How far is Raleigh, NC from Tampa, FL?

The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Tampa, FL is about 649.2 miles (1044.8 km), with a travel time of about 12h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 585.1 miles (941.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 24h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
649.18 mi
12h 07m
Flight
585.11 mi
941.64 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Raleigh.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
585.11 mi
Kilometers
941.64 km
Flight Time
01h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
649.18 mi
Kilometers
1044.75 km
Drive Time
12h 07m

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 12h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tampa
Tue, Aug 25, 11:14 AM EDT
Return by in Raleigh
Tue, Aug 25, 11:22 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Raleigh
2026-08-24T23:06
Arrive Tampa
Tue, Aug 25, 11:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
12h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
6:08 PM to 7:38 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:44 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Raleigh
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Pooler
GA

City in Chatham County, Georgia, United States

From Raleigh
325.1 mi
06h 03m
To Tampa
324.1 mi
06h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Aug 24 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N
Destination
91°F
Monday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Aug 24 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh and Tampa.

  1. 1

    Start on East South Street

    154 m · 21 sec · East South Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Blount Street

    3167 ft · 1 min · South Blount Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Hammond Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Hammond Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    906 ft · 31 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

    8.1 mi · 9 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

    14.4 mi · 15 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I-95 South: Benson, Fayetteville

    3110 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    25.3 mi · 29 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    385.9 mi · 6 hr 57 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295: West Beltway

    2594 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto West Beltway

    13.9 mi · 16 min · West Beltway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Lake City

    2217 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    11.9 mi · 13 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    2381 ft · 58 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    1539 ft · 38 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    766 ft · 12 sec

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    37.4 mi · 47 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Sid Martin Highway

    39 mi · 49 min · Sid Martin Highway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Northwest 70th Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Northwest 70th Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Northwest 77th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northwest 77th Street

  24. 24

    Take the ramp straight toward I 75 South: Tampa

    2914 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    82.7 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg

    15.9 mi · 19 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown East-West

    2767 ft · 49 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right

    77 m · 6 sec

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on Downtown East, Jefferson Street

    856 ft · 23 sec

  30. 30

    Continue on North Orange Avenue

    1531 ft · 47 sec · North Orange Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn straight onto Pierce Street

    1364 ft · 41 sec · Pierce Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto East Kennedy Boulevard

    1336 ft · 46 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
33 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
7 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-95 South
412 mi · 63%
I 75 South
83.2 mi · 13%
I 10 West
50.6 mi · 8%
Sid Martin Highway
39 mi · 6%
I 275 South
15.9 mi · 2%
I 40 East
14.4 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-95 South

Keep slight left

386 mi · 06h 57m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
12h 07m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
24h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+64.1 mi
585.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pooler
06h 03m from Raleigh
Leave By
11:44 AM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Raleigh and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Tampa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Raleigh to Tampa?

The road trip is about 649.2 miles (1044.8 km) and usually takes 12h 07m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pooler is a useful midpoint, sitting about 325.1 miles from Raleigh and 324.1 miles from Tampa.

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

The direct path is about 585.1 miles (941.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.1 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $90.75 one way or $181.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 203.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Raleigh and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Tampa.

Stop Ideas Near Pooler

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Pooler and the surrounding midpoint area.
Savannah City Hall
Scenic stop 9.9 mi away

Savannah City Hall

Savannah , GA
2 E Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401, United States
Rating 4.1/5 54 reviews Tourist attraction,City or town hall
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 7.6 mi away

Savannah City Bureau of Sanitation

Savannah , GA
14 Interchange Ct, Savannah, GA 31415
Rating 1.0/5 4 reviews City government office,Garbage collection service,Recycling center
City of Savannah - Utility Services
Meeting point 9.2 mi away

City of Savannah - Utility Services

Savannah , GA
305 Fahm St, Savannah, GA 31401
Rating 1.7/5 111 reviews Local government office,Water utility company
Richmond Hill City Center
Nearby stop 7.7 mi away

Richmond Hill City Center

Richmond Hill , GA
JF Gregory Park, 520 Cedar St, Richmond Hill, GA 31324
Rating 4.7/5 117 reviews Conference center,Banquet hall,Meeting room,Wedding venue

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Pooler.

RAIL

Savannah

11 mi away
2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive
RAIL

Yemassee

74 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Jesup

83 mi away
176 Northwest Broad Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Tampa. Straight-line distance: 585.11 mi (941.64 km).

Raleigh

#1 Raleigh

The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is a major center for business, government, and education.

Population474,414
Coordinates35.7721000, -78.6386100
Altitude96
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: Raleigh (-78.63861, 35.7721)
End: Tampa (-82.45843, 27.94752)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1045 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)21h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)16h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)12h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)10h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)09h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)08h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
22.91 gal
86.71 L · about $90.75
Round trip
$181.49
45.82 gal · 173.42 L
Estimated CO2
203.6 kg one way
Round trip: 407.2 kg / 898 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $90.75 $181.49
Mid-grade $4.43 $101.47 $202.94
Premium $4.78 $109.46 $218.93
Diesel $5.62 $128.85 $257.69

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 North Carolina · Aug 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Raleigh and Tampa. The current time is 23:06:22.

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.