How far is Clearwater, FL from Doctor Phillips, FL?

The driving distance from Clearwater, FL to Doctor Phillips, FL is about 98.4 miles (158.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 86.4 miles (139 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
98.34 mi
02h 03m
Flight
86.36 mi
138.98 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clearwater.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
86.36 mi
Kilometers
138.98 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.34 mi
Kilometers
158.27 km
Drive Time
02h 03m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Doctor Phillips
Sun, Apr 19, 8:54 AM EDT
Return by in Clearwater
Sun, Apr 19, 10:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clearwater
2026-04-19T06:50
Arrive Doctor Phillips
Sun, Apr 19, 8:54 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clearwater
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Plant City
FL

A city in Hillsborough County, Florida.

From Clearwater
49.2 mi
01h 01m
To Doctor Phillips
49.2 mi
01h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph N
Destination
90°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clearwater and Doctor Phillips.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater and Doctor Phillips.

  1. 1

    Start on North Fort Harrison Avenue

    840 ft · 27 sec · North Fort Harrison Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Drew Street

    4.2 mi · 8 min · Drew Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    60 m · 5 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Southbound Frontage Road

    2092 ft · 49 sec · Southbound Frontage Road

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    115 m · 8 sec

  6. 6

    Take the exit left

    71 m · 6 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Gulf to Bay Boulevard

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Gulf to Bay Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on Courtney Campbell Causeway

    8.2 mi · 11 min · Courtney Campbell Causeway

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    1.3 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on FL 60 East, FL 616: Tampa International Airport, Spruce Street

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 275 North: Tampa

    1333 ft · 46 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto I 275: Tampa

    5.2 mi · 7 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 4 East: Orlando

    2472 ft · 42 sec

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    60.9 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    9.3 mi · 11 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Sea World

    1994 ft · 49 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Turkey Lake Road, Palm Parkway

    69 m · 6 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Central Florida Parkway

    886 ft · 23 sec · Central Florida Parkway

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Turkey Lake Road

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Turkey Lake Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Sand Lake Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Sand Lake Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto The Esplanade

    592 ft · 29 sec · The Esplanade

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Villa Drive

    58 m · 8 sec · Villa Drive

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Mallorca Court

    39 m · 5 sec · Mallorca Court

  25. 25

    Turn right

    43 m · 10 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clearwater and Doctor Phillips.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 4 East
70.6 mi · 72%
Courtney Campbell Causeway
9.04 mi · 9%
I 275
5.15 mi · 5%
Drew Street
4.27 mi · 4%
Turkey Lake Road
2.84 mi · 3%
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
1.94 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 4 East

Continue straight

60.9 mi · 01h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 03m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12 mi
86.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plant City
01h 01m from Clearwater
Leave By
2:22 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Clearwater and Mostly Sunny near Doctor Phillips.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clearwater to Doctor Phillips?

The road trip is about 98.4 miles (158.3 km) and usually takes 02h 03m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Plant City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49.2 miles from Clearwater and 49.2 miles from Doctor Phillips.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 86.4 miles (139 km), while the road route adds roughly 12 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:22 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.39 one way or $28.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Clearwater and Mostly Sunny near Doctor Phillips.

Stop Ideas Near Plant City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Plant City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Plant City.

RAIL

Lakeland

16 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

16 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Union Station

34 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave
RAIL

Winter Haven

37 mi away
1800 7th St SW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clearwater and Doctor Phillips. Straight-line distance: 86.36 mi (138.98 km).

Clearwater

#1 Clearwater

The second most populous city in Pinellas County, Florida.

Population116,552
Coordinates27.9658500, -82.8001000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Doctor Phillips

#2 Doctor Phillips

Unincorporated community in Florida

Population10,981
Coordinates28.4494500, -81.4922900
Altitude37
CountryUnited States
Start: Clearwater (-82.8001, 27.96585)
End: Doctor Phillips (-81.49229, 28.44945)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 158 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.47 gal
13.14 L · about $14.39
Round trip
$28.79
6.94 gal · 26.28 L
Estimated CO2
30.8 kg one way
Round trip: 61.7 kg / 136 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $14.39 $28.79
Mid-grade $4.60 $15.95 $31.90
Premium $4.90 $16.99 $33.98
Diesel $4.35 $15.09 $30.19

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Clearwater and Doctor Phillips. The current time is 06:50:42.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.