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and Tamiami Trail, which may offer slightly different driving dynamics. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 45.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 9.3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41
Enter roundabout onto US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
5
9.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
34.8 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
45 mi into trip
|
~57m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bradenton, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
34.8 mi in
|
~45m
Port Of Tampa
34.8 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 25.5 mi | 28m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Tamiami Trail | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| 8th Avenue West | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| U.S. Business 41 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Green Bridge | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| I 275 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 25.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bradenton, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on this road
105 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 14th Street West
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
14th Street West
3
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
3rd Avenue West
4
Turn left onto US 41 Business
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
9th Street West
5
Continue on US 41 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Bridge
6
Continue on US 41 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
8th Avenue West
7
Continue on US 41 Business
501 ft
·
9 sec
·
Valencia Drive
8
Enter roundabout onto US 41 Business
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
U.S. Business 41
9
Continue on US 41 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
U.S. Business 41
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto US 41
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Tamiami Trail
11
Continue on US 41
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tamiami Trail
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
13
Merge onto I 275
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 275
14
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
15
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.8 mi from Bradenton, FL · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 22.8 miles from Bradenton, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tampa, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Tampa, FL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.26 one way
$14.52 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.90 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
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
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Friday
Local time
12:51 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
2 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
59m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bradenton, FL to Tampa, FL covers 45.6 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Tamiami Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.8 miles from Bradenton, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 45.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 9.3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bradenton, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
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