Trip from Florida 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 6m

Distance

138.1 mi

222 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

38 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 55m ★

6 AM

3h 6m

8 AM

3h 29m

10 AM

3h 14m

12 PM

3h 12m

3 PM

3h 15m

5 PM

3h 28m

8 PM

2h 59m

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 Florida Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL covers 138.1 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on FL 60, 20th Street, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.5 miles on FL 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.55 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

69.1 miles from Florida Ridge, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 138.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 6m highway drive covering 138.1 miles, with most of the trip on FL 60 and 20th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.5 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 18 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 94.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and 20th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 606 / 9th Street Southwest.

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 6m 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 0.5 miles (CR 606 / 9th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 97.1 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.

5

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | CR 606 / 9th Street Southwest

Turn left onto CR 606 / 9th Street Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

4

6.8 mi into trip | ~12m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5

97.1 mi into trip | ~2h 7m 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

132.3 mi into trip | ~2h 58m 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

137.6 mi into trip | ~3h 4m 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	94.5 mi	2h 3m
20th Street	22.6 mi	27m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway	5.2 mi	6m
Oslo Road	3.7 mi	5m
82nd Avenue	2.6 mi	4m
9th Street Southwest	2.6 mi	4m
East Adamo Drive	2.1 mi	3m
Main Street	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: FL 60 — 94.5 mi, about 2h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 7th Road Southwest

0.5 mi · 1 min · 7th Road Southwest

2

Turn left onto CR 606

2.6 mi · 4 min · 9th Street Southwest

Use the right lane.

3

Continue on CR 606

3.7 mi · 5 min · Oslo Road

Use the left lane.

4

Turn right

0.9 mi · 1 min

5

Turn straight onto CR 619

2.6 mi · 4 min · 82nd Avenue

6

Turn left onto FL 60

23 mi · 27 min · 20th Street

Use the left lane.

7

Continue on FL 60

64 mi · 1 hr 21 min · FL 60

Use the left lane.

8

Take the exit onto Flamingo Drive

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Flamingo Drive

Use the left lane.

9

Continue on Main Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · Main Street

10

Turn left onto FL 60

26 mi · 34 min · FL 60

Use the left / straight lanes.

11

Continue on FL 60

4.5 mi · 7 min · FL 60

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

12

Turn straight onto FL 60

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Adamo Drive

13

Continue on FL 60

2.1 mi · 3 min · East Adamo Drive

Use the left / straight lanes.

14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward FL 618 Toll West

15

Merge onto FL 618 Toll

5.2 mi · 6 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

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

17

Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Kennedy Boulevard

18

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 69.1 miles from Florida Ridge, FL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.5 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 30 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 69.1 miles or 1h 31m 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 30m

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 Florida 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 Florida Ridge, FL

This is one driving day of about 138.1 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Florida 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 94.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 69.1 mi from Florida Ridge, FL · 1h 31m into the drive

county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bartow, FL

69 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

Sebastian, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Wales, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 69.1 miles from Florida 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 94.5 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 138.1

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 98.7

Bartow, Florida

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 128.3

Tampa, Florida

+18136274225

Visit website

Vero Beach Museum of Art

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour

Vero Beach, Florida

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17722310707

Visit website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.55 one way

$45.11 round trip

$4.15/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$24.99	$49.98
premium	$4.90	$26.62	$53.24
diesel	$4.35	$23.65	$47.30

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

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.3 kg one way.

EV Charging Along Route

38 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Vero Beach, FL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Tampa, FL

Tesla

16 DCFC

TA, Vero Beach, FL

Vero Beach, FL

BP_PULSE

12 DCFC

Dunkin' - Tesla Supercharger

Bartow, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Valrico, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Seffner, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Fort Drum Service Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Okeechobee, FL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Vero Beach, FL

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 11 Tesla: 10 BP_PULSE: 4 eVgo Network: 3 Non-Networked: 2 EV Connect: 2 IN_CHARGE: 1 SYNERGEV: 1 FPLEV: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1 7CHARGE: 1 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	41.4	$14.50	$6.63
Efficient EV	34.5	$12.08	$5.52
EV Truck/SUV	55.2	$19.33	$8.84

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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

Florida Ridge, FL

Morning in Florida Ridge on Saturday

Local time

7:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tampa, FL

Morning in Tampa on Saturday

Local time

7:34 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

11 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

3h 6m 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 Florida Ridge, FL to Tampa, FL covers 138.1 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are FL 60, 20th Street, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 69.1 miles from Florida Ridge, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.55 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 6m 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 0.5 miles (CR 606 / 9th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 97.1 miles (Flamingo Drive): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Florida 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Florida Ridge, FL or browse trips ending in Tampa, FL.

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Trip from Florida 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

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

Coffee Uniting People - CUP

Kubana Kafe

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

Cracker Country

Vero Beach Museum of Art

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Florida Ridge, FL

Tampa, FL

Same local time

11 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 6m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Where does this route get tricky?

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

How this page is built

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