Origin
Tampa, FL
Night in Tampa on Thursday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Apollo Beach, FL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
27m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Apollo Beach, FL
Chris The Island
Trip Overview
This short 18-mile drive from Tampa to Apollo Beach, Florida, is easily manageable in just 27 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a small portion on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, so expect a turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $3. Given its brevity and the straightforward nature of the route, there's no need for an overnight stay. This trip is ideal for a quick hop within the same region, offering a simple transition between two Florida destinations without significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Prepare for a drive characterized by frequent turns, as indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. While only 16% of the journey involves highway travel, the longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9 miles on Tamiami Trail. The route mixes arterial roads like Tamiami Trail and South 50th Street with brief expressway segments, requiring your attention to navigation and traffic signals. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise but rather a more engaged local transit experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tamiami Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 41 Business / North Tampa Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 18 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 41 Business / North Tampa Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (East Jackson Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 41 Business / North Tampa Street
Turn left onto US 41 Business / North Tampa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Jackson Street
Keep slight left at fork onto East Jackson Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
FL 618 Toll / Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Merge onto FL 618 Toll / Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward US 41: 50th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11
Toward US 41: 50th Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tamiami Trail | 9 mi | 12m |
| South 50th Street | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Apollo Beach Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Fairway Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Nebraska Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Tampa Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tamiami Trail
— 9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Apollo Beach, FL.
1
Start on FL 60
118 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
2
Turn left onto US 41 Business
296 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Tampa Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jackson Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto East Jackson Street
69 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Jackson Street
5
Turn left onto North Nebraska Avenue
404 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Nebraska Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward FL 618 Toll East: Brandon
7
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 11
Toward US 41: 50th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 41
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South 50th Street
10
Continue on US 41
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Tamiami Trail
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Apollo Beach Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Apollo Beach Boulevard
12
Turn left onto Fairway Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Fairway Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
Fairway Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.87 one way
$5.73 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $3.12 | $6.23 |
| premium | $4.72 | $3.35 | $6.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
Selmon Expressway
(2.8 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Apollo Beach, FL
Night in Apollo Beach on Thursday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
2 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
27m 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 Tampa, FL to Apollo Beach, FL covers 18 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tamiami Trail, South 50th Street, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9 miles from Tampa, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.87 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 18 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 41 Business / North Tampa Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (East Jackson Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Tampa, FL to Apollo Beach, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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