Origin
St. Petersburg, FL
Late night in St. Petersburg on Friday
Local time
3:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from St. Petersburg, FL to Balm, FL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h
Distance
43.2 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
St. Petersburg, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Balm, FL
Cup of Couple
Trip Overview
This straightforward 43.2-mile drive from St. Petersburg to Balm, Florida, can easily be completed in about 1 hour, making it a perfect day trip. The majority of your travel will be on major highways, including I-75 and I-275, with a significant portion also utilizing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Since it's a short, direct trip within the state of Florida, no overnight stays are necessary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive experience on this route, with 46% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I-75 and I-275, offering consistent speeds for much of the trip. The most notable uninterrupted segment is a 13.4-mile stretch across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which provides a distinct driving experience. As you transition off the main interstates and toward Balm, the road character will likely shift from high-speed freeway to more local, potentially slower-paced roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 13.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 150 / Central Avenue.
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 43.2 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: near the start (CR 150 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 150 / Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 150 / Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 275
Merge onto I 275
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~9m 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.
5
20.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
8
32.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward FL 674: Ruskin, Sun City Center
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 240
Toward FL 674: Ruskin, Sun City Center
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from St. Petersburg, FL to Balm, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Sun City Center along the way.
Sun City Center
32.6 mi in
|
~39m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| I 75 | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| I 275 | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 674 | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Balm Wimauma Road | 3.4 mi | 8m |
| Sun City Center Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| 31st Street South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
— 13.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Petersburg, FL and Balm, FL.
1
Start on US 19
48 ft
·
5 sec
·
34th Street South
2
Turn right onto CR 150
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto 31st Street South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
31st Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 275
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
7
Merge onto I 275; US 19
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
9
Merge onto I 75
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 240
Toward FL 674: Ruskin, Sun City Center
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Sun City Center
12
Turn straight onto FL 674
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Sun City Center Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on FL 674
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 674
14
Turn left onto Balm Wimauma Road
3.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Balm Wimauma Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto Balm Wimauma Road
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Balm Wimauma Road
16
Arrive at destination
Balm Wimauma Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from St. Petersburg, FL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from St. Petersburg, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Balm, FL
The final approach into Balm, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.88 one way
$13.75 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.48 | $14.96 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.03 | $16.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.94
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(13.4 mi)
$0.94
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Balm, FL
Late night in Balm on Friday
Local time
3:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 St. Petersburg, FL to Balm, FL covers 43.2 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunshine Skyway Bridge, I 75, I 275. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 miles from St. Petersburg, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.88 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 150 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 275): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 275; US 19 / Sunshine Skyway Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from St. Petersburg, FL to Balm, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Sun City Center along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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