Origin
Live Oak, FL
Afternoon in Live Oak on Sunday
Local time
12:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
194.9 mi
314 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
Photo: Arian Fernandez
Trip Overview
The drive from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL covers 194.9 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Howard Street, I 75 South, I 275 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.56 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
97.5 miles from Live Oak, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 194.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Howard Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 275 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown East-West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Orange Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pierce Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Howard Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Live Oak, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Dowling Avenue
348 ft
·
17 sec
·
Dowling Avenue
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Howard Street
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Howard Street
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 75 South: Tampa
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 75 South: Tampa
4
Merge slight left
153 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
6
Continue on I 275 South: Airport, Tampa, Saint Petersburg
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 275 South: Airport, Tampa, Saint Petersburg
7
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown East-West
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Downtown East-West
8
Keep slight right
253 ft
·
6 sec
9
Keep slight left to continue on Downtown East, Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Downtown East, Jefferson Street
10
Continue on North Orange Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Orange Avenue
11
Turn straight onto Pierce Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pierce Street
12
Turn right onto East Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.5 miles from Live Oak, FL, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
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 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 21m
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 Live Oak, 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 Live Oak, FL
This is one driving day of about 194.9 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Live Oak, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.5 mi from Live Oak, FL · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.5 miles from Live Oak, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tampa, FL
The final approach into Tampa, 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 Tampa, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.56 one way
$65.12 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $35.27 | $70.53 |
| premium | $4.90 | $37.57 | $75.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.30 | $86.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.46 | $9.36 |
| Efficient EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.05 | $7.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78 | 0 | $27.29 | $12.47 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Tampa, FL
Afternoon in Tampa on Sunday
Local time
12:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
60°F
Gainesville, FL
97 mi in
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
8 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
2h 52m 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 Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL covers 194.9 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Howard Street, I 75 South, I 275 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.5 miles from Live Oak, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.56 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Live Oak, FL to Tampa, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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