How far is Clearwater, FL from Sun City Center, FL?

The driving distance from Clearwater, FL to Sun City Center, FL is about 50.3 miles (81 km), with a travel time of about 01h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.3 miles (52 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 22m 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
50.35 mi
01h 11m
Flight
32.3 mi
51.98 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
32.3 mi
Kilometers
51.98 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
50.35 mi
Kilometers
81.03 km
Drive Time
01h 11m

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 01h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sun City Center
Sun, Apr 19, 2:27 AM EDT
Return by in Clearwater
Sun, Apr 19, 3:38 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clearwater
2026-04-19T01:16
Arrive Sun City Center
Sun, Apr 19, 2:27 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:08 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
Tampa
FL

The third most populous city in Florida and the center of the Tampa metropolitan area.

From Clearwater
25.2 mi
00h 35m
To Sun City Center
25.2 mi
00h 35m

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
88°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clearwater and Sun City Center.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater and Sun City Center.

  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

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown East, Downtown West

    118 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Downtown East, Scott Street

    843 ft · 21 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Scott Street

    1624 ft · 37 sec · Scott Street

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto North Orange Avenue

    1425 ft · 52 sec · North Orange Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn sharp left onto East Cass Street

    1592 ft · 39 sec · East Cass Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Nebraska Avenue

    897 ft · 30 sec · North Nebraska Avenue

  20. 20

    Take the ramp sharp left

    808 ft · 23 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

    7.8 mi · 9 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on I 75 South: Naples

    2585 ft · 34 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    15.3 mi · 16 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 674 East: Sun City Center

    1862 ft · 45 sec

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto College Avenue

    92 m · 5 sec · College Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Sun City Center Boulevard

    2 mi · 3 min · Sun City Center Boulevard

  27. 27

    Turn left onto North Pebble Beach Boulevard

    1247 ft · 44 sec · North Pebble Beach Boulevard

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Cherry Hills Drive

    1052 ft · 52 sec · Cherry Hills Drive

  29. 29

    Turn left

    113 m · 27 sec

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clearwater and Sun City Center.

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
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
59.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
15.8 mi · 31%
Courtney Campbell Causeway
9.04 mi · 18%
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
7.82 mi · 16%
Drew Street
4.27 mi · 8%
I 275
4.18 mi · 8%
Sun City Center Boulevard
2.01 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Merge slight left

15.3 mi · 00h 16m

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
01h 11m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18 mi
32.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tampa
00h 35m from Clearwater
Leave By
4:08 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Clearwater and Partly Sunny near Sun City Center.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clearwater to Sun City Center?

The road trip is about 50.3 miles (81 km) and usually takes 01h 11m 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?

Tampa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.2 miles from Clearwater and 25.2 miles from Sun City Center.

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

The direct path is about 32.3 miles (52 km), while the road route adds roughly 18 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 4:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.38 one way or $14.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Clearwater and Partly Sunny near Sun City Center.

Stop Ideas Near Tampa

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

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

RAIL

Union Station

1 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

25 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
RAIL

Lakeland

51 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

51 mi away
600 East Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clearwater and Sun City Center. Straight-line distance: 32.3 mi (51.98 km).

Clearwater

#1 Clearwater

The second most populous city in Pinellas County, Florida.

Population116,552
Coordinates27.9658500, -82.8001000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Sun City Center

#2 Sun City Center

Census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida

Population19,258
Coordinates27.7180900, -82.3517600
Altitude15
CountryUnited States
Start: Clearwater (-82.8001, 27.96585)
End: Sun City Center (-82.35176, 27.71809)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 81 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.78 gal
6.73 L · about $7.38
Round trip
$14.77
3.56 gal · 13.46 L
Estimated CO2
15.8 kg one way
Round trip: 31.6 kg / 70 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $7.38 $14.77
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.18 $16.36
Premium $4.90 $8.71 $17.43
Diesel $4.35 $7.74 $15.49

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 Sun City Center. The current time is 01:16:04.

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.