Skip to main content

Trip from Macclenny, FL to Tampa, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 38m

Distance

182.3 mi

293 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 26m ★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 31m

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

Downtown Macclenny, FL, FL

Macclenny, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

city in Florida, United States

Tampa, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Macclenny, FL to Tampa, FL covers 182.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, Sid Martin Highway, South 6th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.7 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.02 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

91.2 miles from Macclenny, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 182.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive from Macclenny, FL to Tampa, FL covers 182.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 82.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.1 miles in near US 301 / Sid Martin Highway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 182.3 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 40.1 miles (US 301 / Sid Martin Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 164.9 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

6
40.1 mi into trip | ~53m in | US 301 / Sid Martin Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 301 / Sid Martin Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
6
79.1 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street

Turn right onto FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
9
164.9 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | I 275

Keep slight right at fork onto I 275 toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 274 Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
7
180.8 mi into trip | ~3h 35m in

Take the exit toward Downtown East-West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 45A Toward Downtown East-West
9
181.4 mi into trip | ~3h 36m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street

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 Macclenny, FL to Tampa, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.

Saint Petersburg

164.9 mi in | ~3h 16m | via I 275

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 82.7 mi 1h 28m
Sid Martin Highway 39 mi 48m
South 6th Street 16.2 mi 21m
I 275 15.9 mi 19m
Starke Bypass 13.1 mi 16m
FL 16 10 mi 13m
Northwest 70th Street 1.5 mi 2m
Northwest 77th Street 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 82.7 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on FL 228

0.4 mi · 58 sec · North 5th Street
2

Turn right onto South Boulevard West

445 ft · 23 sec · South Boulevard West
3

Turn left onto FL 121

16 mi · 21 min · South 6th Street
4

Turn left onto FL 16

10.0 mi · 13 min · FL 16
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
6

Merge onto US 301 ALT

13 mi · 16 min · Starke Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 301

39 mi · 48 min · Sid Martin Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Turn right onto FL 326

1.5 mi · 2 min · Northwest 70th Street
Use the right lane.
9

Continue on FL 326

1.2 mi · 2 min · Northwest 77th Street
Use the straight lane.
10

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
11

Merge onto I 75

83 mi · 1 hr 28 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 275

16 mi · 19 min · I 275
Exit 274 Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 45A Toward Downtown East-West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork

251 ft · 6 sec
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on North Orange Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17

Turn straight onto Pierce Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Pierce Street
18

Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60

0.3 mi · 45 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard
19

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 91.2 miles from Macclenny, FL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.7 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 40 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 91.2 miles or 1h 57m 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 59m

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 Macclenny, 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 Macclenny, FL

This is one driving day of about 182.3 miles and 3h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Macclenny, 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 82.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 91.2 mi from Macclenny, FL · 1h 57m into the drive

human settlement in Florida, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Citra, FL

91 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.

Popular next leg

Citra, FL to Tampa, FL

114.6 mi · 2h 11m

Pacing Suggestions

Starke, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ocala, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.2 miles from Macclenny, 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 82.7 miles.

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

$29.02 one way

$58.03 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $31.57 $63.13
premium $4.72 $33.90 $67.80
diesel $5.61 $40.25 $80.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 63.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 54.7 0 $19.14 $8.75
Efficient EV 45.6 0 $15.95 $7.29
EV Truck/SUV 72.9 0 $25.52 $11.67

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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

Macclenny, FL

Afternoon in Macclenny on Friday

Local time

12:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tampa, FL

Afternoon in Tampa on Friday

Local time

12:37 PM

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

12 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

3h 38m 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 Macclenny, FL to Tampa, FL covers 182.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 75, Sid Martin Highway, South 6th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 91.2 miles from Macclenny, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.02 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 182.3 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 40.1 miles (US 301 / Sid Martin Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles (FL 326 / Northwest 70th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 164.9 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Macclenny, FL to Tampa, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Petersburg along the way.

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

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.