Origin
South Venice, FL
Afternoon in South Venice on Saturday
Local time
2:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Venice, FL to Clearwater, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
80.9 mi
130 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Venice, FL
Arian Fernandez
Clearwater, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from South Venice, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 80.9 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, US Highway 19 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.88 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.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from South Venice, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 27.1 mi | 28m |
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | 19.5 mi | 22m |
| US Highway 19 North | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| I 275 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| FL 681 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Tamiami Trail | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| US 41 By-Pass | 3 mi | 5m |
| Gulf to Bay Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 27.1 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Venice, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on Hudson Road
168 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hudson Road
2
Turn left onto Sterling Road
498 ft
·
24 sec
·
Sterling Road
3
Turn right onto Jamaica Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Jamaica Road
4
Continue on West Seminole Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Seminole Drive
5
Turn left onto US 41
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tamiami Trail
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US 41 By-Pass
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto US 41
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Tamiami Trail
8
Turn slight right onto FL 681
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
FL 681
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 275
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 275
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
12
Merge onto I 275; US 19
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 26B
Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto 54th Avenue North
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
54th Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto US 19
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Street North
16
Continue on US 19
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 19 North
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
19
Continue on Northbound Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northbound Frontage Road
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on FL 60
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
22
Continue on FL 60
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Court Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Ft Harrison Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
North Fort Harrison Avenue
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 40.4 miles from South Venice, FL, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.1 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 18 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 52m 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 27m
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 South Venice, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Venice, FL
This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from South Venice, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 27.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from South Venice, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 76.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 41 / US 41 By-Pass
Keep slight right at fork onto US 41 / US 41 By-Pass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
39.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 275
Take the exit onto I 275 toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
7
64.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
75.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m 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
76.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.88 one way
$25.75 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $14.01 | $28.02 |
| premium | $4.72 | $15.04 | $30.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.86 | $35.72 |
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.49 | $3.88 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 Saturday
Local time
2:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
1 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 48m 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?
80.9 mi in 1h 48m, mostly highway — 27.1 mi of that is on I 75.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 41 / US 41 By-Pass.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.9 miles (US 41 / US 41 By-Pass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Venice, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward 54Th Avenue North Westbound and Gulf To Bay.
54Th Avenue North Westbound
64.6 mi in
|
~1h 21m
Gulf To Bay
75.5 mi in
|
~1h 37m
About the Cities
Arriving in Clearwater, FL
Full guide →Clearwater is a city in Pinellas County, a region in Florida. Perhaps most easily recognized as the headquarters city of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater also has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.36 in tolls one way, starting with Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clearwater, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1.9 miles (US 41 / US 41 By-Pass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clearwater, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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