How far is Clearwater, FL from Fort Walton Beach, FL?
The driving distance from Clearwater, FL to Fort Walton Beach, FL is about 404.8 miles (651.5 km), with a travel time of about 08h 29m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 285.9 miles (460.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08h 29m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Town in Madison County, Florida, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Clearwater and Fort Walton Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater and Fort Walton Beach.
-
1
Start on North Fort Harrison Avenue
1.1 mi · 3 min · North Fort Harrison Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Marshall Street
854 ft · 27 sec · Marshall Street
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3
Continue on Marshall Street
36 m · 2 sec · Marshall Street
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4
Continue on Fulton Avenue
616 ft · 13 sec · Fulton Avenue
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5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Fairmont Street
10 m · 1 sec · Fairmont Street
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6
Exit the roundabout onto Fairmont Street
1209 ft · 24 sec · Fairmont Street
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7
Continue on Douglas Avenue
2954 ft · 1 min · Douglas Avenue
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8
Turn right onto Sunset Point Road
2.6 mi · 5 min · Sunset Point Road
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9
Turn left onto North Belcher Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · North Belcher Road
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Countryside Boulevard
1.2 km · 2 min · Countryside Boulevard
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11
Turn left onto US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
2401 ft · 59 sec · US 19 Northbound Frontage Road
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12
Take the ramp straight toward US 19 North
1661 ft · 41 sec
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13
Merge slight left
206.7 mi · 4 hr 35 min
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14
Continue on Florida Georgia Parkway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Florida Georgia Parkway
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15
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
2323 ft · 57 sec
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16
Merge slight left
154.8 mi · 2 hr 46 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward FL 285: Niceville, Eglin AFB
1694 ft · 42 sec
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18
Turn left
17.6 mi · 23 min
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19
Turn right onto East John Sims Parkway
1.2 km · 2 min · East John Sims Parkway
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20
Continue on John Sims Parkway
1 km · 1 min · John Sims Parkway
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21
Keep slight right
10.6 mi · 18 min
-
22
Turn right onto Yacht Club Drive
1687 ft · 43 sec · Yacht Club Drive
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23
Turn sharp left onto Beal Parkway Northwest
806 ft · 22 sec · Beal Parkway Northwest
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24
Turn right onto Williams Street Northwest
1153 ft · 56 sec · Williams Street Northwest
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25
At the end of the road, turn left onto Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
47 m · 7 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Clearwater and Fort Walton Beach.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US 19 North
Merge slight left
207 mi · 04h 35m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Clearwater and Mostly Sunny near Fort Walton Beach.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Clearwater to Fort Walton Beach?
The road trip is about 404.8 miles (651.5 km) and usually takes 08h 29m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Greenville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 202.5 miles from Clearwater and 202.3 miles from Fort Walton Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 285.9 miles (460.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 118.9 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $59.23 one way or $118.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Clearwater and Fort Walton Beach, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clearwater and Mostly Sunny near Fort Walton Beach.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Clearwater and Fort Walton Beach. Straight-line distance: 285.92 mi (460.15 km).
#1 Clearwater
The second most populous city in Pinellas County, Florida.
| Population | 116,552 |
| Coordinates | 27.9658500, -82.8001000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fort Walton Beach
City in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
| Population | 22,396 |
| Coordinates | 30.4205900, -86.6170700 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fort Walton Beach (-86.61707, 30.42059)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 651 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $59.23 | $118.47 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $65.63 | $131.26 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $69.91 | $139.83 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $62.12 | $124.24 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.