Origin
Tampa, FL
Afternoon in Tampa on Saturday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tampa, FL to Winter Beach, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 4m
Distance
143.8 mi
231 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 53m
★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Winter Beach, FL
Brent Singleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Tampa, FL to Winter Beach, FL covers 143.8 miles and takes about 3h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Ashley Drive, I 275, I 275 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.89 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
71.9 miles from Tampa, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Ashley Drive | — | — |
| I 275 | — | — |
| I 275 North | — | — |
| I 4 East | — | — |
| FL 570 | — | — |
| Polk Parkway | — | — |
| US 98 | — | — |
| Bartow Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Ashley Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tampa, FL and Winter Beach, FL.
1
Start on East Kennedy Boulevard
400 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Ashley Drive
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Ashley Drive
3
Take the ramp straight toward I 275
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 275
4
Keep slight right to continue on I 275 North
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 275 North
5
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 4 East: Orlando
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 4 East: Orlando
7
Continue straight
26 mi
·
28 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
FL 570 Toll East: Lakeland, Winter Haven
9
Continue on Polk Parkway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Polk Parkway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 98: Lakeland, Bartow
11
Turn right onto Bartow Road
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Bartow Road
12
Continue on Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
13
Turn left onto Van Fleet Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Fleet Drive
14
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
15
Continue straight
11 mi
·
13 min
16
Continue straight
4.3 mi
·
5 min
17
Continue straight
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
18
Continue straight
3.7 mi
·
6 min
19
Turn left onto 66th Avenue
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
66th Avenue
20
Turn right onto 69th Street
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
69th Street
21
Arrive at your destination
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 71.9 miles from Tampa, FL, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 32m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winter Beach, 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 143.8 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.9 miles from Tampa, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.89 one way
$45.78 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $24.90 | $49.80 |
| premium | $4.72 | $26.74 | $53.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.75 | $63.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.10 | $6.90 |
| Efficient EV | 36 | 0 | $12.58 | $5.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.13 | $9.20 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Winter Beach, FL
Afternoon in Winter Beach on Saturday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Eagle Lake, FL
72 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
1 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 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
143.8 mi in 3h 4m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: North Ashley Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tampa, FL to Winter Beach, FL is easy. At 3h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tampa, FL to Winter Beach, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 143.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tampa, FL to Winter Beach, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Winter Beach, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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