Origin
West Samoset, FL
Morning in West Samoset on Friday
Local time
11:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Samoset, FL to Tampa, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Samoset, FL
Arian Fernandez
Tampa, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
West Samoset to Tampa is 47.4 miles and takes about 1 hour via I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the state of Florida for its entirety. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. It's a short enough trip to easily complete in a single day, making it ideal for a quick relocation or a day trip. The primary roads offer direct access, minimizing complexity for travelers.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the drive on major roads like I 75 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. You'll experience a relatively uninterrupted flow, with the longest stretch covering 25.5 miles on I 75. The character is consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over varied scenery. Expect a steady pace as you navigate these main arteries connecting the two Florida locations.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 32nd Avenue East.
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 47.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 (32nd Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
32nd Avenue East
At end of road, turn right onto 32nd Avenue East
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Tampa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West...
8
46.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Samoset, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Selmon Expressway West: Tampa
36.6 mi in
|
~47m
Port Of Tampa
36.6 mi in
|
~47m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 25.5 mi | 28m |
| Lee Roy Selmon Expressway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| US 301 | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Tamiami Trail | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| 9th Street East | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Kennedy Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| I 275 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 25.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Samoset, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on 8th Street East
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
8th Street East
2
At end of road, turn right onto 32nd Avenue East
455 ft
·
25 sec
·
32nd Avenue East
3
Turn left onto 9th Street East
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Street East
4
Turn left onto US 301
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
US 301
5
Continue on US 41
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tamiami Trail
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
7
Merge onto I 275
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 275
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.4 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
9
Merge onto I 75
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
2.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Kennedy Boulevard
14
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from West Samoset, FL · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from West Samoset, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tampa, FL
The final approach into Tampa, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.54 one way
$15.09 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $8.21 | $16.41 |
| premium | $4.72 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)
$0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Tampa, FL
Morning in Tampa on Friday
Local time
11:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
1h 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 West Samoset, FL to Tampa, FL covers 47.4 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, US 301. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from West Samoset, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (32nd Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between West Samoset, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
Yes. Nearby national parks include De Soto National Memorial.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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