Origin
Southgate, FL
Late night in Southgate on Friday
Local time
1:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southgate, FL to St. Petersburg, FL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
56m
Distance
38.5 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southgate, FL
Arian Fernandez
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.5-mile drive from Southgate to St. Petersburg, Florida, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a single day. You'll navigate a route with a high percentage of local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. The estimated fuel cost is around $6, which is quite reasonable for this short distance. Given its brevity, no overnight stay is necessary, and you can enjoy the flexibility of departing at your convenience. This route stays within the state of Florida, offering a straightforward journey between two points in the Sunshine State.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 38.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that prioritizes local roads over high-speed highways, with only a 9% share of highway driving. The profile is described as 'turn-heavy,' suggesting a need for your attention as you navigate through various intersections and local streets. While there are no exceptionally long stretches of uninterrupted driving, the longest segment you'll encounter is 14.3 miles across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which should offer a more open-road feel. This blend of local navigation and a notable bridge crossing defines the driving experience on this route.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 14.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Tuttle Avenue.
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 11 decision points packed into just 38.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Tuttle Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Tuttle Avenue
Turn right onto South Tuttle Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
22.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge onto I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
37.3 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward 31st Street South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 20
Toward 31st Street South
7
37.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
5
38.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
US 19 / 34th Street South
Turn right onto US 19 / 34th Street South
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| Washington Boulevard | 10.4 mi | 15m |
| South Tuttle Avenue | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| US 19 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Tamiami Trail | 3 mi | 4m |
| Myrtle Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Hernando DeSoto Bridge | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 31st Street South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
— 14.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southgate, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
1
Start on Webber Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Webber Street
2
Turn right onto South Tuttle Avenue
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Tuttle Avenue
3
Turn left onto Myrtle Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Myrtle Street
4
Turn right onto US 301
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Washington Boulevard
5
Continue on US 41; US 301
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hernando DeSoto Bridge
6
Continue on US 41; US 301
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Tamiami Trail
7
Turn straight onto US 19
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 19
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 19
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 19
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
10
Merge onto I 275; US 19
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 20
Toward 31st Street South
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
161 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field
13
Turn left onto 31st Street South
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
31st Street South
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
5th Avenue South
15
Turn right onto US 19
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
34th Street South
16
Arrive at destination
US 19
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.3 mi from Southgate, FL · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Southgate, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in St. Petersburg, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into St. Petersburg, FL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.13 one way
$12.26 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $6.67 | $13.33 |
| premium | $4.72 | $7.16 | $14.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.00
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(14.3 mi)
$1.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 62% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (62% 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
Late night in St. Petersburg on Friday
Local time
1:56 AM
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
23 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
56m 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 Southgate, FL to St. Petersburg, FL covers 38.5 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Washington Boulevard, South Tuttle Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.3 miles from Southgate, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.13 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 11 decision points packed into just 38.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Tuttle Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Southgate, FL to St. Petersburg, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include De Soto National Memorial.
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