How far is Desoto Lakes, FL from St. Petersburg, FL?

The driving distance from Desoto Lakes, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is about 39.3 miles (63.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30 miles (48.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
39.26 mi
00h 45m
Flight
29.94 mi
48.18 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Desoto Lakes.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
29.94 mi
Kilometers
48.18 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
39.26 mi
Kilometers
63.19 km
Drive Time
00h 45m

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 00h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in St. Petersburg
Sat, Apr 18, 10:59 PM EDT
Return by in Desoto Lakes
Sat, Apr 18, 11:44 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Desoto Lakes
2026-04-18T22:13
Arrive St. Petersburg
Sat, Apr 18, 10:59 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Desoto Lakes
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Palmetto
FL

City in Manatee County, Florida, United States

From Desoto Lakes
18 mi
00h 22m
To St. Petersburg
21.3 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
88°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Desoto Lakes and St. Petersburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Desoto Lakes and St. Petersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on 42nd Street

    1283 ft · 58 sec · 42nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Hidden Forest Drive

    1056 ft · 48 sec · Hidden Forest Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Hidden Forest Way

    542 ft · 30 sec · Hidden Forest Way

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Mink Road

    3159 ft · 2 min · Mink Road

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto DeSoto Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · DeSoto Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Lockwood Ridge Road

    2567 ft · 54 sec · North Lockwood Ridge Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto University Parkway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · University Parkway

  8. 8

    Turn right

    12.3 mi · 19 min

  9. 9

    Turn straight

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    1610 ft · 20 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto Sunshine Skyway Bridge

    14.3 mi · 17 min · Sunshine Skyway Bridge

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward 31st Street South

    1604 ft · 39 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Winery, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field

    49 m · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 31st Street South

    2167 ft · 58 sec · 31st Street South

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 5th Avenue South

    1303 ft · 40 sec · 5th Avenue South

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 34th Street South

    1589 ft · 41 sec · 34th Street South

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 34th Street South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Desoto Lakes and St. Petersburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
18 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
14.3 mi · 36%
University Parkway
3.08 mi · 8%
DeSoto Road
0.78 mi · 2%
31st Street South
0.71 mi · 2%
Mink Road
0.6 mi · 2%
North Lockwood Ridge Road
0.49 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Merge slight right onto Sunshine Skyway Bridge

14.3 mi · 00h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 45m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.3 mi
30 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palmetto
00h 22m from Desoto Lakes
Leave By
7:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Desoto Lakes and Sunny near St. Petersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Desoto Lakes to St. Petersburg?

The road trip is about 39.3 miles (63.2 km) and usually takes 00h 45m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Palmetto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18 miles from Desoto Lakes and 21.3 miles from St. Petersburg.

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

The direct path is about 30 miles (48.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.72 one way or $11.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Desoto Lakes and Sunny near St. Petersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Palmetto

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

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

BUS

Bradenton, Florida

11 mi away
1115 Manatee Avenue West
BUS

Sarasota, Florida

21 mi away
1993 Main Street
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

37 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
RAIL

Union Station

49 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Desoto Lakes and St. Petersburg. Straight-line distance: 29.94 mi (48.18 km).

Desoto Lakes

#1 Desoto Lakes

Census-designated place in Sarasota County, Florida

Population3,646
Coordinates27.3714300, -82.4898200
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
St. Petersburg

#2 St. Petersburg

The second most populous city in Florida.

Population253,693
Coordinates27.7708600, -82.6792700
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: 42nd Street (-82.489813, 27.370575)
End: US 19 (-82.679372, 27.77086)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 63 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.38 gal
5.24 L · about $5.72
Round trip
$11.45
2.76 gal · 10.48 L
Estimated CO2
12.3 kg one way
Round trip: 24.5 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $5.72 $11.45
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.34 $12.68
Premium $4.90 $6.76 $13.51
Diesel $4.35 $6.00 $12.01

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 Desoto Lakes and St. Petersburg. The current time is 22:13:53.

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.