Origin
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Afternoon in Lakeland Highlands on Saturday
Local time
2:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland Highlands, FL to Clearwater, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
59.1 mi
95 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland Highlands, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Clearwater, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakeland Highlands, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 59.1 miles and takes about 1h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 4, FL 60, Polk Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.7 miles on I 4. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 4 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| FL 60 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Polk Parkway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| I 275 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Gulf to Bay Boulevard | 4.7 mi | 9m |
| Harden Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Court Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Scott Lake Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 4
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland Highlands, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on CR 37A
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Scott Lake Road
2
Turn left onto Lake Miriam Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Miriam Drive
3
Continue on West Pipkin Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pipkin Road
4
Turn right onto Harden Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Harden Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto Parkway Frontage Road North
356 ft
·
7 sec
·
Parkway Frontage Road North
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward FL 570 West Toll: Polk Parkway West
7
Merge onto FL 570 Toll
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 4
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 275
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 39
Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto FL 60
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60, FL 589 Toll: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
14
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Expressway
Toward FL 589 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 2A
Toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on FL 60
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
FL 60
Toward FL 60: Clearwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on FL 60
4.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on FL 60
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Court Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Ft Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
North Fort Harrison Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Lakeland Highlands, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 42.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 4 West: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 4 West: Tampa
8
36 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
41.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
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 39
Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport,...
7
41.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway toward FL 589 Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 589 Toll
7
42.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward FL 60 West: Clearwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.41 one way
$18.81 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $10.23 | $20.47 |
| premium | $4.72 | $10.99 | $21.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Veterans Expressway
(0.9 mi)
$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Clearwater, FL
Afternoon in Clearwater on Saturday
Local time
2:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
5 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
1h 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
59.1 mi in 1h 22m, mostly highway — 25.7 mi of that is on I 4.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on I 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 4 and FL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lakeland Highlands, FL to Clearwater, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.
Saint Petersburg
36 mi in
|
~46m
About the Cities
Arriving in Clearwater, FL
Full guide →Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida. Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 59.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on I 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Clearwater, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clearwater, FL before heading back.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Return Trip
Clearwater, FL to Lakeland Highlands, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
59.4 mi
1h 21m
Continue From Clearwater, FL
More trips to Clearwater, FL
Explore more options from Lakeland Highlands, FL or browse trips ending in Clearwater, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.