Trip from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

150.3 mi

242 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 4m ★

6 AM

3h 16m

8 AM

3h 40m

10 AM

3h 24m

12 PM

3h 22m

3 PM

3h 26m

5 PM

3h 39m

8 PM

3h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Tampa, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Buckhead Ridge, FL

Mick Haupt

Trip Overview

The drive from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL covers 150.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on FL 60, Kenansville Road, I 4 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.3 miles on FL 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.92 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

75.2 miles from Tampa, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
FL 60	61.3 mi	1h 18m
Kenansville Road	31.2 mi	39m
I 4	25.8 mi	28m
Polk Parkway	9.4 mi	10m
Bartow Road	6.9 mi	9m
FL 78	6.5 mi	9m
US 441	4.8 mi	9m
I 275	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: FL 60 — 61.3 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Buckhead Ridge, FL.

Start on FL 60

400 ft · 17 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

Turn right onto North Ashley Drive

0.3 mi · 49 sec · North Ashley Drive

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 275

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward I 275 North Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 275

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 275

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 42 sec

Exit 45B Toward I 4 East: Orlando Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 4

26 mi · 28 min · I 4

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Exit 27 Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on FL 570 Toll

9.4 mi · 10 min · Polk Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Exit 10 Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto US 98

6.9 mi · 9 min · Bartow Road

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 98

0.6 mi · 1 min · Broadway Avenue

Turn left onto US 98; FL 60

0.5 mi · 1 min · Van Fleet Drive

Use the left lane.

Continue on FL 60

0.3 mi · 26 sec · FL 60

Continue on FL 60

11 mi · 13 min · FL 60

Use the straight lane.

Continue on FL 60

4.3 mi · 5 min · FL 60

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on FL 60

46 mi · 58 min · FL 60

Turn right onto US 441

31 mi · 39 min · Kenansville Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 441

4.8 mi · 9 min · US 441

Turn right onto FL 78

4.4 mi · 6 min · FL 78

Use the left lane.

Continue on FL 78

2.1 mi · 3 min · FL 78

Turn left onto Lake Drive West

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lake Drive West

Arrive at destination

Lake Drive West

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 75.2 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.3 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 33 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.2 miles or 1h 34m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckhead Ridge, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Tampa, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Tampa, FL

This is one driving day of about 150.3 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Tampa, FL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on FL 60 for about 61.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eagle Lake, FL

75 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

Lakeland, FL

Fuel and coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+18138125025

Visit website

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 32.2

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Black & Brew

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 32.2

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18635009500

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 139.6

Okeechobee, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 107.4

Okeechobee, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 42.9

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 10.7

Tampa, Florida

+18136274225

Visit website

Dinosaur World

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 21.5

Plant City, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18137179865

Visit website

Bonnet Springs Park

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 32.2

Lakeland, Florida

Hours: 6 am–7:30 pm

+18637327000

Visit website

Epps Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Tampa, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18132745161

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Ashley Drive

Turn right onto North Ashley Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 275 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 275 North

1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward I 4 East: Orlando

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 45B Toward I 4 East: Orlando

27.7 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven

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 27 Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven

37.6 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow

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 10 Toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.92 one way

$47.85 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$26.02	$52.05
premium	$4.72	$27.95	$55.90
diesel	$5.61	$33.18	$66.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	45.1	$15.78	$7.21
Efficient EV	37.6	$13.15	$6.01
EV Truck/SUV	60.1	$21.04	$9.62

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Tampa, FL

Afternoon in Tampa on Saturday

Local time

3:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

92°F

Sunny

SSW 2 to 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Destination

Buckhead Ridge, FL

Afternoon in Buckhead Ridge on Saturday

Local time

3:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Sunny

SE 3 to 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 18 at 2:27AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

62°F

Eagle Lake, FL

75 mi in

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

3 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

3h 16m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 3h 16m highway drive covering 150.3 miles, with most of the trip on FL 60 and Kenansville Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.3 miles on FL 60.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

FL 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and Kenansville Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Ashley Drive.

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 150.3 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: at 0.1 miles (North Ashley Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 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.

Between Tampa, FL and Buckhead Ridge, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven and Bartow.

Winter Haven

27.7 mi in | ~32m

Bartow

37.6 mi in | ~44m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 150.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL covers 150.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are FL 60, Kenansville Road, I 4. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 75.2 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 $23.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Tampa, FL and Buckhead Ridge, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven and Bartow.

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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Explore more options from Tampa, FL or browse trips ending in Buckhead Ridge, FL.

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Trip from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Retro House Coffee Bar & Asian Bistro

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

Retro House Coffee Bar & Asian Bistro

The Lab Coffee - West Tampa

Elevation Coffee Heights

DI Coffee Bar

22nd Street Coffee

The Lab Coffee - Heights

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

Concord Coffee

Black & Brew

ChargePoint Charging Station

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Magic Carpet Glide

Perry Harvey Sr. Park

The Florida Aquarium

Iconic Tampa Bay

Cracker Country

Dinosaur World

Bonnet Springs Park

Epps Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Tampa, FL

Buckhead Ridge, FL

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 16m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Tampa, FL to Buckhead Ridge, FL?

How this page is built

Explore More

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