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Trip from Palmetto, FL to Clearwater, FL

Drive Time

59m

Distance

41.8 mi

67 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 55m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m

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 Palmetto, FL, FL

Palmetto, FL

Airam Dato-on

Downtown Clearwater, FL, FL

Clearwater, FL

Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Palmetto to Clearwater, you are in for a quick 43.3-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is best suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to complete without an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via 10th Street West, 8th Avenue West, and Valencia Drive rather than sticking to major interstates. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, it is an affordable way to move between these two Florida locations. Because this route avoids highways entirely, it offers a more localized experience compared to typical high-speed transit.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

20.9 miles from Palmetto, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend the entire 52 minutes navigating local surface streets, which requires more active attention than a typical highway cruise. Because the route is composed of smaller roads, there are no long, uninterrupted stretches to settle into. Instead, the character of the drive remains consistent and technical from start to finish. You should prepare for a steady pace that relies on navigating city infrastructure rather than cruising at high speeds.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge is the longest continuous segment at about 19.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

74 ft -2 ft

Total Climb

160 ft

Total Descent

143 ft

Highest Point

74 ft

~38.4 mi in

Elevation Range

76 ft

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 early in the drive near 10th Street West.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 41.8 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: near the start (10th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 10th Street West

Turn right onto 10th Street West

Navigation decision point

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41

Enter roundabout onto US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
25.6 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward 54th Avenue North Westbound

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 26B Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound
7
36.5 mi into trip | ~48m in

Take the exit toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
6
37.2 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit

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

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Palmetto, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward 54Th Avenue North Westbound and Gulf To Bay.

54Th Avenue North Westbound

25.6 mi in | ~31m

Gulf To Bay

36.5 mi in | ~48m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sunshine Skyway Bridge 19.5 mi 22m
US Highway 19 North 9.1 mi 12m
US 19 3.6 mi 4m
Gulf to Bay Boulevard 2.7 mi 5m
Court Street 1.5 mi 3m
U.S. Business 41 1.1 mi 1m
54th Avenue North 0.9 mi 1m
8th Avenue West 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Sunshine Skyway Bridge — 19.5 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palmetto, FL and Clearwater, FL.

1

Start on this road

56 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto 10th Street West

191 ft · 8 sec · 10th Street West
3

Turn right onto US 41 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · 8th Avenue West
4

Continue on US 41 Business

501 ft · 9 sec · Valencia Drive
5

Enter roundabout onto US 41 Business

119 ft · 2 sec · U.S. Business 41
6

Continue on US 41 Business

1.0 mi · 1 min · U.S. Business 41
Use the straight lane.
7

Merge onto US 41

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Tamiami Trail
8

Turn straight onto US 19

2.4 mi · 3 min · US 19
Use the left lane.
9

Take the exit onto US 19

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 19
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 19 sec
11

Merge onto I 275; US 19

19 mi · 22 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 26B Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn straight onto 54th Avenue North

0.9 mi · 1 min · 54th Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn right onto US 19

0.6 mi · 1 min · 34th Street North
15

Continue on US 19

9.1 mi · 12 min · US Highway 19 North
Use the left lane.
16

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on US 19 Northbound Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 53 sec · US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
18

Continue on Northbound Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Northbound Frontage Road
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Use the left lane.
20

Continue on FL 60

2.7 mi · 5 min · Gulf to Bay Boulevard
21

Continue on FL 60

1.5 mi · 3 min · Court Street
Use the straight lane.
22

Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Ft Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
23

Arrive at destination

North Fort Harrison Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 43.3-mile trip with no planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to depart outside of peak local traffic hours to ensure you maintain your 52-minute estimated travel time. Given that you will be driving through residential and local areas, stay alert for frequent turns and changing speed limits along the route. With a low fuel cost of $7, you can easily fill up before you leave Palmetto and arrive in Clearwater without needing to worry about mid-trip refueling. Keep your navigation app handy, as the reliance on local roads like Valencia Drive means you will be making several turns to reach your destination.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.9 miles from Palmetto, FL, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.5 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 41.8 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20.9 miles or 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 46m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Palmetto, 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, FL

This is one driving day of about 41.8 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Palmetto, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Sunshine Skyway Bridge for about 19.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.9 mi from Palmetto, FL · 26m into the drive

Downtown St. Petersburg, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

St. Petersburg, FL

21 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

St. Petersburg, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

St. Petersburg, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Palmetto, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clearwater, FL

The final approach into Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, 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

$6.98 one way

$13.97 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $7.56 $15.13
premium $4.90 $8.06 $16.11
diesel $5.64 $9.29 $18.57

Estimated Tolls: $1.36

Sunshine Skyway Bridge (19.5 mi) $1.36

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.5 0 $4.39 $2.01
Efficient EV 10.5 0 $3.66 $1.67
EV Truck/SUV 16.7 0 $5.85 $2.68

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 data refreshed 8 hours ago

Origin

Palmetto, FL

Evening in Palmetto on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Sunny

E 7 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:27AM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:22AM EDT until April 14 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL

Destination

Clearwater, FL

Evening in Clearwater on Sunday

Local time

6:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

E 7 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:27AM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 12 at 2:22AM EDT until April 14 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL

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

59m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Palmetto, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 41.8 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunshine Skyway Bridge, US Highway 19 North, US 19. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.9 miles from Palmetto, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.98 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 41.8 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: near the start (10th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 41 Business / U.S. Business 41): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Palmetto, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward 54Th Avenue North Westbound and Gulf To Bay.

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