How far is St. Petersburg, FL from Fort Walton Beach, FL?
The driving distance from St. Petersburg, FL to Fort Walton Beach, FL is about 457.4 miles (736.1 km), with a travel time of about 08h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 300 miles (482.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Town in Madison County, Florida, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between St. Petersburg and Fort Walton Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Petersburg and Fort Walton Beach.
-
1
Start on 34th Street South
2326 ft · 1 min · 34th Street South
-
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
1.2 mi · 2 min · 5th Avenue North
-
3
Take the ramp left toward I 275 North
1811 ft · 50 sec
-
4
Merge slight left
37.7 mi · 47 min
-
5
Merge slight left
160.3 mi · 2 hr 52 min
-
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
820 ft · 16 sec
-
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee
1569 ft · 30 sec
-
8
Merge slight right
226.4 mi · 4 hr 3 min
-
9
Take the exit slight right toward FL 285: Niceville, Eglin AFB
1694 ft · 42 sec
-
10
Turn left
17.6 mi · 23 min
-
11
Turn right onto East John Sims Parkway
1.2 km · 2 min · East John Sims Parkway
-
12
Continue on John Sims Parkway
1 km · 1 min · John Sims Parkway
-
13
Keep slight right
10.6 mi · 18 min
-
14
Turn right onto Yacht Club Drive
1687 ft · 43 sec · Yacht Club Drive
-
15
Turn sharp left onto Beal Parkway Northwest
806 ft · 22 sec · Beal Parkway Northwest
-
16
Turn right onto Williams Street Northwest
1153 ft · 56 sec · Williams Street Northwest
-
17
At the end of the road, turn left onto Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
47 m · 7 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
-
18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Hummingbird Avenue Northwest
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between St. Petersburg and Fort Walton Beach.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 10 West
Merge slight right
226 mi · 04h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving St. Petersburg and Mostly Sunny near Fort Walton Beach.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from St. Petersburg to Fort Walton Beach?
The road trip is about 457.4 miles (736.1 km) and usually takes 08h 33m 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?
Lee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 228.8 miles from St. Petersburg and 228.7 miles from Fort Walton Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 300 miles (482.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 157.4 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 $66.95 one way or $133.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 143.4 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between St. Petersburg and Fort Walton Beach, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around St. Petersburg and Mostly Sunny near Fort Walton Beach.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between St. Petersburg and Fort Walton Beach. Straight-line distance: 300.02 mi (482.84 km).
#1 St. Petersburg
The second most populous city in Florida.
| Population | 253,693 |
| Coordinates | 27.7708600, -82.6792700 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fort Walton Beach
City in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
| Population | 22,396 |
| Coordinates | 30.4205900, -86.6170700 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fort Walton Beach (-86.61707, 30.42059)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 736 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 14m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 42m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $66.95 | $133.90 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $74.18 | $148.36 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $79.02 | $158.04 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $70.21 | $140.42 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.