Origin
Mexico Beach, FL
Morning in Mexico Beach on Monday
Local time
11:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mexico Beach, FL to Tampa, FL
Drive Time
6h 2m
Distance
331.7 mi
534 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 49m
★
6 AM
6h 2m
8 AM
6h 28m
10 AM
6h 11m
12 PM
6h 9m
3 PM
6h 13m
5 PM
6h 27m
8 PM
5h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Arian Fernandez
Trip Overview
The drive from Mexico Beach, FL to Tampa, FL covers 331.7 miles and takes about 6h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Market Street, Sopchoppy Highway, Coastal Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
165.8 miles from Mexico Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 2m drive with frequent turns across 331.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Market 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 2m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mexico Beach, FL to Tampa, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sopchoppy Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Coastal Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Byron Butler Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gulf to Lake Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| FL 589 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Suncoast Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Market Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mexico Beach, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on South 32nd Street
371 ft
·
18 sec
·
South 32nd Street
2
Turn right
35 mi
·
52 min
3
Turn right onto Market Street
43 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Market Street
4
Continue on Sopchoppy Highway
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Sopchoppy Highway
5
Turn left onto Coastal Highway
54 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Coastal Highway
6
Turn right onto Byron Butler Parkway
58 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Byron Butler Parkway
7
Keep slight right
55 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
8
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 5th Street
9
Continue on Gulf to Lake Highway
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Gulf to Lake Highway
10
Take the ramp right toward FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway
11
Merge slight left onto Suncoast Parkway
54 mi
·
58 min
·
Suncoast Parkway
12
Merge slight right onto Veterans Expressway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Expressway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Expressway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Veterans Expressway
14
Keep slight left to continue on FL 589 Toll Express Lane
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
FL 589 Toll Express Lane
15
Merge slight right onto Veterans Expressway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans Expressway
16
Continue on Memorial Highway
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Memorial Highway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 275 North: Tampa
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 275 North: Tampa
19
Merge slight left onto I 275: Tampa
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 275: Tampa
20
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown East, Downtown West
387 ft
·
9 sec
·
Downtown East, Downtown West
21
Keep slight right to continue on Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
22
Keep slight left to continue on Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
23
Turn slight right onto North Tampa Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Tampa Street
24
Turn left onto East Twiggs Street
282 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Twiggs Street
25
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Franklin Street
26
Turn right onto East Kennedy Boulevard
174 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.8 miles from Mexico Beach, FL, or about 3h 1m 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.8 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
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 Mexico Beach, 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 Mexico Beach, FL
This is one driving day of about 331.7 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mexico Beach, 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 165.8 mi from Mexico Beach, FL · 3h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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 165.8 miles from Mexico Beach, 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
$55.41 one way
$110.82 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $60.02 | $120.04 |
| premium | $4.90 | $63.94 | $127.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $73.69 | $147.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.5 | 1 | $34.83 | $15.92 |
| Efficient EV | 82.9 | 0 | $29.02 | $13.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.7 | 1 | $46.44 | $21.23 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Monday
Local time
12:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
6h 2m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mexico Beach, FL to Tampa, FL covers 331.7 miles and takes about 6h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Market Street, Sopchoppy Highway, Coastal Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 165.8 miles from Mexico Beach, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.41 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 2m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mexico Beach, FL to Tampa, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mexico Beach, FL to Tampa, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tampa, FL
More trips to Tampa, FL
Explore more options from Mexico Beach, FL or browse trips ending in Tampa, FL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.
Explore maps for Mexico Beach, FL or Tampa, FL on MapSof.net.