Origin
Laurel, FL
Night in Laurel on Thursday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Laurel, FL to St. Petersburg, FL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
53.5 mi
86 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laurel, FL
Wyxina Tresse
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Laurel, FL to St. Petersburg, FL covers 53.5 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, I 275 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 53.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 3m highway drive covering 53.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.1 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 13 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 27.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
31.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 275
Take the exit onto I 275 toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
5
37.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge onto I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward 31st Street South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward 31st Street South
7
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 27.1 mi | 28m |
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| I 275 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| FL 681 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Tamiami Trail | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 31st Street South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 34th Street South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 27.1 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on US 41
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Tamiami Trail
2
Continue on US 41
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Tamiami Trail
3
Turn slight right onto FL 681
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
FL 681
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Merge onto I 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto I 275
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 275
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
7
Merge onto I 275; US 19
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 20
Toward 31st Street South
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
161 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
10
Turn left onto 31st Street South
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
31st Street South
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
5th Avenue South
12
Turn right onto US 19
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
34th Street South
13
Arrive at destination
US 19
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.8 mi from Laurel, FL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.8 miles from Laurel, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in St. Petersburg, FL
The final approach into St. Petersburg, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.52 one way
$17.03 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $9.26 | $18.53 |
| premium | $4.72 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.81 | $23.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(14.3 mi)
$1.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.62 | $2.57 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
St. Petersburg, FL
Night in St. Petersburg on Thursday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°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.
Road read
1h 3m 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 Laurel, FL to St. Petersburg, FL covers 53.5 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, I 275. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.8 miles from Laurel, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.52 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Laurel, FL to St. Petersburg, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From St. Petersburg, FL
More from Laurel, FL
More trips to St. Petersburg, FL
Explore more options from Laurel, FL or browse trips ending in St. Petersburg, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.
Explore maps for Laurel, FL or St. Petersburg, FL on MapSof.net.