How far is Lake Placid, FL from Tampa, FL?

The driving distance from Lake Placid, FL to Tampa, FL is about 115.3 miles (185.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 21m 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
115.34 mi
02h 10m
Flight
80.59 mi
129.69 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Placid.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
80.59 mi
Kilometers
129.69 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
115.34 mi
Kilometers
185.62 km
Drive Time
02h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tampa
Sun, May 31, 12:51 AM EDT
Return by in Lake Placid
Sun, May 31, 3:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Placid
2026-05-30T22:40
Arrive Tampa
Sun, May 31, 12:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Placid
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
Lake Wales
FL

City in Polk County, Florida, United States

From Lake Placid
53.7 mi
01h 05m
To Tampa
61.6 mi
01h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Tonight

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph W
Destination
86°F
This Afternoon

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
9 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Placid and Tampa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Placid and Tampa.

  1. 1

    Start on Virginia Avenue

    1.3 mi · 5 min · Virginia Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Hallmark Avenue

    2.2 mi · 9 min · Hallmark Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.7 mi · 4 min

  4. 4

    Turn right

    670 ft · 13 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    10.1 mi · 13 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    36.9 mi · 49 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit left

    1135 ft · 31 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    13.9 mi · 17 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit left toward Flamingo Drive

    2543 ft · 54 sec · Flamingo Drive

  10. 10

    Continue on Main Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn left

    25.8 mi · 34 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    4.5 mi · 8 min

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Adamo Drive

    1875 ft · 36 sec · Adamo Drive

  14. 14

    Continue on East Adamo Drive

    2.1 mi · 3 min · East Adamo Drive

  15. 15

    Take the ramp left toward FL 618 Toll West

    1502 ft · 41 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Lee Roy Selmon Expressway

  17. 17

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

    1212 ft · 31 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto East Kennedy Boulevard

    1885 ft · 1 min · East Kennedy Boulevard

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Placid and Tampa.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Hallmark Avenue
63.3 mi · 55%
Main Street
6.19 mi · 5%
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
5.24 mi · 5%
East Adamo Drive
2.1 mi · 2%
Virginia Avenue
1.27 mi · 1%
Flamingo Drive
0.48 mi
Longest Stretch

Hallmark Avenue

Continue straight

36.9 mi · 00h 49m

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 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.7 mi
80.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Wales
01h 05m from Lake Placid
Leave By
2:08 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy leaving Lake Placid and Partly Sunny near Tampa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Placid to Tampa?

The road trip is about 115.3 miles (185.6 km) and usually takes 02h 10m 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?

Lake Wales is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53.7 miles from Lake Placid and 61.6 miles from Tampa.

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

The direct path is about 80.6 miles (129.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.7 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 2:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.88 one way or $33.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy around Lake Placid and Partly Sunny near Tampa.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Wales

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

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

RAIL

Winter Haven

18 mi away
1800 7th St SW
RAIL

Lakeland

39 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

39 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Kissimmee

47 mi away
111 East Dakin Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Placid and Tampa. Straight-line distance: 80.59 mi (129.69 km).

Lake Placid

#1 Lake Placid

Town in Highlands County, Florida, USA

Population2,496
Coordinates27.3519700, -81.3263100
Altitude20
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: Virginia Avenue (-81.326137, 27.35197)
End: Kennedy Boulevard (-82.458429, 27.947518)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 186 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.07 gal
15.41 L · about $16.88
Round trip
$33.76
8.14 gal · 30.82 L
Estimated CO2
36.2 kg one way
Round trip: 72.3 kg / 159 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $16.88 $33.76
Mid-grade $4.60 $18.71 $37.41
Premium $4.90 $19.93 $39.85
Diesel $4.35 $17.70 $35.41

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Placid and Tampa. The current time is 22:40:58.

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.