Origin
Saint Pete Beach, FL
Morning in Saint Pete Beach on Friday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Pete Beach, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
31.2 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Pete Beach, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Saint Pete Beach to Tampa is a quick, straightforward journey covering 31.5 miles. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 37 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $5 for fuel should cover your needs for this short hop across the Florida landscape. Since the entire route stays within the state, you won't experience significant regional shifts, but you will transition from the coastal environment of the beach to the urban center of Tampa. This drive is highly efficient, allowing you to move between these two hubs without the need for an overnight stay or complex planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 31.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate a series of roads starting with the Pinellas Bayway, moving through I-275 North, and finishing via Downtown East. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't encounter long, mindless stretches of open road; in fact, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on the Pinellas Bayway. The route changes character as you progress from the quieter beach surroundings into the more structured grid of the city. Be prepared for a dynamic experience behind the wheel where the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 275 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 275 and Pinellas Bayway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near FL 682 / Pinellas Bayway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 31.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (FL 682 / Pinellas Bayway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
FL 682 / Pinellas Bayway
Turn left onto FL 682 / Pinellas Bayway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 275
Merge onto I 275
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Downtown East, Downtown West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
9
30.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Stree...
9
30.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie A...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 275 | 25.4 mi | 31m |
| Pinellas Bayway | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Gulf Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Tampa Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Franklin Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Twiggs Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 275
— 25.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Pete Beach, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on FL 699
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gulf Boulevard
2
Turn left onto FL 682
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Pinellas Bayway
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 275 North: Tampa
4
Merge onto I 275
25 mi
·
31 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
386 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 44
Toward Downtown East, Downtown West
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Downtown West, Ashley Drive, Tampa Street
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Tampa Street, Seaport Aquarium, Amalie Arena, Harbour Island, Convention Center
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Turn slight right onto US 41 Business
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Tampa Street
9
Turn left onto East Twiggs Street
282 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Twiggs Street
10
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Franklin Street
11
Turn right onto FL 60
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
12
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.97 one way
$9.93 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $5.40 | $10.80 |
| premium | $4.72 | $5.80 | $11.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Friday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
3 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
43m 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 Saint Pete Beach, FL to Tampa, FL covers 31.2 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 275, Pinellas Bayway, Gulf Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.6 miles from Saint Pete Beach, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.97 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 31.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (FL 682 / Pinellas Bayway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Saint Pete Beach, FL to Tampa, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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