Origin
Punta Gorda, FL
Afternoon in Punta Gorda on Monday
Local time
1:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
109.8 mi
177 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Punta Gorda, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Clearwater, FL
Arian Fernandez
Trip Overview
The drive from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 109.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Carmalita Street, Cooper Street, Olympia Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.34 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Punta Gorda, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 109.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Carmalita 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carmalita Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cooper Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Olympia Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 275 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 54th Avenue North Westbound | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 54th Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Carmalita Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Punta Gorda, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on the route
33 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Carmalita Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Carmalita Street
3
Turn left onto Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cooper Street
4
Turn right onto Olympia Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Olympia Avenue
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Tampa
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 75 North: Tampa
6
Merge slight left
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
8
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
9
Merge slight right onto Sunshine Skyway Bridge
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
10
Take the exit slight right toward 54th Avenue North Westbound
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
54th Avenue North Westbound
11
Turn straight onto 54th Avenue North
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
54th Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 34th Street North
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Street North
13
Continue on US Highway 19 North
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 19 North
14
Take the exit slight right toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
15
Continue on US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
16
Continue on Northbound Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northbound Frontage Road
17
Take the exit slight left
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
18
Continue on Gulf to Bay Boulevard
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
19
Continue on Court Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Court Street
20
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Ft Harrison Avenue
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 54.9 miles from Punta Gorda, FL, or about 56m 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
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 Punta Gorda, 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 Punta Gorda, FL
This is one driving day of about 109.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Punta Gorda, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.9 mi from Punta Gorda, FL · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 54.9 miles from Punta Gorda, 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
$18.34 one way
$36.68 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $19.87 | $39.74 |
| premium | $4.90 | $21.16 | $42.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.39 | $48.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.53 | $5.27 |
| Efficient EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.61 | $4.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.9 | 0 | $15.37 | $7.03 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Clearwater, FL
Afternoon in Clearwater on Monday
Local time
1:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m 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 Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 109.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Carmalita Street, Cooper Street, Olympia Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.9 miles from Punta Gorda, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.34 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.
The drive from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL is easy. At 1h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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