Tampa to Moore Haven is 151 miles and takes about 3h 10m via US 27 and I-4, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily keeps you on highways as you travel from Florida's west coast inland toward the heart of the state. You'll spend most of your time on US 27, a familiar stretch of road that makes for a straightforward journey. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach Moore Haven with plenty of time to spare.
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
75.5 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
US 27
89.7 mi
1h 53m
I 4
25.8 mi
28m
FL 60
14.8 mi
18m
Polk Parkway
9.4 mi
10m
Bartow Road
6.9 mi
9m
I 275
0.7 mi
1m
Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 89.7 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Moore Haven, FL.
1
Start on FL 60
400 ft·17 sec·East Kennedy Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Ashley Drive
0.3 mi·49 sec·North Ashley Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 275
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 275 NorthUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 275
0.7 mi·1 min·I 275
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 4 East: OrlandoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 4
26 mi·28 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 27Toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on FL 570 Toll
9.4 mi·10 min·Polk Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 10Toward US 98: Lakeland, BartowUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 98
6.9 mi·9 min·Bartow Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 98
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 98; FL 60
0.5 mi·1 min·Van Fleet Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on FL 60
0.3 mi·26 sec·FL 60
15
Continue on FL 60
11 mi·13 min·FL 60
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on FL 60
3.7 mi·4 min·FL 60
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon ParkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
272 ft·7 sec
19
Merge onto US 27
23 mi·28 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 27; US 98
10 mi·14 min·US 27; US 98
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 27; US 98
55 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 27; US 98
Use the left lane.
22
Merge onto US 27; FL 78
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 27; FL 78
23
Turn slight right
338 ft·4 sec
24
Continue on US 27
1.5 mi·2 min·US 27
25
Take the exit
407 ft·11 sec
26
Turn slight left
388 ft·28 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 10m estimated drive time, you can comfortably depart Tampa any time in the morning and arrive in Moore Haven well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $25, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. Consider starting your journey after morning rush hour to avoid potential delays on I-4. The longest stretch without a major turn is 89.7 miles on US 27, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment.
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 75.5 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.7 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 75.5 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moore Haven, 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 151 miles and 3h 10m.
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 US 27 for about 89.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 60.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
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
7
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
8
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
8
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
7
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
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.
Toward US 27: Haines City, Avon Park
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.04 one way
$48.07 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$26.15
$52.29
premium
$4.72
$28.08
$56.16
diesel
$5.61
$33.34
$66.68
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: 52.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.85
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.21
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.14
$9.66
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 15, 2026
Origin
Tampa, FL
Afternoon
in Tampa on Saturday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Moore Haven, FL
Afternoon
in Moore Haven on Saturday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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 10m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roads like I-4 and US 27. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your trip, particularly during the longest stretch of 89.7 miles on US 27. The road profile suggests a generally efficient drive without many significant changes in pace or road type. You'll experience the characteristic flow of a highway-centric journey, making it a predictable and direct path from Tampa to Moore Haven.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.7 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 151 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: 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; at 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Moore Haven, FL, road signs point toward Winter Haven, Bartow and Avon Park.
Winter Haven
27.7 mi in|~32m
Bartow
37.6 mi in|~44m
Avon Park
60.8 mi in|~1h 15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 151 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.7 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Moore Haven, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Moore Haven, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
