Trip from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 15m

Distance

144.4 mi

232 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 4m ★

6 AM

3h 16m

8 AM

3h 40m

10 AM

3h 24m

12 PM

3h 22m

3 PM

3h 25m

5 PM

3h 39m

8 PM

3h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL covers 144.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on FL 60, US 441, FL 78 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 90.7 miles on FL 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.98 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

72.2 miles from Buckhead Ridge, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 15m highway drive covering 144.4 miles, with most of the trip on FL 60 and US 441. The longest continuous stretch is about 90.7 miles on FL 60.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

FL 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 90.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and US 441. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near FL 78.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 15m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (FL 78): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (Parrott Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 103.3 miles (Flamingo Drive): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | FL 78

At end of road, turn right onto FL 78

Navigation decision point

4

6.9 mi into trip | ~11m in | Parrott Avenue

Turn left onto Parrott Avenue

Navigation decision point

5

103.3 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | Flamingo Drive

Take the exit onto Flamingo Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

5

138.5 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in | FL 618 Toll / Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

Merge onto FL 618 Toll / Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

143.8 mi into trip | ~3h 14m 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...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
FL 60	90.7 mi	1h 58m
US 441	31.8 mi	40m
FL 78	6.5 mi	9m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway	5.2 mi	6m
Parrott Avenue	4.3 mi	8m
East Adamo Drive	2.1 mi	3m
Main Street	1.7 mi	3m
Flamingo Drive	0.5 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: FL 60 — 90.7 mi, about 1h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buckhead Ridge, FL and Tampa, FL.

1

Start on Lake Drive West

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lake Drive West

2

At end of road, turn right onto FL 78

6.5 mi · 9 min · FL 78

3

Turn left onto Parrott Avenue

4.3 mi · 8 min · Parrott Avenue

4

Continue on US 441

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 441

5

Continue on US 441

31 mi · 39 min · US 441

6

Turn left onto FL 60

60 mi · 1 hr 17 min · FL 60

Use the left lane.

7

Take the exit onto Flamingo Drive

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Flamingo Drive

Use the left lane.

8

Continue on Main Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · Main Street

9

Turn left onto FL 60

26 mi · 34 min · FL 60

Use the left / straight lanes.

10

Continue on FL 60

4.5 mi · 7 min · FL 60

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

11

Turn straight onto FL 60

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Adamo Drive

12

Continue on FL 60

2.1 mi · 3 min · East Adamo Drive

Use the left / straight lanes.

13

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward FL 618 Toll West

14

Merge onto FL 618 Toll

5.2 mi · 6 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 8 Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East Use the slight right lane.

16

Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Kennedy Boulevard

17

Arrive at destination

FL 60

Trip Plan

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 72.2 miles from Buckhead Ridge, FL, or about 1h 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.7 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 32 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 72.2 miles or 1h 37m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tampa, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Buckhead Ridge, 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 Buckhead Ridge, FL

This is one driving day of about 144.4 miles and 3h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Buckhead Ridge, 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 FL 60 for about 90.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.2 mi from Buckhead Ridge, FL · 1h 37m into the drive

county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bartow, FL

72 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

Okeechobee, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Wales, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.2 miles from Buckhead Ridge, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before FL 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.7 miles.

Arriving in Tampa, FL

+18138125025

Visit website

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 144.4

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

Later in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 103.1

Bartow, Florida

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 144.4

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18132745161

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.98 one way

$45.97 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$25.00	$50.01
premium	$4.72	$26.85	$53.70
diesel	$5.61	$31.88	$63.76

Estimated Tolls: $0.52

Selmon Expressway (5.2 mi) $0.52

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

$23

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.3	$15.16	$6.93
Efficient EV	36.1	$12.64	$5.78
EV Truck/SUV	57.8	$20.22	$9.24

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Buckhead Ridge, FL

Morning in Buckhead Ridge on Saturday

Local time

11:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tampa, FL

Morning in Tampa on Saturday

Local time

11:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°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

3 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 15m 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 Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL covers 144.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are FL 60, US 441, FL 78. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.2 miles from Buckhead Ridge, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 15m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (FL 78): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (Parrott Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 103.3 miles (Flamingo Drive): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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Explore more options from Buckhead Ridge, FL or browse trips ending in Tampa, FL.

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Trip from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Tampa, FL

Nearby Places

Retro House Coffee Bar & Asian Bistro

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

Retro House Coffee Bar & Asian Bistro

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

Elevation Coffee Heights

DI Coffee Bar

22nd Street Coffee

The Lab Coffee - Heights

Coffee Uniting People - CUP

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

Kubana Kafe

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Magic Carpet Glide

Perry Harvey Sr. Park

The Florida Aquarium

Iconic Tampa Bay

Epps Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Buckhead Ridge, FL

Tampa, FL

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 15m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Buckhead Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL?

How this page is built

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