Origin
Saint Leo, FL
Afternoon in Saint Leo on Saturday
Local time
2:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Leo, FL to St. Petersburg, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
55.9 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Leo, FL
Jo Kassis
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Saint Leo to St. Petersburg is 55.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via I-275 and I-75, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Florida, connecting two points in the central part of the state. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's best suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare. Plan for a quick and efficient journey that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 37.6 mi | 45m |
| I 75 | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| Old State Road 52 | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| State Road 52 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 34th Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| McCabe Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 34th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 37.6 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Leo, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on this road
279 ft
·
24 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
209 ft
·
17 sec
3
Enter roundabout
55 ft
·
4 sec
4
Continue
279 ft
·
22 sec
5
Turn right onto CR 52
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Old State Road 52
6
Enter roundabout onto CR 52
183 ft
·
5 sec
·
Old State Road 52
7
Continue on CR 52
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old State Road 52
8
Turn right onto FL 52
471 ft
·
9 sec
·
McCabe Road
9
Continue on FL 52
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
State Road 52
10
Take the ramp
108 ft
·
2 sec
Toward FL 52: Dade City, New Port Richey
11
Turn slight left onto FL 52
311 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Road 52
12
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
13
Merge onto I 75
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 275
38 mi
·
45 min
·
I 275
Exit 274
Toward I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 23B
Toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto FL 595
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue North
17
Turn left onto US 19
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Street North
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 19
323 ft
·
14 sec
·
34th Street South
19
Arrive at destination
US 19
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Saint Leo, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 53.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
4.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward FL 52: Dade City, New Port Richey
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward FL 52: Dade City, New Port Richey
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
16.4 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
8
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery
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.
Exit 23B
Toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.90 one way
$17.80 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.72 | $10.39 | $20.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
St. Petersburg, FL
Afternoon in St. Petersburg on Saturday
Local time
2:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-275 and I-75, experiencing a consistent flow of traffic typical of these major arteries. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.6 miles on I-275, offering a chance to settle in for a solid period of driving. Expect a direct and efficient experience, where the focus is on covering distance rather than exploring varied landscapes.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.6 mi on I 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 275 and I 75. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Leo, FL and St. Petersburg, FL, road signs point toward New Port Richey and Saint Petersburg.
New Port Richey
4.8 mi in
|
~9m
Saint Petersburg
4.9 mi in
|
~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 55.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on I 275. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Petersburg, FL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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