Trip from Clearwater, FL to Westwood Lake, FL

Drive Time

5h 15m

Distance

276.4 mi

445 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 2m ★
6 AM
5h 16m
8 AM
5h 43m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 23m
3 PM
5h 27m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 8m

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

Downtown Clearwater, FL, FL

Clearwater, FL

Arian Fernandez

Downtown Westwood Lake, FL, FL

Westwood Lake, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Trip Overview

The drive from Clearwater, FL to Westwood Lake, FL covers 276.4 miles and takes about 5h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, US 27, Sunshine Skyway Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 203.8 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.17 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

138.2 miles from Clearwater, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 15m highway drive covering 276.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and US 27. The longest continuous stretch is about 203.8 miles on I 75.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 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 203.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 276.4 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: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.4 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

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

5
4.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward US 19 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 19 South
6
10.4 mi into trip | ~17m in | US 19 / US Highway 19 North

Keep slight left at fork onto US 19 / US Highway 19 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
69.3 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | I 75

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
255 mi into trip | ~4h 47m in | US 27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
274.8 mi into trip | ~5h 11m in

Take the exit toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road

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 23 Toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Clearwater, FL to Westwood Lake, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Bay along the way.

Bay

245.1 mi in | ~4h 35m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 203.8 mi 3h 38m
US 27 17.9 mi 22m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge 13.4 mi 15m
I 275 11.2 mi 14m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike 11 mi 12m
US Highway 19 North 10.1 mi 14m
Drew Street 4.2 mi 8m
54th Avenue North 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 203.8 mi, about 3h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, FL and Westwood Lake, FL.

1

Start on North Fort Harrison Avenue

0.2 mi · 27 sec · North Fort Harrison Avenue
2

Turn right onto Drew Street

4.2 mi · 8 min · Drew Street
3

Take the ramp

198 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto Southbound Frontage Road

355 ft · 8 sec · Southbound Frontage Road
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward US 19 South
6

Merge onto US 19

5.7 mi · 7 min · US Highway 19 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 19

4.4 mi · 6 min · US Highway 19 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on US 19

0.6 mi · 1 min · 34th Street North
9

Turn left onto 54th Avenue North

0.8 mi · 1 min · 54th Avenue North
Use the left lane.
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 275 South Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto I 275

10 mi · 11 min · I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 17 sec
13

Merge onto I 275; US 19

13 mi · 15 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 275

1.1 mi · 2 min · I 275
Toward I 75 South: Naples
15

Merge onto I 75

28 mi · 30 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

176 mi · 3 hr 8 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward US 27: Miami, South Bay
18

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 27 South: Miami
19

Merge onto US 27

9.2 mi · 11 min · US 27
Use the right lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27

8.6 mi · 11 min · US 27
Use the straight lane.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
22

Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

11 mi · 12 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 23 Toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Turn left onto SR 976

0.7 mi · 1 min · Southwest 40th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25

Turn right onto Southwest 112th Avenue

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Southwest 112th Avenue
26

Turn left onto Southwest 41st Terrace

258 ft · 15 sec · Southwest 41st Terrace
27

Turn right onto Southwest 111th Avenue

201 ft · 14 sec · Southwest 111th Avenue
28

Turn left onto Southwest 42nd Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Southwest 42nd Street
29

Arrive at destination

Southwest 42nd Street

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 138.2 miles from Clearwater, FL, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 203.8 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 138.2 miles or 2h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 15m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, FL

This is one driving day of about 276.4 miles and 5h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clearwater, 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 I 75 for about 203.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 138.2 mi from Clearwater, FL · 2h 40m into the drive

Downtown Punta Gorda, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Punta Gorda, FL

138 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

Rotonda West, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cape Coral, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.2 miles from Clearwater, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 203.8 miles.

Arriving in Westwood Lake, FL

The final approach into Westwood Lake, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Westwood Lake, FL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.17 one way

$92.34 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $50.01 $100.03
premium $4.90 $53.28 $106.56
diesel $5.64 $61.41 $122.81

Estimated Tolls: $1.60

Sunshine Skyway Bridge (13.4 mi) $0.94
Homestead Extension (11 mi) $0.66

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

$46

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 82.9 1 $29.02 $13.27
Efficient EV 69.1 0 $24.18 $11.06
EV Truck/SUV 110.6 1 $38.70 $17.69

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Clearwater, FL

Morning in Clearwater on Monday

Local time

11:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°F

Mostly Sunny

E 6 to 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Destination

Westwood Lake, FL

Morning in Westwood Lake on Monday

Local time

11:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

E 14 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 15m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clearwater, FL to Westwood Lake, FL covers 276.4 miles and takes about 5h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, US 27, Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.2 miles from Clearwater, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.17 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 276.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.4 miles (US 19 / US Highway 19 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clearwater, FL to Westwood Lake, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Bay along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Westwood Lake, FL to Clearwater, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

276.8 mi 5h 18m

Explore more options from Clearwater, FL or browse trips ending in Westwood Lake, FL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.

Explore maps for Clearwater, FL or Westwood Lake, FL on MapSof.net.