De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 12m
Distance
281.3 mi
453 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
11 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Coconut Grove, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
The drive from Tampa, FL to Coconut Grove, FL covers 281.3 miles and takes about 5h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Express Lanes, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 247.5 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
140.7 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 281.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 5h 12m highway drive covering 281.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Express Lanes. The longest continuous stretch is about 247.5 miles on I 75.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Express Lanes. 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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 281.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 41 Business / North Tampa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60 / East Jackson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward Miami
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 976: Southwest 40th Street, Bird Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tampa, FL and Coconut Grove, FL, road signs point toward Miami and Express Lanes.
Miami
Express Lanes
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 247.5 mi | 4h 25m |
| Express Lanes | 15.7 mi | 17m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Southwest 40th Street | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| Palmetto Expressway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Southwest 42nd Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hardie Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Coconut Grove, FL.
Start on FL 60
Turn left onto US 41 Business
Turn left onto US 41 Business; FL 60
Keep slight left at fork onto East Jackson Street
Turn left onto North Nebraska Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto FL 618 Toll
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
Take the exit
Merge onto Express Lanes
Merge onto SR 826
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 976
Turn right onto SR 953
Turn left onto Hardie Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 62 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.7 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coconut Grove, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 281.3 miles and 5h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.7 mi from Tampa, FL · 2h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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.
A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 140.7 miles from Tampa, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 247.5 miles.
The final approach into Coconut Grove, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Coconut Grove, FL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$44.78 one way
$89.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $48.71 | $97.41 |
| premium | $4.72 | $52.31 | $104.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.11 | $124.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Port Charlotte, Florida
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
7Charge Charging Station
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Punta Gorda, Florida
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.4 | 1 | $29.54 | $13.50 |
| Efficient EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.61 | $11.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.5 | 1 | $39.38 | $18.00 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Tampa on Thursday
Local time
4:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Coconut Grove on Thursday
Local time
4:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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