How far is Forest City, FL from Clearwater, FL?

The driving distance from Forest City, FL to Clearwater, FL is about 120.6 miles (194.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 95.7 miles (154 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 25m 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
120.61 mi
02h 12m
Flight
95.68 mi
153.99 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Forest City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
95.68 mi
Kilometers
153.99 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
120.61 mi
Kilometers
194.1 km
Drive Time
02h 12m

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 02h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clearwater
Thu, Apr 23, 4:37 AM EDT
Return by in Forest City
Thu, Apr 23, 6:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Forest City
2026-04-23T02:25
Arrive Clearwater
Thu, Apr 23, 4:37 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:13 AM to 12:13 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Forest City
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
Gibsonia
FL

Unincorporated community in Florida

From Forest City
57.4 mi
01h 06m
To Clearwater
63.3 mi
01h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph E
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Forest City and Clearwater.

  1. 1

    Start on Leota Drive

    50 m · 9 sec · Leota Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Bear Lake Road

    795 ft · 26 sec · Bear Lake Road

  3. 3

    Turn right

    1586 ft · 32 sec

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Turn right

    3.9 mi · 7 min

  6. 6

    Continue on John Young Parkway

    7.2 mi · 12 min · John Young Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 4 West: Tampa

    2249 ft · 55 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 275 South: Tampa International Airport, Saint Petersburg

    2249 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    4.8 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 60 West: Tampa International Airport, Clearwater

    1665 ft · 41 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Memorial Highway

    2060 ft · 35 sec · Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Expressway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Veterans Expressway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 60 West: Clearwater

    2031 ft · 50 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on FL 60: Clearwater

    9.3 mi · 12 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Gulf to Bay Boulevard

    4.7 mi · 9 min · Gulf to Bay Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Court Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Court Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South Ft Harrison Avenue

    1297 ft · 40 sec · South Ft Harrison Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Fort Harrison Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 4 West
78.8 mi · 65%
FL 60
9.3 mi · 8%
John Young Parkway
7.24 mi · 6%
I 275 South
5.19 mi · 4%
Gulf to Bay Boulevard
4.72 mi · 4%
Court Street
1.54 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 4 West

Merge slight left

78.4 mi · 01h 28m

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
02h 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.9 mi
95.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gibsonia
01h 06m from Forest City
Leave By
2:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Forest City and Mostly Sunny near Clearwater.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Forest City to Clearwater?

The road trip is about 120.6 miles (194.1 km) and usually takes 02h 12m 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?

Gibsonia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 57.4 miles from Forest City and 63.3 miles from Clearwater.

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

The direct path is about 95.7 miles (154 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.67 one way or $35.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Forest City and Mostly Sunny near Clearwater.

Stop Ideas Near Gibsonia

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

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

RAIL

Lakeland

8 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

8 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Winter Haven

27 mi away
1800 7th St SW
OTHER

Dade City, Florida

35 mi away
14218 US Highway 98

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Forest City and Clearwater. Straight-line distance: 95.68 mi (153.99 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Forest City

City in Iowa, United States of America

Population13,854
Coordinates28.6667800, -81.4433400
Altitude33
CountryUnited States
Clearwater

#2 Clearwater

The second most populous city in Pinellas County, Florida.

Population116,552
Coordinates27.9658500, -82.8001000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Leota Drive (-81.443341, 28.667216)
End: North Fort Harrison Avenue (-82.799962, 27.965851)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 194 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.26 gal
16.11 L · about $17.67
Round trip
$35.34
8.52 gal · 32.22 L
Estimated CO2
37.9 kg one way
Round trip: 75.7 kg / 167 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $17.67 $35.34
Mid-grade $4.60 $19.58 $39.16
Premium $4.90 $20.86 $41.71
Diesel $4.35 $18.53 $37.06

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 Forest City and Clearwater. The current time is 02:25:10.

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.