Origin
Tampa, FL
Evening in Tampa on Thursday
Local time
6:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Bradenton, FL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
57m
Distance
45.3 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Bradenton, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.3-mile drive from Tampa to Bradenton, Florida, is easily manageable in about 57 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll be on highways for approximately 78% of the journey, with a projected fuel cost of around $7. The route is primarily a highway-focused drive, offering an efficient way to get between these two Florida locations. Given the short distance and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, and you can expect a consistent travel experience throughout. This trip is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated transit within the Florida region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 45.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on I-75, including a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 26.8 miles. The Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and Tamiami Trail will also feature, offering a mix of express and arterial road driving. The character of the drive is largely consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over winding scenic byways. It's a practical route designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 41 Business / North Tampa Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 45.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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.
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
8
37.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward US 41: Palmetto, Bradenton
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.
Exit 2
Toward US 41: Palmetto, Bradenton
8
37.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Palmetto, Bradenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward Palmetto, Bradenton
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 Tampa, FL to Bradenton, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Palmetto along the way.
Palmetto
37.9 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 26.8 mi | 28m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Tamiami Trail | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 8th Avenue West | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| U.S. Business 41 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Green Bridge | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I 275 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| East Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 26.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Bradenton, 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
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 15A
Toward I 75 South: Naples
9
Merge onto I 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 228
Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 275
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 275
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 41: Palmetto, Bradenton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
357 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Palmetto, Bradenton
Use the left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 41
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Tamiami Trail
15
Turn straight onto US 41 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
U.S. Business 41
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 41 Business
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
Valencia Drive
17
Continue on US 41 Business
508 ft
·
9 sec
·
Valencia Drive
18
Continue on US 41 Business
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
8th Avenue West
19
Continue on US 41 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Bridge
20
Continue on US 41 Business
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
9th Street West
21
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
3rd Avenue West
22
Turn right onto 14th Street West
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
14th Street West
23
Turn right
105 ft
·
7 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Tampa, FL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 22.7 miles from Tampa, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bradenton, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bradenton, 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
$7.21 one way
$14.42 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $7.84 | $15.69 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.42 | $16.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
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: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Bradenton, FL
Evening in Bradenton on Thursday
Local time
6:03 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
57m 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 Bradenton, FL covers 45.3 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Tamiami Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 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 $7.21 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 16 decision points packed into just 45.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Tampa, FL to Bradenton, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Palmetto along the way.
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