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Trip from Pace, FL to Tampa, FL

Drive Time

8h 22m

Distance

456.5 mi

735 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
8h 15m ★
6 AM
8h 23m
8 AM
8h 38m
10 AM
8h 28m
12 PM
8h 27m
3 PM
8h 29m
5 PM
8h 37m
8 PM
8h 18m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Tampa, FL, FL

Tampa, FL

Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

The drive from Pace, FL to Tampa, FL covers 456.5 miles and takes about 8h 22m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 10, I 75, I 275 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 264.2 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $76.26 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

228.2 miles from Pace, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h 22m highway drive covering 456.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 264.2 miles on I 10.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 264.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in near I 10.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 456.5 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 13.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 278.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 439.1 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
13.9 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 10

Merge onto I 10

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
278.1 mi into trip | ~5h 7m in

Take the exit toward I-75 South: Tampa

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 296A Toward I-75 South: Tampa
9
439.1 mi into trip | ~8h 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
454.9 mi into trip | ~8h 19m 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
455.5 mi into trip | ~8h 20m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 264.2 mi 4h 43m
I 75 160.5 mi 2h 52m
I 275 15.9 mi 19m
Caroline Street 12.1 mi 21m
FL 87 1.3 mi 2m
North Orange Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Pierce Street 0.3 mi <1m
East Kennedy Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 10 — 264.2 mi, about 4h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 90

12 mi · 21 min · Caroline Street
Use the left lane.
2

Turn right onto FL 87

1.3 mi · 2 min · FL 87
3

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
4

Merge onto I 10

264 mi · 4 hr 43 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 37 sec
Exit 296A Toward I-75 South: Tampa
6

Merge onto I 75

161 mi · 2 hr 52 min · I 75
Use the straight lane.
7

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.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 45A Toward Downtown East-West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

251 ft · 6 sec
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward Downtown East, Jefferson Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on North Orange Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · North Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn straight onto Pierce Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Pierce Street
13

Turn right onto US 41 Business; FL 60

0.3 mi · 45 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard
14

Arrive at destination

FL 60

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 228.2 miles from Pace, FL, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.2 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 100 miles or 1h 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 228.2 miles or 4h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 228.2 miles or 4h 14m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 14m

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 Pace, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pace, FL

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Tampa, FL

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 100 miles from Pace, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 264.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 228.2 mi from Pace, FL · 4h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Tallahassee, FL

228 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Tallahassee, FL

Overnight Options

Night 1

Tallahassee, FL

228 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Tallahassee, FL after about 228 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Dothan, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 100 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tallahassee, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 228.2 miles from Pace, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 264.2 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 228 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Tampa, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore

National Seashore

Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour $25
Park Closure: Fort Pickens Campground Restroom A Loop Closure
Caution: Road workers on Park Road in Davis Bayou
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$76.26 one way

$152.51 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 160 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $82.60 $165.20
premium $4.90 $87.99 $175.99
diesel $5.64 $101.42 $202.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$76

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$206–$316

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 159.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 137 1 $47.93 $21.91
Efficient EV 114.1 1 $39.94 $18.26
EV Truck/SUV 182.6 2 $63.91 $29.22

Gas CO2

160 kg

EV CO2

53 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Pace, FL

Morning in Pace on Monday

Local time

7:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tampa, FL

Morning in Tampa on Monday

Local time

8:03 AM

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

6 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

8h 22m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Pace, FL to Tampa, FL covers 456.5 miles and takes about 8h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, I 75, I 275. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 228 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 228.2 miles from Pace, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $76.26 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 456.5 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 13.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 278.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 439.1 miles (I 275): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Pace, FL to Tampa, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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