How far is Clearwater, FL from Key West, FL?

The driving distance from Clearwater, FL to Key West, FL is about 425 miles (684 km), with a travel time of about 08h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244 miles (392.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
425.03 mi
08h 57m
Flight
243.95 mi
392.6 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clearwater.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
243.95 mi
Kilometers
392.6 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
425.03 mi
Kilometers
684.02 km
Drive Time
08h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Key West
Thu, Apr 23, 4:39 PM EDT
Return by in Clearwater
Fri, Apr 24, 1:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clearwater
2026-04-23T07:41
Arrive Key West
Thu, Apr 23, 4:39 PM EDT
Route Timing
08h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:58 PM to 4:28 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clearwater
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Immokalee
FL

City in Collier County, Florida, United States

From Clearwater
212.7 mi
04h 28m
To Key West
212.3 mi
04h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph SSE
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clearwater and Key West.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater and Key West.

  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

    108 m · 9 sec · Southbound Frontage Road

  5. 5

    Take the exit straight toward US 19 South

    1276 ft · 31 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 19 North

    5.7 mi · 8 min · US Highway 19 North

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on US Highway 19 North

    4.4 mi · 6 min · US Highway 19 North

  8. 8

    Continue on 34th Street North

    2973 ft · 1 min · 34th Street North

  9. 9

    Turn left onto 54th Avenue North

    1.4 km · 2 min · 54th Avenue North

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 275 South

    1286 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    10.1 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    1406 ft · 17 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Sunshine Skyway Bridge

    13.4 mi · 15 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Naples

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    28 mi · 30 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    175.7 mi · 3 hr 8 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Miami, South Bay

    1118 ft · 21 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on US 27 South: Miami

    2407 ft · 59 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 11 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    8.6 mi · 11 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit right toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West

    1324 ft · 32 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

    34.5 mi · 41 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    2930 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Dixie Highway

    19.2 mi · 27 min · Dixie Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Overseas Highway

    104.2 mi · 2 hr 43 min · Overseas Highway

  26. 26

    Turn right onto North Roosevelt Boulevard

    2.4 mi · 6 min · North Roosevelt Boulevard

  27. 27

    Turn left onto George Street

    1845 ft · 1 min · George Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · George Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clearwater and Key West.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
28 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
8 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
205 mi · 48%
Overseas Highway
104 mi · 25%
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
35.1 mi · 8%
Dixie Highway
19.2 mi · 5%
US 27 South
18.3 mi · 4%
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
13.4 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Keep slight left

176 mi · 03h 08m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
08h 57m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+181 mi
244 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Immokalee
04h 28m from Clearwater
Leave By
6:04 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clearwater and Chance Rain Showers near Key West.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clearwater to Key West?

The road trip is about 425 miles (684 km) and usually takes 08h 57m 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?

Immokalee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 212.7 miles from Clearwater and 212.3 miles from Key West.

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

The direct path is about 244 miles (392.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 181 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 $62.22 one way or $124.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Clearwater and Chance Rain Showers near Key West.

Stop Ideas Near Immokalee

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Immokalee, 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 Immokalee.

BUS

Fort Myers, Florida

55 mi away
6050 Plaza Drive
BUS

Port Charlotte, Florida

91 mi away
909 King Highway
RAIL

Okeechobee

109 mi away
801 North Parrott Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clearwater and Key West. Straight-line distance: 243.95 mi (392.6 km).

Clearwater

#1 Clearwater

The second most populous city in Pinellas County, Florida.

Population116,552
Coordinates27.9658500, -82.8001000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Key West

#2 Key West

County seat city of Monroe County, Florida, United States; island in Florida Keys

Population23,767
Coordinates24.5552400, -81.7816300
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Clearwater (-82.8001, 27.96585)
End: Key West (-81.78163, 24.55524)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 684 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15 gal
56.77 L · about $62.22
Round trip
$124.44
30 gal · 113.54 L
Estimated CO2
133.3 kg one way
Round trip: 266.6 kg / 588 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $62.22 $124.44
Mid-grade $4.60 $68.94 $137.88
Premium $4.90 $73.44 $146.88
Diesel $4.35 $65.25 $130.50

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Clearwater and Key West. The current time is 07:41:26.

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.