Origin
Palmetto Bay, FL
Evening in Palmetto Bay on Monday
Local time
5:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmetto Bay, FL to Tampa, FL
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
287.7 mi
463 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmetto Bay, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palmetto Bay, FL to Tampa, FL covers 287.7 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southwest 82nd Avenue, Southwest 120th Street, South Dixie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.06 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
143.8 miles from Palmetto Bay, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 7m drive with frequent turns across 287.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southwest 82nd Avenue 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
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palmetto Bay, FL to Tampa, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest 82nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest 120th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Dixie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Palmetto Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Express Lanes | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SR 860 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alligator Alley | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| FL 618 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Southwest 82nd Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmetto Bay, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on Southwest 160th Street
36 ft
·
8 sec
·
Southwest 160th Street
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Southwest 82nd Avenue
66 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 82nd Avenue
3
Exit the roundabout onto Southwest 82nd Avenue
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Southwest 82nd Avenue
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Southwest 120th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 120th Street
5
Take the ramp slight right
125 ft
·
4 sec
6
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Dixie Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Dixie Highway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Palmetto Expressway
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Palmetto Expressway
8
Keep slight left to continue on Express Lanes
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Express Lanes
9
Take the exit slight right toward SR 860: Northwest 186th Street, Miami Gardens Drive
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
SR 860: Northwest 186th Street, Miami Gardens Drive
10
Merge slight right
14 mi
·
14 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on Alligator Alley, Naples
238 mi
·
4 hr 15 min
·
Alligator Alley, Naples
12
Take the exit slight right toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
13
Continue on Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
14
Take the exit slight right toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
15
Turn straight onto East Kennedy Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
16
Arrive at your destination
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 143.8 miles from Palmetto Bay, FL, or about 2h 3m 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 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.8 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
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 Palmetto Bay, 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 Palmetto Bay, FL
This is one driving day of about 287.7 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Palmetto Bay, 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 143.8 mi from Palmetto Bay, FL · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 143.8 miles from Palmetto Bay, 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
$48.06 one way
$96.12 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $52.06 | $104.12 |
| premium | $4.90 | $55.46 | $110.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $63.92 | $127.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.3 | 1 | $30.21 | $13.81 |
| Efficient EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.1 | 1 | $40.28 | $18.41 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Evening in Tampa on Monday
Local time
5:59 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
4h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Palmetto Bay, FL to Tampa, FL covers 287.7 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southwest 82nd Avenue, Southwest 120th Street, South Dixie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.8 miles from Palmetto Bay, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.06 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palmetto Bay, FL to Tampa, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Palmetto Bay, FL to Tampa, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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