How far is Cypress Gardens, FL from Tampa, FL?

The driving distance from Cypress Gardens, FL to Tampa, FL is about 53.2 miles (85.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 47 miles (75.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 03m 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
53.22 mi
01h 01m
Flight
46.99 mi
75.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cypress Gardens.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
46.99 mi
Kilometers
75.63 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
53.22 mi
Kilometers
85.65 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tampa
Tue, May 5, 6:51 AM EDT
Return by in Cypress Gardens
Tue, May 5, 7:53 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cypress Gardens
2026-05-05T05:50
Arrive Tampa
Tue, May 5, 6:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:26 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cypress Gardens
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 Cypress Gardens
26.6 mi
00h 30m
To Tampa
26.6 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph ESE
Destination
86°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cypress Gardens and Tampa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cypress Gardens and Tampa.

  1. 1

    Start on Helena Road

    18 m · 5 sec · Helena Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Roosevelt Drive Southeast

    130 m · 14 sec · Roosevelt Drive Southeast

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cypress Gardens Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 6 min · Cypress Gardens Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Old Nine Foot Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Old Nine Foot Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Winter Lake Road

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Winter Lake Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Winter Lake Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Winter Lake Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight toward FL 570 Toll West: Polk Parkway West

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1759 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Polk Parkway

    12.1 mi · 14 min · Polk Parkway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 4 West: Tampa

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    23.8 mi · 26 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward FL 618 Toll: Port of Tampa, West Selmon Expressway Toll

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Downtown, West Selmonm Expressway Toll

    1161 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Downtown, West Selmon Expressway Toll

    2296 ft · 44 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East

    1212 ft · 31 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto East Kennedy Boulevard

    1885 ft · 1 min · East Kennedy Boulevard

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cypress Gardens and Tampa.

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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 4 West
24.9 mi · 47%
Polk Parkway
12.1 mi · 23%
Winter Lake Road
5.39 mi · 10%
Cypress Gardens Boulevard
3.82 mi · 7%
FL 570 Toll West
1.54 mi · 3%
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
1.53 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 4 West

Merge slight right

23.8 mi · 00h 26m

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 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.2 mi
47 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plant City
00h 30m from Cypress Gardens
Leave By
4:26 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cypress Gardens and Sunny near Tampa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cypress Gardens to Tampa?

The road trip is about 53.2 miles (85.6 km) and usually takes 01h 01m 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 26.6 miles from Cypress Gardens and 26.6 miles from Tampa.

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

The direct path is about 47 miles (75.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.2 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 4:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.80 one way or $15.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Cypress Gardens and Sunny near Tampa.

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 Cypress Gardens and Tampa. Straight-line distance: 46.99 mi (75.63 km).

Cypress Gardens

#1 Cypress Gardens

Census-designated place in Polk County, Florida

Population8,917
Coordinates27.9939100, -81.6900800
Altitude51
CountryUnited States
Tampa

#2 Tampa

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

Population407,599
Coordinates27.9475200, -82.4584300
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Helena Road (-81.690063, 27.993911)
End: Kennedy Boulevard (-82.458429, 27.947518)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 86 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.88 gal
7.11 L · about $7.80
Round trip
$15.60
3.76 gal · 14.22 L
Estimated CO2
16.7 kg one way
Round trip: 33.4 kg / 74 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $7.80 $15.60
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.64 $17.28
Premium $4.90 $9.20 $18.41
Diesel $4.35 $8.18 $16.36

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Cypress Gardens and Tampa. The current time is 05:50:13.

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.