Skip to main content

Trip from Tampa, FL to Steinhatchee, FL

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

166.9 mi

269 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m

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

city in Florida, United States

Tampa, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Steinhatchee, FL, FL

Steinhatchee, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Trip Overview

This 166.9-mile drive from Tampa, FL to Steinhatchee, FL will take you approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. It's a straightforward trip that's easily manageable as a day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $27. You'll primarily be on roads like Suncoast Parkway, Suncoast Boulevard, and Young Boulevard, with about 47% of the drive being on highways. This route offers a mixed driving experience as you travel within the state of Florida.

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

83.5 miles from Tampa, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive features a mix of highway and local road driving, with 47% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.2 miles on the Suncoast Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift, moving from more direct highway sections to potentially more varied local road experiences. This blend means you'll experience different driving sensations throughout the 166.9 miles.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Suncoast Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Ashley Drive.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 166.9 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 0.1 miles (North Ashley Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
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.
7
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 275 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 275 South
8
5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater

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 39 Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport,...
7
5.7 mi into trip | ~9m in | FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Veterans Expressway toward FL 589 Toll

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward FL 589 Toll
7
19.1 mi into trip | ~26m in | FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll / Suncoast Parkway toward Crystal River

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward Crystal River

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 Steinhatchee, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Crystal River along the way.

Crystal River

19.1 mi in | ~26m | via FL 589 Toll

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Suncoast Parkway 54.2 mi 59m
Suncoast Boulevard 47 mi 59m
Young Boulevard 32.9 mi 44m
FL 589 Toll Express Lane 7.8 mi 9m
CR 358 6.4 mi 11m
Veterans Expressway 5.5 mi 7m
Gulf to Lake Highway 4.8 mi 7m
I 275 3.9 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Suncoast Parkway — 54.2 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Steinhatchee, 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 left at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 275 South Use the slight left lane.
5

Merge onto I 275

3.9 mi · 5 min · I 275
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 39 Toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto FL 60

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Memorial Highway
Toward FL 60, FL 589 Toll: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater
8

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll

4.5 mi · 6 min · Veterans Expressway
Toward FL 589 Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll

3.2 mi · 4 min · FL 589 Toll Express Lane
10

Merge onto FL 589 Toll

0.6 mi · 48 sec · Veterans Expressway
11

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll

4.6 mi · 5 min · FL 589 Toll Express Lane
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto FL 589 Toll

0.4 mi · 27 sec · Veterans Expressway
13

Keep slight left at fork onto FL 589 Toll

54 mi · 59 min · Suncoast Parkway
Toward Crystal River Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward FL 44: Gulf to Lake Highway
15

Turn left onto FL 44

4.8 mi · 7 min · Gulf to Lake Highway
16

Continue on FL 44

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northeast 5th Street
17

Turn right onto US 19; US 98

47 mi · 59 min · Suncoast Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18

Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate

33 mi · 44 min · Young Boulevard
19

Turn left onto CR 358

4.7 mi · 8 min · CR 358
20

Turn slight right onto CR 358

1.7 mi · 3 min · CR 358
21

Turn right

0.2 mi · 16 sec
22

Continue on Steinhatchee Bridge

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Steinhatchee Bridge
23

Continue on 10th Street East

0.2 mi · 31 sec · 10th Street East
24

Turn left onto CR 361

0.6 mi · 1 min · 1st Avenue South
25

Turn left onto Park Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Park Avenue
26

Turn left onto FL 51

70 ft · 2 sec · Riverside Drive
27

Arrive at destination

FL 51

Trip Plan

Given the 3 hour and 32 minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to maximize your time at your destination. With only one suggested stop on this 166.9-mile route, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 54.2 miles on the Suncoast Parkway, as services might be less frequent. The $27 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra budget. Since this is a single-day trip, plan for a comfortable departure time to avoid feeling rushed.

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 83.5 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.2 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.5 miles or 1h 40m 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 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Steinhatchee, 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 166.9 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Suncoast Parkway for about 54.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.5 mi from Tampa, FL · 1h 40m into the drive

county seat of Pinellas County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Clearwater, FL

83 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

Gainesville, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gainesville, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Tampa, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Steinhatchee, FL

The final approach into Steinhatchee, 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 Steinhatchee, FL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.57 one way

$53.13 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $28.90 $57.80
premium $4.72 $31.03 $62.07
diesel $5.61 $36.85 $73.70

Estimated Tolls: $3.69

Suncoast Parkway (54.2 mi) $3.25
Veterans Expressway (5.5 mi) $0.44

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

$27

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.1 0 $17.52 $8.01
Efficient EV 41.7 0 $14.60 $6.68
EV Truck/SUV 66.8 0 $23.37 $10.68

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

20 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Tampa, FL

Late night in Tampa on Wednesday

Local time

3:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Steinhatchee, FL

Late night in Steinhatchee on Wednesday

Local time

3:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°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

15 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 32m 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 Steinhatchee, FL covers 166.9 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Suncoast Parkway, Suncoast Boulevard, Young Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.5 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 $26.57 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 166.9 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.
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 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Tampa, FL to Steinhatchee, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Crystal River along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to Steinhatchee, FL

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse FL road trips.

Explore maps for Tampa, FL or Steinhatchee, FL on MapSof.net.