Trip from Westwood Lake, FL to Clearwater, FL

Drive Time

5h 18m

Distance

276.8 mi

445 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 5m ★

6 AM

5h 18m

8 AM

5h 45m

10 AM

5h 28m

12 PM

5h 25m

3 PM

5h 29m

5 PM

5h 44m

8 PM

5h 10m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Westwood Lake, FL

Matt Fitz Gibaud

Clearwater, FL

Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

The drive from Westwood Lake, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 276.8 miles and takes about 5h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Alligator Alley, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Okeechobee Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 203.5 miles on Alligator Alley. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.24 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

138.4 miles from Westwood Lake, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 18m drive with frequent turns across 276.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Alligator Alley is the longest continuous segment at about 203.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Southwest 112th Avenue.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 276.8 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 0.2 miles (Southwest 112th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.1 miles (I 275): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | Southwest 112th Avenue

Turn right onto Southwest 112th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

12.6 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 35 Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

235.1 mi into trip | ~4h 20m in | I 275

Take the exit onto I 275 toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 228 Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg

260.6 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in

Take the exit toward 54th Avenue North Westbound

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 26B Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound

271.5 mi into trip | ~5h 6m in

Take the exit toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay

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 FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay

Towns Along This Route

Between Westwood Lake, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward Fort Lauderdale, Naples and 54Th Avenue North Westbound.

Fort Lauderdale

30.5 mi in | ~39m

Naples

30.5 mi in | ~39m

54Th Avenue North Westbound

260.6 mi in | ~4h 50m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Alligator Alley	203.5 mi	3h 38m
Sunshine Skyway Bridge	19.5 mi	22m
Okeechobee Road	17.6 mi	22m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike	10.9 mi	12m
US Highway 19 North	9.1 mi	12m
I 275	5.7 mi	7m
Gulf to Bay Boulevard	2.7 mi	5m
Court Street	1.5 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Alligator Alley — 203.5 mi, about 3h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Westwood Lake, FL and Clearwater, FL.

Start on Southwest 42nd Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Southwest 42nd Street

At end of road, turn right onto Southwest 111th Avenue

201 ft · 14 sec · Southwest 111th Avenue

Turn left onto Southwest 41st Terrace

258 ft · 15 sec · Southwest 41st Terrace

Turn right onto Southwest 112th Avenue

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Southwest 112th Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto SR 976

0.5 mi · 1 min · Southwest 40th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto Southwest 117th Avenue

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Southwest 117th Avenue

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North Use the left lane.

Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

11 mi · 12 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 35 Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

Merge onto US 27

18 mi · 22 min · Okeechobee Road

Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 75 North: Naples

Merge onto I 75

203 mi · 3 hr 38 min · Alligator Alley

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 275

5.7 mi · 7 min · I 275

Exit 228 Toward I 275 North: Saint Petersburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 19 sec

Merge onto I 275; US 19

19 mi · 22 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Exit 26B Toward 54th Avenue North Westbound Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto 54th Avenue North

0.9 mi · 1 min · 54th Avenue North

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto US 19

0.6 mi · 1 min · 34th Street North

Continue on US 19

9.1 mi · 12 min · US Highway 19 North

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward FL 60: Seville Boulevard, Gulf To Bay Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 19 Northbound Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 53 sec · US 19 Northbound Frontage Road

Continue on Northbound Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Northbound Frontage Road

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Use the left lane.

Continue on FL 60

2.7 mi · 5 min · Gulf to Bay Boulevard

Continue on FL 60

1.5 mi · 3 min · Court Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Ft Harrison Avenue

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

North Fort Harrison Avenue

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 138.4 miles from Westwood Lake, FL, or about 2h 36m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 203.5 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 138.4 miles or 2h 36m 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 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Westwood Lake, 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 Westwood Lake, FL

This is one driving day of about 276.8 miles and 5h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Westwood Lake, 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 Alligator Alley for about 203.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 138.4 mi from Westwood Lake, FL · 2h 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Punta Gorda, FL

138 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.

Popular next leg

Punta Gorda, FL to Clearwater, FL

109.8 mi · 1h 52m

Pacing Suggestions

Bonita Springs, FL

Fuel and coffee

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

Cape Coral, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.4 miles from Westwood Lake, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alligator Alley if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 203.5 miles.

Arriving in Clearwater, FL

The final approach into Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.24 one way

$92.48 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$50.09	$100.17
premium	$4.90	$53.35	$106.71
diesel	$5.64	$61.50	$122.99

Estimated Tolls: $2.01

Sunshine Skyway Bridge (19.5 mi) $1.36

Homestead Extension (10.9 mi) $0.65

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

$46

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83	1	$29.06	$13.29
Efficient EV	69.2	0	$24.22	$11.07
EV Truck/SUV	110.7	1	$38.75	$17.72

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Westwood Lake, FL

Morning in Westwood Lake on Monday

Local time

11:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

E 14 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

Destination

Clearwater, FL

Morning in Clearwater on Monday

Local time

11:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°F

Mostly Sunny

E 6 to 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 13 at 3:09AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL

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

3 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

5h 18m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Westwood Lake, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 276.8 miles and takes about 5h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alligator Alley, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Okeechobee Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 138.4 miles from Westwood Lake, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.24 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Westwood Lake, FL and Clearwater, FL, road signs point toward Fort Lauderdale, Naples and 54Th Avenue North Westbound.

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Return Trip

Clearwater, FL to Westwood Lake, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

276.4 mi 5h 15m

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Trip from Westwood Lake, FL to Clearwater, FL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Clearwater, FL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Westwood Lake, FL

Clearwater, FL

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 18m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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